That's weird

[dougo]

Last Friday morning, when I went to pull the latch in my car to open the gas panel, I noticed that the trunk latch was partially open—it doesn't close all the way by itself after you pull it, you have to push it back down again. "That's weird," I thought, but I figured I must have just forgotten to push it down, or maybe it popped up by itself or something.

On Saturday afternoon, I drove to the post office in Union Square and parked at a meter. When I went to get a quarter from my change drawer, it was empty except for one penny. "That's weird," I thought, but I figured I must have spent all my change at a drive-through or something. I've done it in the past, but I didn't remember doing it recently; I thought I had about a dollar or so in change.

On Monday morning, when I went to change the CD cartridge in my trunk, I noticed that something was missing from my trunk: a small box full of rolls of coins that I had been carrying around for at least 5 years, planning to bring it to the bank or a coin sorting machine one of these days but always forgetting. "That's weird," I thought, and then I finally realized that my car had been burglarized.

The burglar was polite about it, at least. He didn't break in; I keep my doors locked, but since I don't have automatic locks (I was too cheap to buy that option when I got the car fresh out of college in 1992) my passenger doors often end up unlocked after I give people rides. I'm guessing that it happened when I went with Naha to the Glenn Jones show in Union Square on Tuesday night after games, but it could have been any time in the last two weeks.

The burglar didn't take anything else: stereo, CD player, amplifier, not even the detachable face plate. And I guess he wasn't interested in the Knockabout board game, or the 1992 road atlas. I haven't checked the glove compartment, but I think the only thing in there was a flashlight and maybe a couple of cassettes.

I'm guessing it's not worth making a police report. He got maybe $50 tops, all in coins. And I don't even know where or when they were taken. I'm more bemused than upset. But next time I get a car, I'm springing for the automatic locks.

Comments

[inthatoneway.livejournal.com]

Sorry you got ripped off, but like you said, at least he was polite about it. I've had my car broken into a few times, and the cost of fixing the damage the thief did breaking in always was far greater then the value of whatever was stolen. I'm glad that at least he didn't do any damage.

[dougo.livejournal.com]

Yep, in fact, the trunk latch is slightly broken because it was pried open in another burglary in San Francisco long ago (when I used to lock the latch) and it didn't get fixed all the way. That was a particularly nasty break-in; I had to replace the entire dashboard and the back shelf over the trunk. I've had to replace many smashed windows, too, but after I moved from Boston to Cambridge (and later to Somerville) I've only had to replace a couple side mirrors from sideswipes while parked on the street (one from a limo driver and one from a DPW truck).

[greyaenigma.livejournal.com]

I like the idea of a polite thief that only steals change. (Actually, I think this person may have struck when I've left my car at the shop and noticed less change in the tray when I got it back.)

[dougo.livejournal.com]

Maybe that's just the mechanic taking it as a tip.

[marm0t.livejournal.com]

That IS weird.

[luckylefty.livejournal.com]

The fact that even a change-thief that broke into your car didn't steal the penny that was there reinforces my feeling that we should abolish the penny.

[jtemperance.livejournal.com]

I had an XM radio stolen once and it cost more to replace the window glass than it did to replace the radio. Similar to what someone said above. Maybe there is something to be said for just leaving one's car unlocked.

[mattsnaps.livejournal.com]

People with Miatas tend to leave them unlocked so thieves don't cut the tops.

Of course, some thieves are not very bright and cut the top without checking to see if the car is unlocked first.

Handy tip: Car prowlers of the world, please check the doors before stealing stuff out of a ragtop or Jeep or whatever, OK?

Locks

[artname.livejournal.com]

Maybe one of the biggest improvements in my life over the last five years is automatic locks on my car. [and it's a good thing my girlfriend doesn't read my blog, y'know.]

I almost always travel with a dog, so I want to open the passenger side first, and close it last. Used to involve fumbling with the key twice. Now it's just a button, and I pretty much never use the keys in the doors. Oh, and that whole "beep beep Hi I'm Your Car and I'm Over Here" thing is also worth the price of admission. I lose my car a lot.

[laurenhat.livejournal.com]

Wow. I'm glad it wasn't anything worse!