It could have been worse

Walrus · Sep 29, 2025

I really get bummed when I read the stolen watch stories so I’m not going to say that. Had my car stolen. First time in the years I been spinning on this ball.

We had to do a quick move although we were house hunting. Needed a quick two bedroom as a family we know had run ins with the government of their country and they don’t just go after the parent who did some activism, they try to mess with the whole family.

Finished moving last night around 11p went out to my car at 6:30a to bring in a few odds and ends I left. I don’t have a lot of real valuable watches but last night I moved a box of 5 watches that together exceed the value of my car. I almost left them hidden in the back of the car for the morning as I was really tired and experiencing pain but luckily I went back to get them.

Had I lost the car and the watches it would have been too much for my fragile mind. But it was close. This isn’t a high crime area it’s loaded with Yale doctors and tech workers but a nearby city uses the town for car shopping.

I just put new brakes on for the SOB who took my car. Glad I didn’t fill up the gas tank. Anyone have a car stolen? How long till you were solid again. Two things I really dislike are moving and buying a car cause both can be full of surprises but here we are.

My momma told me, they’d be days like this. But she said that about those cool days when everything went right. Today not so good but could have been worse.

The spot where my car did s magic disappearing trick.

Dan S · Sep 29, 2025

Having something stolen like that leaves an awful feeling of violation. So sorry that happened to you.

Harbormaster · Sep 29, 2025

Yeah, that really sucks!! 😡😡

Porteroso · Sep 29, 2025

Very sorry about that. Hope the criminal(s) face justice, and you are made whole on the car front. But yeah, having your space violated like that is no fun.

Walrus · Sep 29, 2025

Dan S
Having something stolen like that leaves an awful feeling of violation. So sorry that happened to you.

Ya know Dan I was thinking about that. Honestly I didn’t get done with cops and insurance until noon or 1 or so I’m thinkin it may not have sunk in completely but the violation feeling isn’t as strong as i suspected. I think if they get in your abode or a physical altercation takes place that’s more of a violation. Tomorrow when it sinks in I may feel different.

What strikes me now his how our fellow man can lack such empathy for the victims he creates. I worked hard bought that thing with cash and use it to transport friends and family to medical stuff, get my self to work on a commute that makes no sense. People have been nice enough to offer me their vehicle if I was having work done etc. I never do. I haven’t been in an accident in years but let’s say you loan me your car for an errand, in the process the car is damaged while I’m in possession of it. Even if I cover all costs and know I put an unneeded burden on you.

It’s sad these people sink so far there only thought is meeting their needs or completing some sick task that is going to bring harm and pain to others. Damn when I park my car somewhere I always think “did I leave room for someone else.

Mind you I’ve worked with repeat offenders of numerous crimes I do try to poke around about this. I usually do see remorse in the addicts trying to recover others find some way to blame the unfairness of society which I did not create so I think that’s just making an excuse to hide psychopath tendencies or something less deep who knows.

When I was 9 I stole a little sticker for my bike at a store, got caught by store security and thought my life was over. That was the last time I stole anything.

Even removing any religious teachings aside it can be summed up “when I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad.” Well doing good doesnt automatically guarantee you will feel good, sometimes “good actions” can be burdensome and actually make things more difficult but it beats walking around feeling like a scumbag cause you took advantage of your fellow man.

Well another babble. It does seem the worlds crime rate is increasing since @Duracuir1 fine leather goods retired but he protected Canada and by default the U.S. (the U.S. is just a storage place for Canadas oil and excess maple syrup) for most of his life he needs a break.

Maybe the violation will kick in tomorrow. This will take a while to get sorted. Sure glad I dropped a wad of cash on a Rolex right before having to buy a car. That was great timing.

Larry S · Sep 29, 2025

Theft is a very violating feeling. Just a car but it sucks all the same.

Davidt · Sep 29, 2025

Up to now I’ve managed not to have a car stolen (famous last words), but came very close once.

