Spark plugs not for starting your car engine

Amigos:

If you have already read some of my posts you'll may imagine what kind of "uncommon" use you can find for certain objects you know quite well; in this case I'll describe how some bad guys use here in my country, for their benefit, a spark plug, that part you need to start the engine of your car every day.

There are in Lima some known corners, where you should be really aware of people walking (and looking inside) near your car when you are waiting for the red light to change, especially if you drive a shiny new luxury model of a Mercedes, Lexus, BMW, or so, and you carry a laptop, a pretty cell phone, a large package with a tempting something inside, etc. over your car seats; if you are not aware then any burglar, passing by, can throw a red-heated spark plug at the glass of your closed window, your window will explode in hundreds of tiny pieces and while you recover from the shock he will have taken your laptop, cell phone or package and rushed away with them in a split second! I have had the chance of seeing some of these guys with half of their bodies inside a car infront of mine and then rushing away with some valuables to the surprise and horror of an unaware lady driver.

Most car window glasses won't resist the effect of being hit by a red heated spark plug unless they are the security type of glass (armored type).

But then you'll think: is there any police in Lima to prevent and capture this criminals? Yes, we have many good policemen who do a decent job (but they are the exception), some of them seem to be coluded with burglars, bad judges, corrupted politicians, and so crime rate in some of the streets of Lima are less than poor so we have to be always alert.

We recommend to our customers:

• that they should be able to identify every risky corners in Lima (for this matter, everyone should know this in his own living area) and then
• trying to avoid stopping at their red lights, especially during night hours
• if they notice that the light of the semaphore is already going to change to red, then they should slow down their car as much as necessary so to avoid be waiting, at that risky corner, the light to change to green.
  
• never carry valuables over your seats inside your car (use the trunk for it always!)
• don`t let music, or a nice partner onboard, distract you from your surroundings.
• never put your car on a bumper - to - bumper situation; keep at least 6-8 feet with the car infront when in a traffic jam or a red light.