Never worry about someone breaking into the un-secured space of your hatchback vehicle again thanks to “fake trash,” the amazing new invention that covers your valuables with a layer of trash that deters car break-ins. Hide your valuables in plain sight!
by worstideas
Background:
Many types of cars—e.g. hatchbacks, SUVs, “crossover” vehicles—do not have a secure trunk space.
Although these vehicles often come with retractable covers that can hide the contents of the trunk, they often don’t have 100% coverage.
(So if you have a laptop sliding around in the back of your car, it’s entirely possible that it’s visible to a thief with an eye for detail.)
Additionally, using the cover implies that there may be something in the back of the car—you ought to break in and find out!
Fig. 1: Someone broke into this car, despite the storage area being covered! So why did a thief become intrigued? See Figure 2 for the answer!
Fig. 2: A dramatic re-enactment of the scene before Figure 1 (in the same model of car, by coincidence!). If we look into the window, we can see a laptop in plain sight, despite the cover (left) being extended.
Proposal:
To make a hatchback storage area that is less appealing to break into, we have developed the following product: an easily-rolled-up layer of “fake trash” on a canvas backing.
Then, instead of attempting to hide your belongings, you simply put the layer of fake trash over your valuables.
This fake trash would make it look like the car belongs to an incredibly disgusting person who keeps all manner of trash and rotting food in the back of the car (Figure 3), and no one would suspect that a valuable laptop was beneath the trash.
Fig. 3: Top: fake trash (left) and laptop (right). Bottom: the fake trash covers up the laptop perfectly! Additional improvements could also be made; for example, a non-slide surface for the fake trash, or elastic straps to keep the laptop in place.
Conclusion:
This method is slightly better than just using the storage area cover: the cover implies that valuables might be present, whereas this method makes it seem that there is no possible place for valuables at all.
I’m surprised this isn’t already one of those “As Seen On TV” products for hatchback vehicles.
PROS: I think this product could legitimately be sold for $19.99, and people would buy them as gifts and/or pranks.
CONS: If this “fake trash” system catches on, thieves will recognize it and no longer be fooled.
Bonus: live video feed of this laptop: maybe someone will steal it on-camera while you watch! Better keep refreshing the page and visiting our sponsors in the meantime.
Bonus figure: Live video feed of this laptop in an unsafe steal-able location.
