You Feel So Violated...

**Gannon** · September-12-09, 02:30 AM

...when crime comes your way.

I understand Sumas' frustration with the police not showing for her stolen purse report a little more brightly this morning.

Had a wonderful time at Cliff Bells tonight, enjoying the Planet D Nonet with RJ Spangler and Buddy Smith.

Hung out hours longer than I wanted, because everything was so perfect.

I had to park two blocks further than normal, because of the Tiger game...and returned to my car to find the passenger window broken out, with the glove box and console ransacked.

They got nothing but maybe $4 worth of change. As far as I can remember, nothing else was available for them.

I left nothing out...and the console was even closed...Saturn has a rolling cover over the cup holders and change pocket.

So now I have to buy a window I cannot afford...because it will be cheaper than the deductible that I also wouldn't be able to pay...and if there were a claim there is NO doubt the insurance company would increase the rate.

No, I didn't make a report. I won't. I don't want to go through the hassle for nothing. I don't see a reason.

Do I want vengeance? Hell yes. That is merely human nature. Will I do anything about it? No. I pray I react well if I ever catch anyone doing that to anyone else ever again. I may have to collect the broken glass in a jar to remind myself to remain calm.

One block from Bookies, two from the Park and Cliff Bells...

**jtf1972** · September-12-09, 02:52 AM

Same thing happened to me over a decade ago when I went to see a movie at the old movie theater on Grand River near Southfield. Saw the next day there were at least a dozen piles of glass...

My solace came in that whoever did it didn't get anything. They didn't even check under my seat, where the $150 Ray-Ban's were. Whew!

lilpup · September-12-09, 05:00 AM

Check around, Gannon, some glass places will waive the deductible. Also, check your policy - this should be under the comprehensive coverage, not collision, so the deductible might only be about $50.

**Alfie1a** · September-12-09, 06:45 AM

hey Gannon. What's make and model? 2 door or 4 door? Front or rear? I may have a peice of glass.

Parts galore on 8 mile sellls stuff real cheap. You must go in and remove the parts yourself. You never know what's in the yard and they wont tell you ove the phone. I think they also have a yard on Warren close to downtown.

**Kathleen** · September-12-09, 07:15 AM

Awww... Gannon! So sorry to hear about the break-in. What a shame!

That's the one thing about going downtown these days at night...we always have to figure out if it is safe to park on the streets. More often than not, we take the safe way out and fork over the $5 to park in the Compuware Garage and walk everywhere from there.

**Pcm** · September-12-09, 07:42 AM

I learned the hard way to NEVER lock my car doors. All it took were two separate break-ins with similar damage.

If a thief wants in your car, they'll get in. Either through your unlocked door, or through a broken window.

**windsor_shane** · September-12-09, 07:55 AM

Originally Posted by Pcm

I learned the hard way to NEVER lock my car doors. All it took were two separate break-ins with similar damage.

If a thief wants in your car, they'll get in. Either through your unlocked door, or through a broken window.

ditto...i do the same thing

**gnome** · September-12-09, 07:59 AM

sorry Gannon, ... didn't know that was your car.

**daddeeo** · September-12-09, 08:05 AM

Stick around Detroit long enough, you'll get used to it.

**BShea** · September-12-09, 08:14 AM

A couple of weeks ago, my Escort radar detector was stolen out of my car in the parking lot of my building in Lafayette Park. It's fenced in and we have 24-7 security, but they still managed to pull it off. I'd left my door unlocked by accident [[I'd been moving stuff out of the car earlier), so they didn't have to bust a window [[and I think they didn't want to because that would have attracted attention in that area ... just my dumb luck). Security said a group of young men had been casing the area in recent days, and they likely were able to get under a low spot in the fence, and went checking for unlocked cars.

It was a $450 device, but I didn't file a report. I'm not commuting like I used to so it doesn't hurt as bad as it might have, and I just didn't want to bother with the hassle of the paperwork, etc. Just not worth the stress, I've found. I drive a Charger, so I'm not going to leave it unlocked around town, but I can see where people in some areas might see that as a good idea. I typically just everywhere downtown or take the PM or bike.

I was a little pissed when it happened, but mainly I felt like, "Well, they finally got to me, too." -- like it was inevitable. That kinda sucks. For awhile, I had the feeling of "Man, it would have been worth them doing it if I could have caught 'em. I would have gone to town on 'em." But who knows.

