This is a problem as old as the birth of the automobile, but which continues to make sacrifices in our time. Maybe you or someone close to you has already found your car a broken window or breaking in a door, p stolen items ? This offence, called “trailer theft”, affects 2% of households in France each year, according to government figures. Personal items, electronic devices, GPS, car stereos, even screens built into the headrests, the “trailers” stop at nothing! Only in 2021 (latest data) In France, 225,400 thefts of this type were committed, with 575,000 households. Here are some reminders of this phenomenon and tips on how to avoid it.

Caravan flights: where and when?

No wonder that places where these thefts take place mostly located in busy areas. Main axes, such as boulevards in the city center, avenues adjacent to parks. Or municipal parking lots that are not guarded are particularly affected. We also note the high representativeness of these flights near train stations or night clubs in particular. They are more numerous and more important in autumn and winter, on November and December. In areas with shorter daylight hours, thieves have more time to break into vehicles and steal their contents.

These thefts also rarely lead to arrests, since they are carried out on purpose, without the possibility of detecting signs of a crime. In the middle, Only 20% of victims file a complaint after the theft from the trailer. So, even though these tips seem obvious, here’s how to avoid car break-ins as much as possible.

What precautions should be taken?

• Make sure your car is locked and that all your windows (think sunroof) are properly closed.
• Take valuables out of the car. Do not leave anything lying around, either on or under the seats. Mobile phone, cables, cards: the smallest object visible to a thief risks breaking into your car.
• Do not keep important papers. It’s a bad reflex: keep your car registration document, insurance certificate or even license in the glove compartment or in the door. The same applies, of course, to leaving them as evidence.
• Install an alarm on the car. Although most modern cars have them, they do inexpensive systems which can be found in car centers or on the Internet.

Finally, if you are the victim or witness of a theft, you only need to have one reflex: call 17. Hope catch the thief red-handed.