Vintage music collection unwanted at any price

The other day my car got broken into. Thankfully, it was done by someone clearly experienced in the craft, because minimal damage was done. Only the rubber seal on the door was broken, and even that not very badly. The lock still functions and the window was not broken.

Who says there’s a skills shortage?

Of course, the person breaking into my car clearly specialised in the “break in and steal stuff” side of the industry, rather than the “break in and take it” side of things, as no attempt had been made to start the engine. Whether such an attempt would have succeeded or not, I don’t know. It has an engine immobiliser, but they’ve been around for a couple of decades now so I presume the thieves have figured a way around.

Such is the pace of innovation.

They surely wouldn’t have wanted my car to drive around in, as it would hardly add prestige. Nor would it be much use for spare parts, since I imagine any chunks of scrap metal found at the side of the road would be in better condition.

What they wanted was the contents. Except they didn’t.

I have an iPod, plugged into a permanently installed player that routes the music through the car’s audio system. You couldn’t remove the entire player without ripping out the dashboard, and it would be difficult to do that without attracting attention. However, the iPod can be taken simply by unplugging.

The thieves (if I can really call them that) had spotted the iPod sitting there, worked the lock open very professionally, then unplugged the iPod to take a closer look.

It’s a 4G iPod from late 2004 — the first model with a colour screen. Clearly my intruder was a connoisseur of such things, as after unplugging it they placed it carefully back in its little enclosure. Didn’t plug it in, but didn’t smash it either. Considerate.

My iPod doesn’t have any resale value. It’s not current so it isn’t hip. It’s old, so the battery may well be shot except I keep it plugged in all the time so I wouldn’t know. All that’s worth having about it is my music.

They didn’t like my music. Even the thought of having thousands of classic rock and pop songs in their pocket – for free – was not enough to entice the thieves to take the iPod away. You have to feel a little hurt, you know? Is my taste in music that bad?

As far as I could tell, nothing was stolen. They even left the money in the little recess where I keep coins for tolls.
I could feel their pity.

About nine years ago my house was broken into, and a DVD player stolen along with a camcorder and some mobile phones. (Yes, “some” mobile phones — I had a bunch for review.) To get to them, the intruder practically had to step over two VCRs and a Dell laptop.

Clearly, these were very discerning types. CRN readers, perhaps?

Matthew JC. Powell would love to congratulate the person who so skilfully broke into his car.

Arrange a time to meet him at the police station by contacting mjcp@optusnet.com.au

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