You may have heard sliders in reference to adorable bite sized burgers served at your local pub, but the sliders we are referring to are much more menacing than a stomach ache. Sliders, or even Gliders, as they authorities are calling them, are purse thieves that primarily target women, traveling alone, who aren’t paying attention while pumping gas at a station.
Who Are They?
What many gas station security cameras are catching on film are men pulling their car alongside an unsuspecting victim. The thieves wait until the person is looking the other way, or pumping gas. Then seamlessly they will crouch down below the car window to go unnoticed, and open the passenger side door & pull out whatever property may be sitting on the seat. Thus their nickname, sliders/gliders, because they slide in and out unnoticed.
How Can I Protect Myself?
A few would be thieves were caught. Some of these incidents can be seen in the video linked below, but more often than not they are too quick to be caught even when the victim does attempt to give chase. This is occurring at least once everyday in the Bay Area, and maybe even more. Police chief said it can easily be avoided if everyone stays off their phone while pumping gas, stay aware of your surroundings, and keep the doors locked at all times so that the door cannot be easily opened. Even though you may be standing, even leaning on your car, things can, and will, get stolen if the proper precaution isn’t taken.
So on behalf of the entire Dana Meyer Auto Care, we wish you a happy Holiday Season, and a very merry New Years. Be careful during your holiday travels and have fun.
As always, feel free to call us with ANY of your car care needs!