Feeling secure, they make it easy for criminals. One New Britain resident had his car rifled three times - and still refused to lock it, Police Chief David Sempkowski recalled. Morris Derry put an end to that. In the spring of 1995, Derry cut a cat burglar's swath through attractive neighborhoods in Lower Bucks County. Wearing gloves, he stole into suburban driveways, took garage-door remote controls from unlocked cars, then used them to burglarize houses.
Many victims seem chastened by the experience.
Not only did Bond start locking up, but last year she helped found the Cinnaminson Town Watch to combat a wave of burglaries. Others get mad. Thomas Fries of Berwyn was outraged last year when someone raided two unlocked cars in his family's driveway. The stereo was ripped out of his Cutlass Supreme, and his father's camera was stolen. Not long after, Fries caught three prowlers in his driveway.