Car decals: Cute or a Target?
 

Ok I don't know if I'm paranoid. But I read somewhere that if you have vanity plates you should not indicate your gender or age bc criminals may target you. Like GRNDMA or something like that. I guess criminals will wait for you if they think you'll be an easy target.

So here's my thought on car decals. Do you think a "yorkie" decal would target you in anyway?

As I'm typing that I feel crazy :p.

I found a "I Love My Yorkies" one and was so excited bc a lot are just for one but I wanted both girls to be represented.

What does everyone think?

I think it is a great idea! I don't think someone would target anyone who owned a Yorkie....how could they? lol ;)

I have a "I love Yorkies" sign that suctions from the inside of my window. My personal preference is to keep my ride clean and clear of decals or stickers. :D

I understand your worry. Years ago my house was broke into but thankfully they left Rosie. The officer said we were lucky because yorkies are usually stolen. I wouldn't want someone following me home because they knew I had a yorkie. Or stake it out and steal when I'm not home. And yes it happens. The cops said they usually stake out a house for a few days to learn your schedule then make their move. So I do understand your concern. I don't have anything in my car showing I own a yorkie. Just think its better to play it safe. This is just my opinion. Maybe I'm more paranoid than you. Haha. :p. I used to not be that way. But thanks to the jerks that broke in, I now am more paranoid about lots of things. Oh, and a lot better at target practice. :D

I think a yorkie decal is a target, but that's also because I'm super paranoid. I did want SOMETHING on my vehicle showing my love for dogs, so I attached a photo of the back of my SUV. I like that it shows that I like dogs, but it could be for a yorkie..... or something vicious :).

I think a lot of people see yorkies as money so I would think it would make you/ your yorkie a target. If I find a yorkie sign of something yorkie I like I hang it in my room or if its a magnet I put it on the fridge.

I'm too paranoid now. Won't do any tiny thing that could attract a potential dog thief, however minimal a chance it might be. As you age and see so many things happen to friends and family - and to yourself - the "I'm going to live my life and not cringe in fear" mentality sometimes begin to change and one begins to hedge their bets as they see so many bad things happen that could have been prevented had that person or oneself taken a bit of a warning or listened to that one person that said "better be careful". So I've changed a lot and gotten a lot more cautious as I see the regret and pain in people's eyes who chose to avoid the more cautious, "old fogey" path.

I had a sign that used to hang on my door that said "Please wipe you paws" next to a picture of a Yorkie. But I took it down after all of the Yorkie thefts that I was reading up on.
However, I do have a "My Yorkie Is Smarter Than You Honor Student" magnet on the back of my car! :p Figure I give someone credit that attempts to mess with me, my car, or my Monkey Man. :D

i see your point and i understand.
however i do have several decals on my car , a yorkie , a shih tzu and an airedale.
i dont worry about it too much, if someone wants to track me down to steal my yorkie, it will be kind of hard to do with no arms after my airedale rips them off...

Hehe lol! :D:D:D:thumbup:

I am definately not paranoid but I am distrustful. I do believe that a breed specific decal, i.e., Yorkie, Poodle, Maltese, etc. is an open invitation to horrible people who would sink low enough to steal someone's beloved pet. The more expensive the car, the greater the risk. It would be so easy for someone to follow a person home, start casing and find an opportune time to break in.

I love my Yorkies, but I don't advertise that I own one.

I used to have a crazy dog lady decal in the back window of my Mustang convertible. I had to have a new top put on this past year and my DH wouldn't let me get a new decal. I am kind of glad now..I had never thought about it attracting a would be dog napper.

I love all the yorkie decals out there, but I have chosen not to advertise that I have a yorkie. We were broken into over Christmas, but thankfully we were on vacation with our pups. I wouldn't want someone have any other reason to break in...

I have a magnet that says I love yorkies....my thought process is that in my large apartment complex, there are tons of cars, and I don't always get to park in front of my building, so I feel a little safer than if it were in my driveway to my house. It's still dangerous, and I wouldn't put it past someone to follow me home when they see my magnet....eek :(

Oh, I love them - but, I'm afraid....a target....:(

A bit off-discussion, but 'over here' when someone's learning to drive they have to put a big REDL on the front and rear of their car.

A big GREEN P is available to buy, to put in their place, when the learner has passed their test - to let other road users know, and to beware....:D

My daughter's instructor told her NOT to use it....as she would become a target to boy-racier road users :eek: How sad is that?!!? Sally x

I don't feel as crazy now! I knew there was a reason for my paranoia. I did get some silver pawprints though. I think those are generic enough. Now I just have to figure out where to put the "I Love My Yorkies" decal.... perhaps their grooming box?

