Does anyone bring car seat in at night?

[Anonymous]

I live in a transitional neighborhood in NW DC, and after a recent car break in, I'm wondering if I should bring the car seat in the house each time after I have my baby. Nothing was in our car when it was broken into, and car break-ins are frequent in my neighborhood. Just wondering if anyone else has dealt with this issue.

[Anonymous]

You'll bring the infant seat in every time anyways but leave the base in the car (we didn't have problems with the base, car was broken into and it was left). Once you move onto convertible it's tougher because they are expensive yet hard to get in and out, so that would be a judgment call probable based on how often you drive anywhere.

[Anonymous]

I think most people who break into cars are looking for things that are easy to grab (i.e., cash, cell phones, cds) or electronics that they can use or sell (radios, navigation systems). I think a carseat (especially a convertible one) would be too big and too much hassle to steal. Besides what are they going to do with it? As far as I know there isn't a hot black market for used carseats. If anything, a carseat might be a deterrent.

[Anonymous]

I'm afraid I have to differ from the PP, as we've had both a Britax Boulevard and a Roundabout stolen from our cars parked in front of our building in Cleveland Park. That being said, when they are still rear-facing it would be a huge pain to take it out each night so it's the chance we continue to take.

[Anonymous]

We always pull out the infant car seat and leave the base (but that has to do with the fact its easier to transport the baby that way and/or not disturbing her if she is sleeping).

[Anonymous]

I would take it out to be safe. Although it might not seem like the type of thing that would have a "black market", I have seen stranger things for sale at flea markets.

[Anonymous]

We also take the seat in (we carry DD in it to the house) and leave the base in the car.

OP - can you cover the base with a blanket or newspaper so would-be thieves don't see it if they are peering into your car?
...although I've never heard of anybody stealing a carseat base.

[Anonymous]

I assume you are talking about a convertable car seat.

If you live in a transitional neighborhood and there are a lot of break ins, I would be concerned about glass getting all over the car seat.

I would follow the smart rules or not leaving anything in the car - even change or a cell phone charger.
A possible solution might be to put a sheet or blanket over the car seat so that if the car is broken into, you do not have small pieces of glass all over the car seat.