Got my car back!
The police recovered my pimp mobile from the North Seattle Community College parking lot last night. It only cost me $100 bucks to get it out of the tow lot.
No arrests were made and no finger prints found.There was no damage to the car, not even to the ignition. There was about a foot and a half of tubing in my gas tank, but if they siphoned anything off they couldn't have taken more than a gallon if anything at all (maybe they gave up because they decided they sucked at it too much-- ha ha). They rifled through everything and took all the miscellaneous junk that I didn't consider valuable and never used, so I suppose I should be grateful that they helped clean it out a bit. My garage door opener and my frisbees were left intact, but they took the $6 in quarters and other loose change. (It is my considered opinion that anyone who has to steal lose change must lead a pretty pathetic life.) They did leave me a gift: an ashtray full of cigarette butts and cigarette stink all over the place.
My model car and year has always been high in the ratings for stolen vehicles. I had always assumed that was because they were so common that stripped parts would be worth more. But now I'm thinking that there must be some security flaw-- probably ease of bypassing the ignition or something like that-- which makes this model an easy mark. I still don't think it's worth installing an electronic alarm system. So, my goal is to put together a defense package for under $100-- otherwise it will be more economical just to let them steal it again :-)
So here's what I'm thinking, and I'm looking for feedback if anyone has insight:
*A "club" for the steering wheel (a good deterrent while I'm away, and a chance at some healthy catharsis if I'm around to administer it in person)
*A fake alarm device-- one of those little things that blinks a menacing little red light.
*In the past, I've seen a little box that will detect change in air pressure (such as when a car door is opened or a window broken) and then start screaming. Cheap and no installation necessary.
*Find some kind of distinctive window decal to make thieves feel like they would be more conspicuous driving with that flagging down the coppers wherever they went.
Any thoughts?
No arrests were made and no finger prints found.There was no damage to the car, not even to the ignition. There was about a foot and a half of tubing in my gas tank, but if they siphoned anything off they couldn't have taken more than a gallon if anything at all (maybe they gave up because they decided they sucked at it too much-- ha ha). They rifled through everything and took all the miscellaneous junk that I didn't consider valuable and never used, so I suppose I should be grateful that they helped clean it out a bit. My garage door opener and my frisbees were left intact, but they took the $6 in quarters and other loose change. (It is my considered opinion that anyone who has to steal lose change must lead a pretty pathetic life.) They did leave me a gift: an ashtray full of cigarette butts and cigarette stink all over the place.
My model car and year has always been high in the ratings for stolen vehicles. I had always assumed that was because they were so common that stripped parts would be worth more. But now I'm thinking that there must be some security flaw-- probably ease of bypassing the ignition or something like that-- which makes this model an easy mark. I still don't think it's worth installing an electronic alarm system. So, my goal is to put together a defense package for under $100-- otherwise it will be more economical just to let them steal it again :-)
So here's what I'm thinking, and I'm looking for feedback if anyone has insight:
*A "club" for the steering wheel (a good deterrent while I'm away, and a chance at some healthy catharsis if I'm around to administer it in person)
*A fake alarm device-- one of those little things that blinks a menacing little red light.
*In the past, I've seen a little box that will detect change in air pressure (such as when a car door is opened or a window broken) and then start screaming. Cheap and no installation necessary.
*Find some kind of distinctive window decal to make thieves feel like they would be more conspicuous driving with that flagging down the coppers wherever they went.
Any thoughts?