Yea, as we live in a big world full of crazies these days - and getting crazier - it doesn't hurt not to give them a hint or excuse to check you out further. I've actually heard one or two "perps" say on more than one of those TV crime shows that people that "advertised" what they had were "asking for it" and they didn't think taking from them was that bad! Intimated people that had car decals & signs in their yard were flaunting what they had & it sort of baited them!!! Yikes! No wonder some of us paranoid!

I don't think your paranoid at all. I think it would be a target especially these days with so many low life people targeting people & homes specifically to steel their small dogs.

Yorkies are the number 1 dog for theft...I feel advertising that you own one just makes it easier for those that are looking to steal them

I bought some Yorkie and min schnauzer guard dog on duty signs to post at the fences etc and my Dad (retired PS) said not to it could make my house a target for a dog napper, he also said not to get the signs that advertised Yorkie on board for my vehicles either.

He said that as the economy has plummeted dog nappy has risen!


We have a cheapo DVR home security system here it was less than $500 and what a piece of mind it brings for both watching the dogs while we're out, and it's a set up Nanny cam ready to go when we get a sitter!

I want more cameras, and we're going to post some signs around the house stating we have security cameras here now...I don't think that being well prepared and just plain leary and aware really counts as being paranoid-anything that would detour is great IMHO

I shoudl add to be honest our security cameras have become the new toy more than anything else-we can talk through them...the kids think it's the greatest prank ever...and it kind of is.

I went ahead and posted our, "In case of emergency please save my Yorkies" sign by the front door for the fire department etc, but considering we've never had thefts in our neighborhood which I grew up in and in the last couple months a string of vehicle break ins


I'm glad I listened. No advertising here and pad locks on tall he gates now.

#4 nationally, Yorkies.

Pit bulls are actually #1.

"Dog theft is more common than you might think. While many people might assume small toy breeds are the most stolen, the stats tell otherwise. According to the Dog Detective, it's actually pit bulls. Labs are second, followed by Chihuahuas, yorkies, Pomeranians, shih tzus, boxers bulldogs, German shepherds and huskies."

Houston is top dog in dog thefts - Houston weather, traffic, news | FOX 26 | MyFoxHouston


American Kennel Club - American Kennel Club and AKC Companion Animal Recovery Cautions Owners as Pet Thefts Continue to Rise

When I started reading this I was thinking..(I know dangerous ha ha) that it would be ok to have one on my car. It isn't like she or any of my dogs would ever be alone in the car so what is the harm/

I used to have a "yorkie on guard duty" in our former house.. and the window faces the street. That made me nervous. The three dogs would sit in the window and wait for us when we were not home.. so cute but......
There were a lot of break ins.. but not dog nervous to the best of my knowledge.

Anyway dh wanted to put the sign back up at this house and I talked him out of it. When you walk up to our front door.. (or a frog farts a mile away either or) the dogs BARK... a lot of BARKING.. and it is hard to tell how big (Sammy sounds LOUD) so I hope that stops would be robbers.

In some of the higher end areas that we used to live in there were drive way robberies... ladies being followed home from the supermarket and such. They wear supermarket, watches, nice cars and are targeted. Really sad... work hard to have nice things and have to hide them:mad:

You Betcha!
 

I pity the fool who thinks they can get by mama to the Yorkie! I hear you, girl. Just as if it were one of my kids!!!!!

Maybe a decal that reads " Yorkies on board next to my Rottie"! :p

Ya know it has crossed my mind to let Derik get a German shep just to gave a "guard dog" for our minis...then he said he wanted a giant schnauzer instead, and I use! If I can get 100cloths pounds worth of Yorkies too!

Buy one of a Yorkie and one of a Pitbull. :D

Exactly!

:yelrotflm:yeahthat:

My husband is in the Army & we live on base in military housing...needless to say I hear about pets being stolen probably every other day! It's sad to think people have nothing better to do with their lives but steal other peoples pets, belongings, ect!! The Army tells us spouses not to put the magnets on our cars saying "deployed spouse, half my heart is in Iraq, ect" because it lets people know you have no man in the house, you're alone and you could be targeted! Me personally I will not take the chance with the decals & I really don't like stickers on the car. :) Good luck with whatever you choose!!

I am also paranoid and my fiance teases me about it all the time. I'm just doing everything my Daddy taught me to do to stay safe, and better safe than sorry! I don't have any stickers or decals on my car. I also hide any belongings/electronics in the car (so it looks empty) before I get out and park near street lamps. I lock the car as I close the door behind me and seat myself (rather than wait until I'm settled/buckled, etc). I even keep this thing in my car!

http://www.amazon.com/Seatbelt-Break...window+breaker

You sound like me! When you go places like fir ne its the river or state parks, do you take everything from you car and hide it in the trunk too?