What can be done to prevent car break-ins?

Posts have appeared on Facebook about vehicles that have been broken into. Most of the incidents occurred at night, with the thieves identified as both Lao and foreign individuals. The Vientiane Traffic Police Department has warned motorists to protect their vehicles following a spate of such crimes. Vientiane Times asked around for opinions on what might be done to keep our cars safe.

Mr Xaysakhone Chanthavong, a resident of Xaythany district, Vientiane:  I think it’s a good thing that the police are alerting the public to this problem. To be on the safe side, it’s best not to keep any valuables in your vehicle and also to park it somewhere safe, such as a place that has CCTV cameras. I know this is quite a difficult problem to resolve, but everyone should do what they can to enhance security.
Ms Manothip Anouxa, a company employee in Chanthabouly district, Vientiane: I don’t know how many thefts occur each day but my car was broken into a few years ago when I parked it by the road while I was having dinner. I lost my computer notebook and some personal documents. And I also had to spend quite a lot to replace a broken mirror. I urge everyone not to leave anything of value in a vehicle, especially if it’s parked somewhere that might be unsafe. We should all give more thought to protecting our belongings. Of course, it would be even better if everyone was law-abiding so that we make progress as a society and create a good image of our country.
 
Ms Noy Sonesavanh, an employee in Huaphan province: I would like to give a million thanks to the authorities for warning people to protect their valuables. I urge everyone to pay more attention to this issue and to keep their possessions safe. I strongly advise people not to leave their belongings inside a vehicle, especially money. In addition, thieves should be fined or punished in ways that are a strong deterrent, so they aren’t tempted to repeat the offence.
 
Mr Vilaisack, a resident of Hadxaifong district, Vientiane: I quite often hear that the window of a car that was parked at night or in a secluded place was smashed and items stolen from inside the vehicle. I know the police are trying to tackle this problem, but there seems to be no end to it. It’s a difficult situation because too many motorists don’t take sufficient care about where they park their cars and leave them in unsafe places, especially dark corners, which is risky even if there are parking attendants around. I think people need to take more responsibility for their belongings. If you have to park a car in a place that might not be safe, you should not leave anything inside, and do what you can to deter thieves. On the other hand, the authorities should impose harsher penalties on thieves.      
 
Ms Mailor, an employee in Naxaithong district, Vientiane: I often hear about robberies and thefts in towns, especially in Vientiane, and they sound very dangerous. Although the police try to apprehend the suspects, most are not caught. Thieves work in teams and appear to be well prepared. They target vehicles parked near banks and other finance-related businesses. I think motorists should always try to park in a safe area where their vehicle is easily visible.

By Lamphone Pasanthong
(Latest Update August 24, 2022)