April 8, 2010
Lock me up!
Every now and then, our university has problems with thieves getting inside the campus. And it doesn't help the situation when students leave their things on benches or leave their cars unlocked. The latter got so bad two years ago that our security guards were spending more time checking for unlocked cars than guarding against strangers (i.e., no IDs). Yes, we all know that it shouldn't be the responsibility of the school to play babysitter for careless students, but it does become the school's problem when things get stolen inside the campus. So at the start of the past school year, the university put up reminder banners in all of the parking lots, and this simple and inexpensive solution actually helped. The incidence of unlocked cars dropped dramatically and I don't remember reading a single report about car stereos or laptops left inside cars getting stolen. I think it helped that the cartoon car looks so cute and worried. How can you neglect the safety of your pet car when he's looking at you like that?
This is so interesting, Hilda. Whoever devised this campaign really knew how to achieve the desired results.
ReplyDeleteLiving in an urban environment most of my life, locking house and car doors is an automatic reflex for me. My wife, however, grew up in a very small town where it was the norm to not only leave doors unlocked, but keys in cars as well. I suppose your personal history may have some bearing on how you act, though I'd think common sense might be more prevailing.
ReplyDeleteI once left my back window partially open in the Soc Sci faculty parking lot. The only thing in my backseat was my Avent breast pump kit and that got stolen (I'm guessing because it looked like a DSLR camera bag). I was so upset! (I still am -- hahaha!) My only consolation is in imagining how pissed off the thief must have been to discover, after his hard work (he had left behind inside my car a tree branch that he had used to fish out the bag), a bottle of fresh mother's milk (that I'm hoping grossed him out) and a contraption utterly useless to him! Bwahaha!
ReplyDeleteSuch a great poster...and yes, the cartoon effect makes it attractive and demand attention while gently reminding the dummies to lock their vehicles. Why would anyone NOT lock their car?
ReplyDeleteI like the poster. That car is so cute and friendly!!
ReplyDeleteThe big sign is a great reminder that we really have to be cautious in these sign of times.
ReplyDeleteHow considerate of the school administration.
Wow, the rules even hit the offender in the wallet. Great deterrent I'd say.
ReplyDeletej'aime bien cette affiche, presentation originale
ReplyDeleteI see. The power of "friendly reminders" as opposed to warnings. Nice.
ReplyDelete«Louis» is glad to hear this campaign has been effective. There has been a rash of car break-ins at the Community College Mme la Vache attends.
ReplyDeleteThe sign around here say: "Lock it or Lose it!" ...although sometimes when parking near a beach, I leave my car perfectly locked but with a window open...
ReplyDeleteChanges---when I was a kid we are used to having our doors open...nowadays, I make sure I close it even the windows... *sigh*
ReplyDeleteAnd there's always a lovely display of cars there in Ateneo ;)
It is not just your area with this problem. With the world situation, there is so much of that going on. That is a great sign and something we should all follow.
ReplyDeleteCute car and yes, he does seem very worried! All we need is a reminder to break our habits, I guess :D
ReplyDeleteWe have the same problem on our campus! I have to keep my purse locked in my desk and it will disappear.
ReplyDeleteI suppose the fine helped a lot.
ReplyDeleteSo now they fine you if you don't lock your car - sounds like a double-whammy to me.
ReplyDeleteI don't think anybody could ever leave a car unlocked here!
ReplyDeleteA Penalty for an unlocked car?! I would assume that they wouldn't need an official one. The penalty for an unlocked car would be getting broken into. Interesting photo.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting, LOL!
ReplyDeleteEveryone locks their cars here. We even lock our vehicles on our own garage. LOL!
Why would they not lock their cars back home? That's way to crazy.