**DetroitFats** · September-12-09, 08:20 AM

So sorry John, that really sucks. I remember standing in my garage one morning last year staring at the spots previously occupied by my lawn mower, weed wackers and shopvacs. "Violated" is a pretty good description.
I always lock my car wherever I go. Is it really safer just to leave the doors unlocked?

Retroit · September-12-09, 08:24 AM

I was going to suggest leaving all interior compartments open [[and empty, of course), but Pcm's suggestion tops even that. Oh well, what's next?...Leaving the keys in the ignition?...

**Pcm** · September-12-09, 08:50 AM

Originally Posted by DetroitFats

I always lock my car wherever I go. Is it really safer just to leave the doors unlocked?

I wouldn't say it's any safer, it's really just the difference between the door being opened or the window being smashed. Because, it's not a matter of IF your car will be broken into, but, rather WHEN.

Originally Posted by Retroit

I was going to suggest leaving all interior compartments open [[and empty, of course), but Pcm's suggestion tops even that. Oh well, what's next?...Leaving the keys in the ignition?...

I think the trick is to understand that your car is a very easy target for your casual thief/thief of opportunity. That means that you're likely better off not owning a new car, and you're also better off leaving NOTHING in your car. Of course, that won't stop your catalytic converter from being taken...

So basically, drive a shitty car with missing exhaust components and leave nothing but your front seats inside.

**izzyindetroit** · September-12-09, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by Pcm

I learned the hard way to NEVER lock my car doors. All it took were two separate break-ins with similar damage.

If a thief wants in your car, they'll get in. Either through your unlocked door, or through a broken window.

LOL...

Reminds me of a year ago when I left my car at the Amtrak station over night. Neither of the doors on my car locked. Non-locking doors will forced me to never leave anything of any value in the car.

The next day I came back with with a pile of Detroit Diamonds and nothing stolen from my car.

**gazhekwe** · September-12-09, 09:53 AM

Is it really safer just to leave the doors unlocked?

Husband parked my car on Washington Blvd near GCP on a Saturday morning and did not lock it. This was quite a while ago when his office was in the Whitney Bldg. He came out later in the day and the window was broken. So I think it's six of one and half a dozen of another whether your window is broken, even if you don't lock the car.

I heard earlier this year about an urban artist who makes things out of the piles of broken window glass. She sweeps them up, cleans them, and creates things with them. Here is an article about it:

http://detroitindustrialprojects.wor...com/june-2007/

**Gannon** · September-12-09, 10:29 AM

DETROIT DIAMONDS!

That is beautiful, thanks.

Thanks for the encouragement and humor...and offers for replacement glass.

I needed tires, too, so took the opportunity to go on a spree at Belle Tire.

How is it that Detroit has both the tire market and cardboard pizza market tied up nationally?! Curious that both Discount Tire and Belle Tire were founded and headquartered here...I previously only dealt with Discount because I knew the owner was an old Holy Redeemer alumni, like my parents.

[[although, with Little Ceasar's, Dominoes, Hungry Howies, and that other one I always forget, the depth of national invasion in relatively bad pizza is perhaps more thorough)

These folks at Belle Tire were great...and I learned a bit of their mentoring program, they've got a sort of 'Barber College' for budding mechanics that they promote from within, any of their tire jockeys that want to improve themselves are provided a learning track in their Allen Park location.

I'd like to know how easily those Detroit Diamonds can be recycled into artwork...I know a great glass blower in Russell Industrial that I'd like to talk with about this.

**Gannon** · September-12-09, 10:31 AM

THAT'S funny, Gaz, I didn't see that portion of your post until I had written mine...heh.

More raw materials to make art and other products with...

**jtf1972** · September-12-09, 11:01 AM

I currently live in the Bronx & there is a red '65 Mustang coupe that a guy parks on the street. When walking by it one day with my dog I saw a sign inside: "Attention! Do not open my car. Do not sit in my car. I am watching. I have other people watching too. If I catch you it will NOT be good for you."

As for the whole runaway gardening tools I never had that problem when I lived in Detroit. The dog did a nice job of ensuring my stuff stayed in the garage. Hell, one time the cops came around one night when I was fixing an upstairs window and shined the light on me, asking what I was doing. I explained it & they asked if I saw anybody come through, as someone called saying that someone broke into their car in the back yard & he jumped the fence running through yards. The dog was at the fence going nuts... They had a light on him & just said "I know he didn't go through your yard!"

