# Please Help Me Identify This Car Used In The Burglary Of My Friend's House!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 6, 2013, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-identify-this-car-used-in-the-burglary-of-my-friends-house/657591 "2013-05-06T01:21:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-identify-this-car-used-in-the-burglary-of-my-friends-house/657591/21 "2013-05-06T04:51:22Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Perhaps your street needs an unofficial neighborhood-watch captain. The night this burglary & a car break in happened the street light at this corner burned out. It worked 5/2, was dead 5/3. I can’t quite believe somebody broke the light, but to have 2 crimes in 6 hours after a streetlight dies is a tad odd. As far as neighborhood watch goes, I’ll finish setting up my cameras and I talk to the neighbors, but my hours are odd enough and I generally hate to be around people when I’m not working, so as has been previously stated: “If nominated, I will not run; if elected, I will not serve.” - William Tecumseh Sherman ---
**Author:** ![keturah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e95f7d/32.png) [@keturah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keturah)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-identify-this-car-used-in-the-burglary-of-my-friends-house/657591/22 "2013-05-06T04:53:54Z")
> [@2gigch1](#): > > Side note - trying to go to sleep when suddenly somebody decides they want to come have a party down th street… > > [Here’s my response.](http://youtu.be/9UfQRumB1Qs) > > Good night folks. Thanks for the help. I look forward to seeing people’s answers tomorrow. That didn’t seem particularly loud to me. It seems like you hate where you live and are looking for confirmation. ---
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-identify-this-car-used-in-the-burglary-of-my-friends-house/657591/23 "2013-05-06T04:59:34Z")
> [@astro](#): > > If it is a 2010 Mercedes 350 E class using a car that cost $80,000 - $90,000 new for a B&E getaway car seems a bit odd to say the least on several levels. People doing B&Es are usually pretty desperate and driving shit boxes. These guys were in a hurry, but they were also pretty casual stopping in front of the house at 9PM and walking up the front steps. They knew exactly where to go, when to go, and what they wanted. > > Out of curiosity what got taken? I’d be really surprised if your neighbor or possibly your neighbor’s kids didn’t already know who these guys are. Before you invest more time in this I’d have another talk with your neighbor. Re: Neighbors, not much to talk about with them. As far as any more particulars I can’t give out much more because of the ongoing investigation. And yeah that sounds odd for a news guy to say but I have to honor my friend. I promise to tell more whew it’s ok to do so. Hell, I’m sitting on a boatload of cool video that I want to share, pending legal issues. I have 40+ minutes of video of what appears to be a drunk driver from my dashcam from just last week, but since she was never caught, using the video is problematic. We think that story (rightfully) will be about the jurisdiction nightmare / turf war that caused them to miss catching this ‘really suspiciously bad driver.’ Perhaps someday. ---
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-identify-this-car-used-in-the-burglary-of-my-friends-house/657591/24 "2013-05-06T05:08:42Z")
> [@keturah](#): > > That didn’t seem particularly loud to me. It seems like you hate where you live and are looking for confirmation. 12am Sunday night a car stops at the end of the street with their stereo on full blast for the purpose of dancing in the street. I was settling into bed with my TV on at a normal level, all windows to the house closed, 200’ away and their stereo was _louder_ than my tv in the house. You do realize I shot that video from a block away? When they noticed me they ran to turn it down, 'cause they knew they were being shitheads. Nope definitely excessive. Hate where I live. No it’s okay. Not my first choice but not bad. I keep my nose out of other people’s business, but I prefer people don’t steal my crap, steal my friend’s crap, break things or generally be dicks. I endure the basketball net on the street near my house even when the kids wake me up very early on the weekend because that’s innocent. Drunken assholes? Not so much. ---
**Author:** ![keturah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e95f7d/32.png) [@keturah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keturah)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-identify-this-car-used-in-the-burglary-of-my-friends-house/657591/25 "2013-05-06T05:13:29Z")
Regretting posting to this thread. You are nuts. . ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-identify-this-car-used-in-the-burglary-of-my-friends-house/657591/26 "2013-05-06T05:13:54Z")
> [@keturah](#): > > That didn’t seem particularly loud to me. 😕 It was audible using the built-in microphone from way down the street. How is that not loud for a residential neighborhood at noon, let alone midnight? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-identify-this-car-used-in-the-burglary-of-my-friends-house/657591/27 "2013-05-06T05:40:55Z")
I don’t know anything about Mercedes cars so I did an image search for 2010 Mercedes E Coupe and made a picture with it next to the video you posted and [here’s](http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/JoeyJoeyPP/car_zps96d1e2b3.jpg) what I got. The car in the video looks a bit lower. That could be from the distortion or it could just be a different model or year. But the rims look pretty close, if not identical. The car in the video also appears to have a center brake light on the back on the trunk, does the Mercedes have that (as opposed to in the window). ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-identify-this-car-used-in-the-burglary-of-my-friends-house/657591/28 "2013-05-06T05:53:40Z")
If it is a 2010 Mercedes coupe it appears that the designation is e550 not e350. Per the e550 [the 3rd rear brake light is in the trunk lid edge.](https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1T4ADFA_enUS420US421&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=qkSHUan7J-vi4AOvk4HIAw&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1280&bih=539&q=2010%20e%20550%20coupe) ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-identify-this-car-used-in-the-burglary-of-my-friends-house/657591/29 "2013-05-06T13:20:19Z")
So, **2gigch1** , when you were in high school, did crabby people call you a meddling teenager after you pulled their glow-in-the-dark alien mask off and revealed their plot to the local townsfolk? It’s pretty awesome that you’re stepping up like this. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-identify-this-car-used-in-the-burglary-of-my-friends-house/657591/30 "2013-05-06T13:28:16Z")
