Why are some California drivers leaving their cars unlocked — with trunk wide open?

Some drivers in the Bay Area have turned to an unusual tactic to avoid break-ins, according to local media.

Parisa Hemmat, a business owner in Oakland, recently left the trunk of her SUV open to show potential thieves that breaking into her car wasn’t worth it, Inside Edition reported.

“There’s nothing in my car, and they can see that there’s nothing to take,” Hemmat told the outlet.

The behavior was in response to a reported increase in vehicle break-ins in San Francisco and Oakland. But local police say it’s not a solution to the problem.

Former San Francisco Deputy Police Chief Garret Tom told ABC 7 that he’s never seen people resorting to such a tactic to avoid having their car windows smashed and that leaving the trunk open could still leave drivers susceptible to theft.

“They could steal your batteries, your tires,” Tom said. “They could go into your glove compartment and find where you live.”

The Bay Area has experienced a notable increase in car break-ins over the last year. According to NBC Bay Area, break-ins in San Francisco have spiked nearly 200% since last year, and the city sees about 74 break-ins each day.

Oakland’s Interim Deputy Police Chief Drennon Lindsey said that the best way for people to avoid theft is to practice common sense.

“Don’t leave valuables in your car, don’t even tuck things under the seat,” he told ABC7.