**vetalalumni** · September-12-09, 11:38 AM

That is one of the worst feelings after a nice evening. It is very discouraging.

Years ago I picked up a habit of taking a cab when spending night time hours in a neighborhood where my vehicle might be in danger. Once bitten...

Granted, this approach can be terribly inconvenient and expensive. But a couple of advantages are that you can get drunk and you can focus on your company instead of the driving. Some places have curbed cabs waiting for patrons exiting.

**Lferg** · September-12-09, 11:41 AM

I don't think leaving the car door unlocked is such a good idea. Granted, they will get in anyway, but at least if you see the window busted out you know someone has been in your car. Maybe I read too many murder mysteries, but I keep my doors locked, my interior light set to turn on, and I ALWAYS check the back seat to make sure nobody is in there.

Back to the subject at hand, I know how you guys feel. Years ago my car window was busted out for my radar detector in Southfield at 9 and Evergreen. The police did show up to take a report, but nothing ever came of it.

**Gannon** · September-12-09, 11:56 AM

I cannot say enough positive things about the team at Belle Tire, Allen Park...off the I-94 service drive. They made it an easy pleasure dropping half a grand on tires and that window.

That said, I would like to propose a Detroit Diamond corollary to Murphy's Law.

Where-ever these slivery silvery gems can land and hide throughout the interior of your vehicle, they will. And, they are a gift that keeps on giving...as the seats and other crevices yield their treasures over time. No matter how painstakingly vacuumed, you will always find at least ONE MORE the moment you put the machine away.

Cheers, everyone. Now to work my tail off to pay this before the interest starts accumulating...

**iheartthed** · September-12-09, 12:05 PM

I had a very similar scenario happen to me in Williamsburg, Brooklyn as happened to the o/p. It was the first time that I had ever had my car be broken into. They stole a cheap messenger bag that I got from attending a conference, along with the book and beach towel that I was carrying inside it. [[It was the Fourth of July and I had just come from the beach.) I had an expensive coat in my trunk, but they either didn't bother to pop it open, or couldn't quickly find the interior latch to open it.

I'm guessing that thieves thought I might have left a laptop in the bag or some other type of expensive electronics [[which I didn't of course). Ironically, I deliberately took all of the change from my cup holder, because being from Detroit I know that junkies will smash your windows for the change sitting around visible in your car. But I just wasn't thinking about how a passerby might perceive the bag sitting on the backseat [[the bag was cheap and had a hole in it!). Mine was the only car on that block that the thieves touched. My friend was parked directly in front of me but nothing on or in his car was disturbed.

Replacing the window cost far more in time and money than what they stole. I think I was most annoyed that they vandalized my car only to not take anything worth value. I didn't even bother filing a police report.

**iheartthed** · September-12-09, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by Gannon

I cannot say enough positive things about the team at Belle Tire, Allen Park...off the I-94 service drive. They made it an easy pleasure dropping half a grand on tires and that window.

That said, I would like to propose a Detroit Diamond corollary to Murphy's Law.

Where-ever these slivery silvery gems can land and hide throughout the interior of your vehicle, they will. And, they are a gift that keeps on giving...as the seats and other crevices yield their treasures over time. No matter how painstakingly vacuumed, you will always find at least ONE MORE the moment you put the machine away.

Cheers, everyone. Now to work my tail off to pay this before the interest starts accumulating...

I took my car to a hand car wash and they vacuumed out all of the "Detroit Diamonds" fairly inexpensively, leaving nothing behind. I can't remember exactly how much it cost, but I'm certain that it wasn't more than $10. It was well worth whatever I paid...

**Gannon** · September-12-09, 03:07 PM

Update...I went looking for some tools to tear down a rack during my move, and realized I DID have a toolbox in the car.

Bright Yellow, medium sized. Filled with a twenty five plus year collection of tools.

If anyone sees a scumbag crackhead low-life carrying one around the near-westside, please shoot them on sight. Try not to get any blood on it.

So, I guess I did have stuff out, but the tint of the rears makes it nearly impossible to see...my guess is they broke in and discovered this treasure and ran, not realizing the computer bag was beneath it.

I'm an idiot. [[weird to feel an entire ice-cream dessert nodding in agreement...)