I don’t think it matters anymore where you live in Memphis. I lived in Central Gardens (Rembart St.) for five years and never had a problem, even parking on the street sometimes. But that was ten years ago. Things have gotten much worse I think.
Since moving to the Highland Heights area I’ve had two cars stolen and five OTHER attempts, four of which damaged my car. We have taken to sneaking our car into the complex courtyard at night so we can pull up right next to our front door. We’ll stop when the manager tells us we must but for now I feel a little safer. Then I don’t know. The club didn’t stop them…maybe disconnecting the battery at night? But that wouldn’t save our gas tank if someone tried to get at it.
Maybe now that your neighbor has discovered the same problem you guys can get together on a camera or share a look-out.
I’m not suggesting that as a permanant solution, but it will stop her gas tank from leaking $2-3 a gallon gasoline until she can get the tank replaced at her convinence. Plus leaking gasoline can possibly be dangerous, and it eats asphalt which can damage her driveway/parking lot. The epoxy is cheap and can be done by a novice in the driveway without emptying the tank. Unless she is in a rush to spend $500 and lose use of her car for a couple of days.
Why not rig up a poor man’s security alarm? It could be something as simple as placing one of those motion-activated Santas underneath the car. In the dead of the night, the thief crawls underneath your car to untape the gas tank and suddenly Santa lights up and starts singing “Jingle Bells” at the top of his lungs.
Ho Ho Ho!
Another idea: Buy a mouse trap and set it. Put a big wad of duct tape on the bottom and tape it to the spot where the thieves have been placing the tape.
Or crush up some glass, glue it to a big piece of plywood and scoot it underneath the gas tank each night.
Here in Cincinnati, an auto glass owner was arrested for smashing car windows in the neighborhoods surrounding his shop. Seems he was trying to drum up some business. Seriously.
Bwhaahahahahaha! Oh, PunditLisa, that is beautiful. Not to mention being in the spirit of giving! A heart attack, that is.
I’m going to second someone else’s suggestion of a guard dog. I have two big puppies - a white german shepherd and a rottie - who look and sound terrifying to strangers. They are also delightful pets who wouldn’t ever actually bite someone. I can’t stress this last part enough! Don’t get an attack dog. Just get a dog who likes to protect his territory by barking and looking mean.
Just talked to my mechanic. The car won’t be ready until tomorrow. He photographed the hole on the tank while it was in place and has saved the tank for me to look at when I get there. When I asked about tape over the hole (the lynchpin of the “serial siphoning” scenario), he said he didn’t know, didn’t have time to check right now, and that we would examine it closely when I picked it up tomorrow. He did not think the scenario was implausable, however, given “all the weird shit that’s gone on.”
Insurance negotiations began today in earnest. They’re making noises like they’re going to pay it, but they want to see the police reports first. Still waiting on a phone call from the police detective, but I figure since New Year’s Eve was last weekend, they’ve got a lot on their plate.
Urge to kill: rising.
BTW, I actually thought of the auto glass shop angle, but why would they poke a hole in the gas tank?
Easy, he sits on the bumper to lower the tank to get more gas out, then when it stops dripping he gets off the bumper, the car rises slightly, and there is no longer any gas leaking out of the tank.
I’ve seen security cameras for as low as $50 dollars, color, with all the cables. You just need a capturing device (PC or looping vcr). This place sells them, cheap.
I see they have an underwater camera with monitor too. For What purpose??!
Instead of a mouse trap, be sure to get a rat trap. Rat traps are bigger, have stronger springs, and are capable of breaking human fingers. A mouse trap will only cause temporary pain.
