You just got lucky. All this talk about the lack of thieves in rural and small town America is pure crap. There is a meth epidemic in the heartland that makes burglary and theft a huge problem. FWIW, I've had one vehicle break-in in 28 years in Los Angeles + 2 vehicles stolen, both early VW bugs w/ zero anti-theft precautions in place. (We're talking (1) screw removed and ignition lock cylinder is in your hand).
Want to hear lucky? Last week I left my entire tool box+ tool bag+Nascar jack in the back of my open PU truck parked on my street in Koreatown, which is a dense urban part of Los Angeles. Here is my neighborhood, the third most densely populated in the U.S. after only midtown and downtown Manhattan:
Koreatown, Los Angeles, California - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I had a bad head cold and just spaced-out that they were there when I parked the truck. Several hours later, when I came outside and jumped back in my truck, I nearly schit when I saw my stuff in the back and realised what I'd done. (It was all pushed-up tight against rear of cab and my windows are tinted, in case you're wondering how I missed it when I got out of the truck). I NEVER leave valuables in the back of an open PU truck, I don't care where I am. And I roadtrip this country probably more than anyone on the board. My parents live most of the year in rural Northern WI.
That was one of the worst brain-farts I've had since god-knows-when in terms of security lapses. One of the reasons that I've been such an infrequent crime victim is that I try not to make myself the easiest target. If you driveway is long enough and you have a dog or two, you and your stuff are going to be pretty safe no matter where you are. I believe you guys that Canada has fewer bad people than the U.S. but if you're saying that no one would take a radar detector or Ipod left out, you're crazy. Your living and parking situation is just not convenient for thieves.