Most people don't expect to feel so violated when they come out and find their car has been broken into. While car alarms have reduced the number of smash and grab jobs in the Houston area, it still happens, especially when an alarm is forgotten in the midst of other things. Oddly enough, people report that the process of having a window replacement conjures up a wide array of emotions. Sure, it was just a stereo and those can be replaced, but having your car window smashed and your stuff stolen is violating, and it catches people off guard when their emotions run crazy over a window replacement.
Auto glass companies are actually somewhat used to watching these emotions unfold upon finishing a window replacement job. A few people have stood stoically in front of the auto glass company and finally just cried, like they were getting some horrible news about their life. What strikes people down is that many people never really feel as though theft can happen to them, and thus when it does, they never realized that all crime is actually personal.
After all, it is personal to work hard for your money, it is personal to sink your money into your own vehicle, and it is personal when someone who did not work hard for it comes along and steals it. It's not theirs. On top of that, now you're left with finding someone in Houston who can do the window replacement on your budget (or hopefully the insurance company's) in the time frame that you need it completed. Not only did they take your stereo, but they also took at least some of your time.
A window replacement that can be done by an auto glass company who can come to your residence or place of business in order to get the job done is validating the emotional turmoil people tend to feel when someone steals their time on top of their possessions. It's a minor victory, but a victory nonetheless. A window replacement that can be hammered out in a reasonable amount of time without having to give up a huge chunk of your day is beneficial.
Some people don't realize the value of this until they are standing in one of Houston's auto glass companies waiting around for what feels like ever for their car to be returned to them so that they can run out and continue on with their life, and stop at the audio place along the way. If the auto glass company can work directly with your insurance company, that's just another bonus right on top of the first one. These victories may not be able to undermine the feeling of violation associated with having your window smashed and your possessions stolen, but they can often help take the sting out of the process.
Ironically, auto glass companies around Houston are starting to understand that when customers call them for a window replacement due to smash and grab theft, the client is already distressed over the situation. If the auto glass company can handle the situation well, many customers report feeling vindicated somehow as they drive off with their new window, as though the evidence is now erased and a valuable lesson about the need for car alarms has been learned.
There are a few things that people can do to reduce the risk of smash and grab crime, even if they don't have a car alarm. If possible, park in a well lit area, preferably in front of a home with a noisy dog that barks at everything. The last thing you want is your window replacement to give a criminal just a fresher target to aim for on their next round in your area.
If you are replacing your stereo, replace it with one that has a removable face, and remove it from the car when you get home. Tell people that your car was broken into, and although you have had a window replacement, to help you avoid calling the auto glass company again, inform your neighbors that there is some crime in the area.
People are more likely to keep an ear open and a watchful eye for a little while when they know that there's a thief lurking about. They don't want to visit the auto glass company any more than you did, and their eyes will be a littler sharper for awhile. And finally, if you are going to keep your car, even an inexpensive alarm system can keep a thief out of your car, as long as you remember to arm it.
Author Resource:-
David Warren is owner of Apple Glass Company, a glass repair and replacement firm that serves the Houston, Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas markets. Contact David Warren at 281-440-1292 or visit http://www.appleglasscompany.com to schedule a service appointment.
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