I think it's unlikely that anyone would cut a big hole in the convertible top to steal your suitcases from the car if it is parked during the day (or at night in a well-lit, populated area). If you park on a dark, deserted street then you might find the entire car stolen!

Frankly, it would be easier (and less noticeable) to break a window and unlock the door then it would be to cut a hole in the roof so I'm not sure you have much to worry about

It is a very risky idea to leave your belongings in plain sight in the back seat are of a car. I would get a car with a large enough trunk to store all your gear.

The convertible is not the problem, it's the lack of trunk space. If it were me, I wouldn't leave anything in plain sight anywhere. I've has my car window broken and my Levi's jacket (!!) stolen from the backseat at night in a "safe" neighborhood.

I would opt for a bigger trunk, a different car. I've had lots of cars, but the only one that was ever broken into, and this happened about 5 times on this one car, was a convertible. Never had any other car with this problem.

I wouldn't do it. It's a big city, so it's not safe to do this. Get a car with a bigger trunk. I don't think a convertible is really necessary in LA and is really not worth the cost in my opinion anyway.

It has nothing to do with LA.It is just simple good sense to make sure there is nothing in the car that anyone would want. The only thing I have left in full view in a car is a shopping bag maybe with some food in it. Otherwise everything goes in the trunk(boot)

There is nothing wrong with wanting to drive a convertible around LA--I've done so for 30 years. I don't think you'd have much to worry about at the Getty Center lot for example (if you mean Brentwood) because the parking is on the grounds, and during the day in Beverly Hills for example I don't think it is too likely that somebody would try to wrestle a large suitcase out of the vehicle in broad daylight! Perhaps larger, more unwieldy bags would be the solution! Humor aside, obviously you know there would be some risk.

I agree. It is not a good idea to leave anything visible in a car, regardless if it is a convertible or not. Car break-in's are typically crimes of opportunity or impulse. Keeping everything out of sight makes for a less appealing target. The two times my car was broken into over the years was because I'd left something visible. In one case, it was a rain jacket and it was raining. So the thief smashed the window and grabbed it.

Also, why is it inevitable that you must bring all yor belongings with you? Maybe you should rethink this part of your plan?

I think driving a convertible is a marvellous idea. Please don't be discouraged, particularly if you find the idea appealing.

HTH

>>The convertible is not the problem, it's the lack of trunk space.<<

Exactly. If it were just for our trip to LA, I'd forfeit the convertible, but we'll be using the car for a two week trip including driving down the coast and the convertible is really appealling for this.

Anyway, regardless of what car we have, we WILL need to park our car with our belongings inside. So with this in mind, what are the safer places we should think about parking our car, particularly in Santa Monica because there is really no way around that one, unless we sit in our car all day!!

You won't want the top down when driving down the coast on the freeway at 60mph. Convertibles are great, in the city, or when driving about 30-40, any more, and your back seat passengers are miserable.

Santa Monica is safe, don't worry. Or, if you're worried, just valet the car, tell the valet parking guy that you have things inside, and then it's their liability.