Second Verse, Same As The First

[drpaisley]

I got up this morning at 6a, after a fine evening of steak, beer and baseball (Royals win!), went outside to get the paper, and found that it hadn't been delivered yet, which happens occasionally. I also found my car had been stolen, which also seems to be happening on an occasional basis.

Police were called, info taken (this time I had all the paperwork from last time, and the registration stub with the new license plate numbers on it), case number given. So far, no call, which does not surprise me. I think it was probably the same assclams who did it last time, because there was once again no sign of damage (broken glass, etc). These are professionals, and alas my car (2002 Intrepid) is one of the easier to break in to without making a lot of noise).

Due to Dragonet's current hiatus from work, I have the van to drive so I can do my 28 hours a week of wage slavery. If it found (relatively) unharmed*, fine. If it is wrecked again, we'll give it to the knackers.**

When I told my boss this morning, he said "Man, you need a break." Boy, is that true.


*Replacing the window trim removed to get to the door lock and the steering column and ignition was $500 or so last time, so this is for expensive values of "unharmed."

**Pardon my lack of kindness, but if it wrecked, I do hope the perps are driving it, and are rendered severely incapacated by said wreck. Not quite "die in a fire" level, but "Walk? Good luck with that" would be acceptable.

Comments

[parrismcb.livejournal.com]

sweet sufferin' Isis.

We need to install after-market alarms on all the cars you have, put those steering wheel bars on, leave a live cobra in the front seat and maybe get a outdoor vid cam hooked up to a hard drive with enough storage to hold images taken every 15 seconds for 48 hours.

just can't fraking belive this. Open that bottle we got in May, if you haven't already, and pour about 3 fingers into a highball glass.

Thinking of how to phrase an effective curse upon these thieves..........

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

A saw makes steering wheel bars moot, but they look entertining. Alarms are good. Not living in 64111 is good.

[parrismcb.livejournal.com]

yeah, but a bolt cutter or saw is a bit more unwieldy and requires more effort. Can discourage the less determined thief. Takes a few seconds longer, a bit more complicated to complete. In most jurisdictions if you're found with tools that aided you in your theft but aren't firearms or other purpose-built weapons, you can get slapped with possession of burglary tools which can aid more time if you end up convicted. Smallcomfort, but comfort none the less.

I just don't quite understand why they want a ten-year old car of no outstanding qualities. Does one of them have another Intrepid they need parts for? Was their time machine disguised as an Intrepid, which was towed for a parking violation, so they're just randomly stealing this space-time objects known as 'Intrepid's', searching for the one that will return them to their original space-time continuum?

Just frustrating, and a pain in the butt, Jim, I keep hearing that song by that UK anarchist-pop group playing in the background. Let's make sure we have a few laughs at WorldCon, ok?

ack! WorldCon!

[tully01.livejournal.com]

It's being stolen because as Jim said, it's a relatively easy car to steal for a recent model. It's been in the top five year/models for theft rates for the last several years as the older easier-to-steal models vanish from the roads. And the knowledge of exactly how to do it spreads farther each year from sleaze to sleaze. Some came with anti-theft devices that won't let them start without the key, but that just means if the wannabe thief can't start it ASAP he moves on -- after busting out window trim and the steering column. :( It is almost certainly being stolen for convenient transportation.

Which makes a steering-wheel bar a good thing. The less obviously easy it is to steal the less chance it will be attempted in the first place. The wheel bar is very visible, so the damage is less likely to be done in the first place. In this case, yes, it's probably the same assclams or some friends of theirs doing a repeat visit.

Jim, if you get it back in usable condition I will happily supply you with a little device that looks for all the world like an active-alarm indicator flashing on the dash. Won't stop a pro, but a pro would be out stealing more valuable cars for gain, not transpo.

I really like the live cobra idea too, but they're on the expensive side...and caught redhanded would be good too. As in "caught red-handed having used the vehicle in a mandatory-prison-time felony but with no innocents actually getting hurt."

[tully01.livejournal.com]

"Honest, officer, I have no idea how a live cobra got into my car. Must've been hiding in there from the last time it was stolen! It's surely not mine."

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

Whe I lived over there, 7 totalled or stolen was my personal best. You have a way to go, and I hope you don't.

One was totalled sitting at the curb in front of my house. I had a police major who said he would testify for me if I used forged inspection stickers, as these things tended to happen the week after I bought a sticker.

Luck.

[dragonet2.livejournal.com]

we live in 64109.
just saying

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

LOL. They still just loves them some Hyde Park or whatever. I know how awful it is to go out and find an empty spot.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Sonofabitch! So sorry you have to deal with this.

[gerisullivan.livejournal.com]

Oh, good grief. Yes, what Parris said: "sweet sufferin' Isis."

I also agree with your thought; it being a repeat by the same criminal(s) seems more likely than another car thief deciding to steal your car even with the model on the easy hit list.

Words don't seem to be up to the task of saying how sorry I am that your 2012 have been so full of suckitude so far. It's so full, it's suckitudinicious. That and then some. I'm glad there have been at least some joys to help counterbalance all the real ife shit. I look forward to sharing a small amusement with you at Chicon.

[erikvolson.livejournal.com]

WTF?

[smofbabe.livejournal.com]

You poor things! I hope they catch the bastards redhanded with your vehicle unharmed. And I really, *really* hope your household starts experiencing lots of good things to compensate for the sucky time you've been having. Hang in there.