What a weird experience, to park your car on the street, go into a couple shops, go back to where you parked about an hour later, and. . . nothing’s there.
Just air.
Funny thing is, we were planning on buying a new car (the new Civic electric/gas hybrid), and were wondering what my old car would get for trade-in. I guess – unless the police recover the car – that I won’t have to haggle about that with the dealer, at least. (I’ll just have to haggle with the claims adjuster, instead. . .)
Anyway, I’m off to complete all the various reporting-to-authorities I’ve been doing since, and to rent a car so I can get home. I’ll reply to PMs as soon as I’m able, but it may be a day or two; sorry 'bout that.
Aaron, quel Bummaire indeed. Sorry to hear about it. If I had a dollar for every car I’ve had stolen 'round here over the years… anyway… It sux. Hopefully they’ll find it soon.
I have a car with 386,000 miles on it that I tried and tried to get stolen. Parked it on the street in downtown KC with the keys in it and the windows open – no luck. Where’d you say you parked yours?
serpent
P.S. Sorry you lost yours. However, you’ll probably get a better deal from your ins. adjuster than from a car dealer.
That would be surreal, Aaron. Even though it happens all the time, it would send me into la-la land to have my car stolen. I hope it works out with the Honda hybrid!
I have two cars. A black '94 Camaro for fun and a '79 Chevy Malibu for going to work. The Malibu is affectionately called “The Deerslayer”. Her looks really started to go down hill when she had that close encounter of the whitetail kind.
I think I’d go balistic if either of then were snatched! You have my sympathy.
My car (a 93 Nissan 240SX) was stolen back in January from a hotel parking lot. It was there Friday night and gone Saturday morning. These thieves had some guts because the parking lot was clearly visible from the hotel units, not very far from the office AND right next to a Navy recruiting office!!
The police officer who took the report said that most cars are stolen just to get from one place to another, not for parts or stereos. My car was dumped about eight miles from where it was stolen. Everything that could be considered remotely valuable to a thief had been stolen – emergency road kit, binoculars, chains, flashlight/radio – but my two Clarke D whistles and Cooperman plastic fife were still in the back seat, along with my copy of “The Two Towers”.
Thank heaven for illiterate, uncultured thieves.
The only thing wrong with the car when I got it back was, the passenger side door lock doesn’t work any more (that’s where they jimmied it). Basically, it was gone on Saturday and reported found on Tuesday. The officer also said that 80% (!!) of stolen cars are recovered. Amazing, huh? So maybe there is still some hope for finding your car, Aaron. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
So sorry to hear that Aaron. I hope it all works out well for you. BTW, did you have a steering lock; very effective for cars that lack good security systems.
Around these part, cars are stolen by people of three kinds.
(i) Professional thieves—you never see those cars again in recognisable form, they get ‘rebirthed’. Only expensive new cars go this way.
(ii) Kids in poor areas. Either you get it back minus a few easy stealables or you find it crashed or burnt out a few miles away.
(iii) Junkies. You probably find the car, sometimes 200 feet from where it was stolen. Some things will be stolen—old track shoes, half-eaten apples, Susatos. Things of value, stereos, tool kits, Overtons will be where you left them. They’ll probably donate a used needle or three and one of them will be found asleep in the back seat.
Along with the car, the only stuff I’m worried about is the garage door opener (I’m hoping that there wasn’t anyting in the car with our address, inviting more thievery), some music (CDs and tapes), and a great little whistle (sigh); the only really good Generation D I’ve come across (needed only a tiny tweak, and it pops and sings, that thing).
I can get a new car easy enough. But that little whistle. . . Ah well. “It’s only stuff,” I keep repeating.
It’s only stuff. But I liked some of it.
As my mom’s mom would’ve said: “Well, you’ve got your health.”
Sorry. I live in Marin County, and the car was parked in San Bruno, CA (where I work), so it may not be of much help to you.
Are you looking for places to avoid or places to park an unwanted car?
(I hate emoticons. . . ). (Really.) (Ah well . . .)
Stay away from the corner of Sylvan and San Bruno Ave if you cherish your car. On the other hand, if you hate the thing, it’s a great place to park (apparently)!
Best,
Aaron, bereft of a Generation, like Europe after WWI. . .
It’s most unfortunate to have something stolen. It was hard for me when my mandolin was stolen, but I’ve since been blessed with three working (more or less) mandolins.
Hee hee! I was in the same boat when I was getting ready to go to college many years ago. The first car was a 69 Dodge charger with dual 6 packs, Hirsch shift, and a 350 small block. Needless to say I repeatedly got in trouble with it so the parents made me sell it and promised to replace it for me. I got a 1978 Plymouth Volare with 200,000 miles
It was affectionately known as Beast and refused to die. It was never locked, the windows always down and no one ever took the invite. The radiator finally blew on it and I ended up with a 1984 Chrysler LeBaron. Life just kept getting more cruel. I’ve had a 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix for the last 8 years which isn’t too bad but with two kids the next vehicle will likely be…shudder…a minivan. Noooooooooo!
anyway… It sux. Hopefully they’ll find it soon.
). (Really.) (Ah well . . .)