In my twenties my brother and I went out one night and got blind drunk, as was our want back then. We stumbled back to his and both slept in his bed.
I woke up the next morning and couldn’t find my trousers anywhere - wasn’t quite that good of a night I thought. When my brother finally woke up he realised his laptop was missing. Just then his housemate ( he was still at uni) came in and said “you realise you two morons left the front door open when you came back in, I’ve just come downstairs and it’s wide open”.

We never found out if we actually left the door open or someone jimmied it, but regardless the house was broken into and whoever did it came into the room while we were both asleep and took my pants and wallet and his laptop.

I had to have my car keys changed as they took them as well. I can’t recall the details but the locksmith said something along the lines of, “I can change all the barrels and have get new keys or I can cut you a new key and I’ll just change the immobiliser chip. It means if they come back for your car, they’ll be able to get in but not start it”.
I went with that option.

That evening (still daylight) I was still at my brothers (why let a break in spoil a fun weekend!?) and went outside for some quiet to make a phone call. As I’m pacing up and down the street I see two shifty little bastards walk past me. Before I turned around I knew what I was going to see and sure enough, they were getting into my car. Cue 30 seconds of chaos with me trying to break my own car window with my t shirt wrapped around my fist, while two bemused and petrified kids try and fail to get the car started.
This ridiculous stalemate only ended when they scrambled out the passenger side and I gave chase, only for them to jump in a waiting car and speed off.

I’ll never forget that.

I’ll also never forget how it made me feel a bit strange that (I presume) two guys were rifling around in the bedroom while we were asleep. What would have happened if we’d woken up?

Anyway, sorry this happened to you. Thankfully no one hurt and you get sorted out.

Speed2Sea · Sep 29, 2025

Sorry to hear that some scumbag stole your vehicle. My brother recently had his $120,000 pick-up truck stolen. A couple months later and after he was compensated by his insurance company the police arrested a guy in another state trying to drive the truck across the boarder into Mexico.

calalum · Sep 29, 2025

As crazy as it sounds, I have had three cars stolen over the last 30 years or so. Once they were stolen I just focused on settling the insurance claims and moving forward. They all worked out fine and with little stress. [Interestingly, all three were recovered after the claims were settled and we recovered stuff that was in the cars, which was good (including my favorite basketball!), and I got three new cars out of it.] Having my house broken into and losing some watches and some of my wife's jewelry and computers and things was a lot more distressing and violating.

Life goes on. An interaction with the culprits would have been a lot worse for you. Glad your watches were safe.

Evitzee · Sep 29, 2025

We have largely normalized theft, in some places in California you can steal up to $950 and face little consequence, it's considered 'income redistribution'. Steal more, and you'll probably serve no real jail time. Many people are fine with that and continue to vote for those kinds of policies. Societies rot from within.

Duracuir1 · Sep 29, 2025

I’ve been to so many fatal crashes - I stopped counting at 150 - and without giving it much thought, I can remember at least 6 where the driver was at the wheel of a stolen vehicle.

A severe punishment for a property crime, and I wonder if the vehicle owners viewed this as appropriate or if it added to their trauma.

I predict that your car will be recovered within days.

Since you posted a piggy pic…

I have processed your crime scene…. Here is the chalk outline…

Don’t get upset folks. Walrus and I communicate on DM regularly.

Walrus · Sep 29, 2025

Duracuir1
I’ve been to so many fatal crashes - I stopped counting at 150 - and without giving it much thought, I can remember at least 6 where the driver was at the wheel of a stolen vehicle.

A severe punishment for a property crime, and I wonder if the vehicle owners viewed this as appropriate or if it added to their trauma.

I predict that your car will be recovered within days.

Since you posted a piggy pic…

I have processed your crime scene…. Here is the chalk outline…

Don’t get upset folks. Walrus and I communicate on DM regularly.

Excellent crime scene photo I see why you made it to head of Canada and US policing. Special demo piggies for you.

glownyc · Sep 29, 2025

Evitzee
We have largely normalized theft, in some places in California you can steal up to $950 and face little consequence, it's considered 'income redistribution'. Steal more, and you'll probably serve no real jail time. Many people are fine with that and continue to vote for those kinds of policies. Societies rot from within.

