Whoever broke into my car gets an "F" for neatness.

The first thought that came to my mind when I opened the door to my Camry that fateful day last week was how my former Camry looked after an F-150 slammed into its rear. Everything not tied down had taken up refuge in a different part of the interior.

That's how Camry No. 2 looked last week. Papers, pens, napkins, sunglasses, flashlights, air-pressure gauges and even a bottle opener were strewn over seats and floorboard. Even stuff I had no use for found their way out of hiding.

I knew as soon as the first car-wreck image faded that somebody had had his way with my personal vehicle. That realization led me systematically to check the trunk.

As I had expected, the boot was trashed in similar fashion, primarily my gym bag. Athletic shorts, T-shirts, socks, towels, soap and undies were littered among shoes, caps and my tool box.

Interestingly, the tools, which remain in the plastic box I inherited from my father, were untouched. You'd think the pilferer would have at least wondered what was inside.

At first glance, I concluded that a sports watch and a pair of nylon gloves I keep in the console were the only items stolen. Later, I found the right-hand glove amidst the wreckage in the trunk and a day or so later my wife located the other glove beside the driveway.

The watch probably isn't worth that much. But the thief missed out on getting its entire value by not snatching the belt that's worn around the torso to monitor the heart rate and send the signal to the watch for display. The belt was in a pocket of the gym bag.

OK, I'm at fault here. As a habit I leave my car door unlocked when the car is parked in my driveway.

Correction: I used to leave my car unlocked while parked in my driveway.

A neighbor of mine who happens to be a highway patrolman chided me. "Larry, Larry. Don't ever leave your car unlocked."

"But I'm always afraid a thief will break out a window to get inside," I protested.

"Nah, it takes too long and it makes too much noise," he said. "They'll check to see if a vehicle is locked, then move on."

Such was the case last week when a thief or thieves went through several neighborhoods in my area and stole anything they thought would benefit their scheme. As far as I know, all the vehicles broken into were unlocked.

I reported the theft and a nice young deputy sheriff came out to ask me questions. He even spotted faint marks on my trunk lid that he judged to be left by the thief. He said they were smooth, indicating that the hand was gloved so as not to leave fingerprints.

Before he left, I told the deputy to tell Sheriff Maynard Reid that I want my sports watch back. He assured me he'd pass the word on to Maynard.

I'm still waiting for detectives to call me and say, "Mr. Penkava, we've found the stolen goods. Would you care to come down to the station to identify your Omron heart-rate monitor sports watch?"

I'm not holding my breath. Maybe I'll be surprised one of these days.

OK, so what do I learn from this sordid episode? Besides not leaving my car unlocked at night?

In general, a car should be locked when you're leaving it unattended. That's a rule I've strictly followed — except for the driveway thing which I've since corrected.

Next, never leave valuables in sight, even when the doors are locked. Some thieves don't mind destroying a window to get to a shopping bag.

Shoppers should be especially careful when taking a package to their vehicles before going back inside for more shopping. Even if you put the bag unseen into the trunk, there may be someone watching you.

After putting the bag into the trunk, get in the car and drive to another area of the parking lot. Thieves will think you've left with your valuables.

If possible, install an alarm system. Crooks won't hang around when bells and whistles are going off.

Park in well-lighted and well-traveled areas.

If your car is broken into, call law enforcement. Even if nothing was stolen, investigators could find evidence to catch the perps and prevent more break-ins.



Larry Penkava, who has written Now and Then since 1994, can't abide thieves, especially messy ones.