Morning.

[polyfrog]

violachic is in the hospital for 24 hours of observation. This morning her kidnapped friends in Iraq were freed.

Someone broke into my car last night.
The driver's side door handle is all fucked up.

Cops say this is happening all over Evanston...they're stealing city stickers of all things

Comments

[blur01]

Are they still suggesting that you "hash" your city stickers?

This was the brilliant (no, really) idea that you put your sticker in your window then hash it with a razor blade so that it cannot be taken off in one piece. Works well on lic. plate stickers as well.

And, out of curiosity, how much are the city stickers these days? It was reaching the 75 dollar mark, and I have a vague memory of it being as high as 150 for larger engine sizes, when I left.

[polyfrog]

This is in Evanston.
The Evanston city stickers have heretofore been frangible; they didn't come off except in little pieces. They changed the design this year.

Here's the stupid thing: the Evanston city sticker is $60.
And it's a plain yellow square with a simple black graphic. I could forge that in my sleep. Why would you risk anything to steal them?!

[docstrange]

So now we see the effect of their little technology change: residents' cars broken into to take the stickers. The city saves a few bucks and costs their own residents in turn. I believe that's called 'externalizing' costs. Pffoty on them for it.

[polyfrog]

The ironic thing is, they probably made them frangiable in the first place not to deter theft but to deter fraud: when you sell your car and get a new one, you don't get to transfer the sticker to the new car, you're supposed to buy a new one.
So they probably thought they were saving money per unit at the expense of the fee-income stream.

Always look on the bright side of life......*insert whistle here*

[strawberry83]

At least it's only the handle, which you can more than likely repair or replace from the junkyard. Erik, you are a man of many skills, but repairing a broken window (in the winterish weather no less) I didn't think you can do. But, aren't you glad you had an alarm then?

As I told Marta, I'm not at school or work today so that means semi-free. If you need anything call me.

Re: Always look on the bright side of life......*insert whistle here*

[polyfrog]

Yeah, I just looked at the damage.
The body panel seems to be a little out of shape but OK.
The plastic latch trim may be broken inside; something gave way for it to come out like that, and it doesn't seem to have been the sheet metal.
The gasket behind the handle is fucked up.
The lock itself is just plain gone. I'm not sure I'll be replacing it.
The mechanical bits inside the door still work as far as I can tell; the door latches and unlatches, and locks and unlocks (from the inside and with the remote).

So probably I'll just have to get a new latch trim; available online for ~$35. BUt I have to take the whole door apart to fix it. And while it's apart I'll want to attend to the little rusty bits and replace the window regulator. All told I'm guessing about $200 including the regulator. If I just replaced/repaired the parts having to do with the breakin, about $70.

Well....

[strawberry83]

Let me know if you want Pat to take the door apart. I'll make him do it ;)

Re: Always look on the bright side of life......*insert whistle here*

[polyfrog]

And actually, I could replace the window; it turns out to be pretty simple....

On the bright side...

[kymc]

If you have to move out of your neighborhood you'll never have to deal with being held up or your car broken into or the police showing up at your door again....
well... one can hope right?

[kymc]

hi... i'm special...
I thought this was pheret1's journal...
apparently i need MORE coffee!

[kymc]

I'm very sorry to hear about ur car!