This is fake news that goes around on social media.

The truth is in California $950 is the threshold where nonviolent theft become a felony. Below that it's a misdemeanor. This law is actually tougher than in many other sates. In Texas for example you can steal up to $2,500 and still only be charged with a misdemeanor.

California also has a law that allows charging someone with a felony for repeated theft even if it's below the $950 threshold.

Walrus · Sep 29, 2025

Davidt
Up to now I’ve managed not to have a car stolen (famous last words), but came very close once.

In my twenties my brother and I went out one night and got blind drunk, as was our want back then. We stumbled back to his and both slept in his bed.
I woke up the next morning and couldn’t find my trousers anywhere - wasn’t quite that good of a night I thought. When my brother finally woke up he realised his laptop was missing. Just then his housemate ( he was still at uni) came in and said “you realise you two morons left the front door open when you came back in, I’ve just come downstairs and it’s wide open”.

We never found out if we actually left the door open or someone jimmied it, but regardless the house was broken into and whoever did it came into the room while we were both asleep and took my pants and wallet and his laptop.

I had to have my car keys changed as they took them as well. I can’t recall the details but the locksmith said something along the lines of, “I can change all the barrels and have get new keys or I can cut you a new key and I’ll just change the immobiliser chip. It means if they come back for your car, they’ll be able to get in but not start it”.
I went with that option.

That evening (still daylight) I was still at my brothers (why let a break in spoil a fun weekend!?) and went outside for some quiet to make a phone call. As I’m pacing up and down the street I see two shifty little bastards walk past me. Before I turned around I knew what I was going to see and sure enough, they were getting into my car. Cue 30 seconds of chaos with me trying to break my own car window with my t shirt wrapped around my fist, while two bemused and petrified kids try and fail to get the car started.
This ridiculous stalemate only ended when they scrambled out the passenger side and I gave chase, only for them to jump in a waiting car and speed off.

I’ll never forget that.

I’ll also never forget how it made me feel a bit strange that (I presume) two guys were rifling around in the bedroom while we were asleep. What would have happened if we’d woken up?

Anyway, sorry this happened to you. Thankfully no one hurt and you get sorted out.

Ya that’s ultimate violation. The car yes it becomes your buddy and saved my ass many times in long trips where I had to maneuver to avoid a pile up. I am missing it and sad.

You experienced that and someone creeping around your domicile while you were home and sleeping. That is horror story stuff. If I had woke up and thought my wife or kid were in danger let’s say I put some rounds into them. Not saying I would but just thinking it through. Cops come finds they were not carrying weapons. I’d be taken in possibly charged as in my state we have no real castle or self defense laws on the books.

That must have been terrible to review in your brain for a long time. In many cases we just don’t know exactly what we would do until it happens.

Glad that didn’t go more south that it did.

Now on a positive note the officer I spoke with this AM just collected all the private ring camera video on my street, my neighbors gladly gave then the requested hours and several businesses around my area did the same so credit to the cop. If it was the city I work in I’d probably still be waiting for someone to come buy to take a statement.

Losing an auto sucks but I know myself and many others here have been through worse and that worked out in most cases. But I think that violated feeling Dan mentioned is setting up a bit. I gave my mom her last rides in that car even let her drive it with moderate Alzheimer’s, that one I kinda regret as she almost drove us into a lake but who the hell can say no to their mommy who asks if they can drive for the last time in their life. I certainly couldn’t.

But it’s ok I’m sending @Duracuir1 fine leather goods detailed crime scene mock up to our state police and I’ll have my car back tomorrow, he makes US cops look stupid

The Father · Sep 29, 2025

I am sure whoever stole the car needed it. Probably to support grandma who needed an operation of some sort. Think of it as contribution to some poor individuals betterment in life.
Had my brand new Toyota in 1985 stolen from church parking lot. Dang, 40 years ago. Probably being driven by some technical in Somalia these days.

Condolences on your loss.