In case I missed it, it’s worth noting that our OP works in TV news and previously helped bust and convict a drunk driver who was driving very dangerously on the road nearby. He’s posted threads regarding his dashcam work before. I was going to suggest the Jalopnik forum; they tend to have a ton of these “ID this car used in this crime” cases, but if you post to Reddit they might well grab it from there too. ---
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-identify-this-car-used-in-the-burglary-of-my-friends-house/657591/31 "2013-05-06T14:15:32Z")
I will fully cop to being a pissed off son of a bitch yesterday. My only day off this week was spent fixing a kicked in door, mounting a new deadbolt, fixing the trashed existing lock, rewiring the old porch lamp to a new mercury vapor area lamp, setting up more cameras, spending a half hour showing police my evidence, spending three hours transferring & editing the video I have shared with you and the much more detailed ‘evidence’ video I have shared with the police, and dealing with BGE (electric company) to get the burned out street light fixed (which to my amazement & joy a truck showed up at 1:30am to fix!) All that and a well crafted run on sentence takes a lot out of me. I need to send BGE a thank you letter. The lady on the phone said 72 business hours. They got there in 6 on a Sunday. As far as the car ID goes I am happy to hear more thoughts but the ID of a 2010 Mercedes E350 coupe is really close. Driving around town yesterday with the image of that line along the side of the car then the fender bump out at the rear wheel is very, very specific. For some reason I was sure I had seen those lines in an Accord, but once **AuntiePam** pointed out a suspect I knew she was right. Sorry **phouka** , no do-gooding van driving for me. I was given access to a red Chevy Chevette to drive and I spent all my free time playing roleplaying games in my youth, and generally keeping out of trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-identify-this-car-used-in-the-burglary-of-my-friends-house/657591/32 "2013-05-06T14:31:56Z")
> [@2gigch1](#): > > For some reason I was sure I had seen those lines in an Accord, That was my first guess too. My [2013 Accord](http://www.zercustoms.com/news/images/Honda/th1/2013-Honda-Accord-Coupe-Concept-3.jpg) has the exact same set of lines on the side (I have the Sedan, but it looks the same) but once I put the two of them next to each other, they were pretty different looking (look at the windows). ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-identify-this-car-used-in-the-burglary-of-my-friends-house/657591/33 "2013-05-06T15:02:16Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > In case I missed it, it’s worth noting that our OP works in TV news and previously helped bust and convict a drunk driver who was driving very dangerously on the road nearby. He’s posted threads regarding his dashcam work before. > > I was going to suggest the Jalopnik forum; they tend to have a ton of these “ID this car used in this crime” cases, but if you post to Reddit they might well grab it from there too. I’d suggest Jalopnik as well. Its a website of car nuts who seem to do this quite a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-identify-this-car-used-in-the-burglary-of-my-friends-house/657591/34 "2013-05-06T15:03:26Z")
> [@keturah](#): > > Regretting posting to this thread. You are nuts. . Let’s ease off posts like this in MPSIMS. ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-identify-this-car-used-in-the-burglary-of-my-friends-house/657591/35 "2013-05-06T18:09:05Z")
Could it be a late model Hyundai Sonata? I watched the video, and I can’t tell for certain that it is a coupe and not a sedan. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-identify-this-car-used-in-the-burglary-of-my-friends-house/657591/36 "2013-05-06T18:51:08Z")
> [@2gigch1](#): > > Any help would be appreciated! Links to pictures or other proof would be helpful as I pass it on to the police. We have a good officer working with us on the case. > > Thanks! Just a thought, why not just pass it on to the police right away? Don’t delay. I expect they have their own expert in identifying cars caught on camera. I expect it’s something that they do on a daily basis. No need to try and help them with it. Of course, identifying the car might not help. Some criminals are smart enough not to use their own car in a robbery. It’s likely a stolen vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-identify-this-car-used-in-the-burglary-of-my-friends-house/657591/37 "2013-05-06T19:00:12Z")
The police were called right away and they have a much longer, better copy of the video. I am not above enlisting a little Internet sleuthing to assist. The info collected has been passed on to the investigating officer who appreciates the insight! If and when I can tell more about the story I will. In the meantime I am proud of the quick help the Doper community has provided. ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-identify-this-car-used-in-the-burglary-of-my-friends-house/657591/38 "2013-05-06T20:25:50Z")
That is a Mercedes E-class coupe in your video. Not sure which one (E350, E550, AMG, etc), but those rear fender arches are a dead giveaway. I suggest finding a Mercedes enthusiast forum and posting there. Those folks will know the subtle differences in trim between the various versions and years of the E coupe. I surfed around looking for the colors available during the 2010 model year. I would bet that car is either silver or white. Your friend either knows the burglars, or a friend of his passed info to these guys. Was it drugs or firearms that were stolen? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-identify-this-car-used-in-the-burglary-of-my-friends-house/657591/39 "2013-05-06T21:50:34Z")
> [@toofs](#): > > Your friend either knows the burglars, or a friend of his passed info to these guys. Was it drugs or firearms that were stolen? Yes. This is almost guaranteed given the high end car, and the way the men casually approached the house walking up the front steps. ---
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-identify-this-car-used-in-the-burglary-of-my-friends-house/657591/40 "2013-05-06T22:05:44Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Yes. This is almost guaranteed given the high end car, and the way the men casually approached the house walking up the front steps. No, sorry. There are details I cannot disclose but there is no connection between the victim and the suspects. If & when I can explain I will, but at this time I cannot. The casual approach is, in the opinion of the police, an attempt to fool any neighbors who may have been watching to make them think their presence was reasonable. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-identify-this-car-used-in-the-burglary-of-my-friends-house/657591.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-identify-this-car-used-in-the-burglary-of-my-friends-house/657591.md?page=3)