I get home yesterday around 4 PM, and, pathetic creature that I am, I stay home last night and watch movies.
Sunday, and I don’t get up until 10:30, this being my only day to sleep in. I have some small things to do today, so after morning wahs and grub are done, I grab my car keys and head out to my car.
The reserved parking spot (which I pay for) where I normally park is empty.
I stand there dumbfounded, my head all swimmy, as I try to take in the fact that my car is gone.
Cops, insurance, all the usual suspects have been contacted.
Emotionally, I’m still trying to wrap my head around it.
Its rough. I had mine stolen from about five feet from my door a few months ago. You feel violated. Unbeknownst to me, I had theft insurance–I didn’t think I had and most of the repairs were paid for by the insurance company. And before anyone asks–I drive a 2001 Dodge stratus, not at all fancy. It was recovered in one day, though.
Best wishes to you! (and the thieves left some fishing rods in it! My dad was thrilled about that part!)
Thanks, all. I had an '01 Dodge Intrepid R/T, and I kept her nice. Other than routine maintenance, the only trouble she ever gave me was the shift linkage about two summers back, and the rear passenger electronic door lock had recently gone out (I just kept that door locked, and was planning on taking care of it myself when time allowed). Other than that, she ran like a top.
I had planned on keeping her (she was paid for) until monthly car repairs started creeping up to the “monthly car payment” range.
Sorry to hear about other folk’s problem, looks like I’m not alone by a long shot.
I am sorry that this happened to you. I had the same thing happen to me last year. My 1991 Jimmy was stolen right out of my driveway. I came home one evening at 9:30 pm and parked in our driveway.
I woke up at 4am and went to let the dogs out and there was no truck. I was shocked and amazed and just in plain disbelief.
They found it three days later. The crooks had crashed into a parked car and then fled. It was a total loss.
Not only was I upset about my truck but the person they hit kept trying to get my insurance to pay for the damage. I know that is their job but I was still getting calls from my insurance a month later asking about a claim that keeps coming back.
I mean I felt bad for the guy who got his car hit but that is why you have uninsured motorist coverage.
It took me quite awhile to get over the fact that someone came on to my property and stole something of mine. I did not feel safe in my own home for several months after that.
ExTank (and others), sorry you’re going through this. After working with folks like you who’ve had your car stolen/burglarized I am beginning to understand why they used to hang horse thieves back in the old days. Even if it’s recovered completely undamaged and returned to you with no apparent signs of abuse, you will never have your car back. Some people’s children…
Years ago mine disappeared from an office car park in Birmingham and finished up in Liverpool. I put the theft down to the inadequate transport systems connecting these two cities and wrote a letter to British Rail asking them to provide more trains, especially during peak hours.
My car was recovered today! The Detective says it’s “in remarkable condition.”
Now, I keep my car in very good condition, so I don’t know yet whether it’s in its normal (for me) condition, or “remarkable, for a recovered stolen car” condition. As such, I’m trying not to get my hopes up.
Several years back, my friend’s car was stolen in Austin, TX. He notified the cops, but after a week, he gave up on ever seeing it again. Then his father called him from Dallas- to tell him that he’d found the car at the 7-11 just down the street. No damage to the car- apparently, the thief just wanted a ride to his father’s neighborhood.
I once found a car in the parking lot at work, engine left on with no key in the ignition. The police confirmed it was stolen and I’m sure I made somebody’s day.
