The first time Dean Murphy saw a reacher, also known as a grabber, he was suffering from a severe spinal injury and was almost immobile.

The device is basically a long pole with a claw-like handle at the end of it. Its purpose is to help elderly and disabled people grab items that are up high or down low.

While Murphy recuperated from his injury, the reacher acted as his arms and fingertips. It was helpful to say the least.

But he said criminals have managed to turn that helping hand against him.

During a visit to a friend's house, Murphy left his vehicle parked with the windows cracked open.

"I didn't want to let the heat build up," he said. "The alarm went off and I looked out the window and saw someone running."

Murphy said the person was running with a reacher in his hands.

When he looked inside his car, he found his SunPass was out of place.

"I think he reached in, pulled the handle and it pulled the SunPass off. It dropped because it wound up all the way in my seat," he said.

It kind of makes you think of that old saying, 'give them an inch, they'll take a mile.' In this case nothing was stolen. But Murphy hopes it acts as a warning. Don't leave your windows open.