Okay, it's an easy mistake to make, but isn't it obvious that this makes it way too easy for someone to hop in and drive off?
We were discussing the poll in the newsroom in the morning and that confirmed the results. Apparently, a lot of people think it's perfectly safe to leave the car unlocked if only stepping out for a minute. That really surprises me. I always lock my car before leaving it anywhere.
I guess you learn from your experiences and because of that, I'm careful.
I've seen shoplifters in action, an elderly lady's handbag was taken right in front of me once, and I know what it's like to have your car stolen, too.
I still miss our bright orange VW kombi van. It was the coolest vehicle we've ever owned but one morning, it had disappeared, never to be seen again.
I doubt anyone would steal the car I'm driving now though, unless I make it really easy for them.
My Honda Odyssey is old, scratched, slow and messy and certainly isn't worth much.
As I think about it more, my caution to leave it unlocked probably relates even more to things I've seen in the movies and on TV.
What if someone hops in when I'm not looking and puts a knife to my throat when I get back in? Brrrr.
Okay, enough of that now. Tauranga isn't the Bronx. It's really nice place to live in, and relatively safe. There's no need to go about your everyday life being scared and slightly paranoid, but I do think it's a no-brainer to take basics steps to keep yourself safe.
Did you know that the NZ Police has a whole section on its website dedicated to it?
Go to www.police.govt.nz and look under the tab Advice, look for Personal Community and select Keeping Safe. There is a good page on internet and email safety on it as well.
I'm actually a lot more worried about cybercrime than I am about my wallet or cellphone getting nicked, as I spend so much time on the web.
With so much of our everyday communication and commercial activity now taking place via the internet, the threat from cybercrime is increasing.
Criminals can use the internet to steal your identity, hack into your bank and credit card accounts, trick you into revealing personal information, or infect your devices with malware. Even worse, they can do it from anywhere in the world. How scary is that?!
The first steps to improve your safety online is to secure your passwords, use safe networks, and clean up your system regularly and this includes your smartphone, if you have one.
Make sure you have some decent anti-virus software installed, and don't rely on an out-dated version.
If you don't have super sensitive information on your computer and don't want to spend a lot of money on the latest software, there are plenty of decent free solutions you can download. Google will help you on your way.
Because if you don't bother installing and regularly updating it, you give an invitation to criminals that's nearly as good as walking off and leaving your keys in the ignition.
Martine Rolls is a Tauranga writer and digital strategist.