Mediocre · Sep 29, 2025

Oh man, that really stinks. Glad you grabbed the watches out! When we were relocating last year, I had valuables far exceeding the worth of the vehicle in it overnight. Made it difficult to rest.

Hope insurance treates you well. I had a car stolen, but it was not worth all that much. Liability insurance only, and the police did not recover it. I was young and chalked it up to being a fun story to tell later in life. Hoping your story has a better ending than mine 😀

Walrus · Sep 29, 2025

Davidt
Up to now I’ve managed not to have a car stolen (famous last words), but came very close once.

In my twenties my brother and I went out one night and got blind drunk, as was our want back then. We stumbled back to his and both slept in his bed.
I woke up the next morning and couldn’t find my trousers anywhere - wasn’t quite that good of a night I thought. When my brother finally woke up he realised his laptop was missing. Just then his housemate ( he was still at uni) came in and said “you realise you two morons left the front door open when you came back in, I’ve just come downstairs and it’s wide open”.

We never found out if we actually left the door open or someone jimmied it, but regardless the house was broken into and whoever did it came into the room while we were both asleep and took my pants and wallet and his laptop.

I had to have my car keys changed as they took them as well. I can’t recall the details but the locksmith said something along the lines of, “I can change all the barrels and have get new keys or I can cut you a new key and I’ll just change the immobiliser chip. It means if they come back for your car, they’ll be able to get in but not start it”.
I went with that option.

That evening (still daylight) I was still at my brothers (why let a break in spoil a fun weekend!?) and went outside for some quiet to make a phone call. As I’m pacing up and down the street I see two shifty little bastards walk past me. Before I turned around I knew what I was going to see and sure enough, they were getting into my car. Cue 30 seconds of chaos with me trying to break my own car window with my t shirt wrapped around my fist, while two bemused and petrified kids try and fail to get the car started.
This ridiculous stalemate only ended when they scrambled out the passenger side and I gave chase, only for them to jump in a waiting car and speed off.

I’ll never forget that.

I’ll also never forget how it made me feel a bit strange that (I presume) two guys were rifling around in the bedroom while we were asleep. What would have happened if we’d woken up?

Anyway, sorry this happened to you. Thankfully no one hurt and you get sorted out.

Ya that’s ultimate violation. The car yes it becomes your buddy and saved my ass many times in long trips where I had to maneuver to avoid a pile up. I am missing it and sad.

You experienced that and someone creeping around your domicile while you were home and sleeping. That is horror story stuff. If I had woke up and thought my wife or kid were in danger let’s say I put some rounds into them. Not saying I would but just thinking it through. Cops come finds they were not carrying weapons. I’d be taken in possibly charged as in my state we have no real castle or self defense laws on the books.

That must have been terrible to review in your brain for a long time. In many cases we just don’t know exactly what we would do until it happens.

Glad that didn’t go more south that it did.

Now on a positive note the officer I spoke with this AM just collected all the private ring camera video on my street, my neighbors gladly gave then the requested hours and several businesses around my area did the same so credit to the cop. If it was the city I work in I’d probably still be waiting for someone to come buy to take a statement.

Porteroso · Sep 29, 2025

glownyc
This is fake news that goes around on social media.

The truth is in California $950 is the threshold where nonviolent theft become a felony. Below that it's a misdemeanor. This law is actually tougher than in many other sates. In Texas for example you can steal up to $2,500 and still only be charged with a misdemeanor.

California also has a law that allows charging someone with a felony for repeated theft even if it's below the $950 threshold.

Some of what you're talking about was signed into law Dec. 2024. Probably more of a case of people not following changes to the law too closely.

Walrus · Sep 29, 2025

M Mediocre
Oh man, that really stinks. Glad you grabbed the watches out! When we were relocating last year, I had valuables far exceeding the worth of the vehicle in it overnight. Made it difficult to rest.

Hope insurance treates you well. I had a car stolen, but it was not worth all that much. Liability insurance only, and the police did not recover it. I was young and chalked it up to being a fun story to tell later in life. Hoping your story has a better ending than mine 😀

Ya I kept full insurance but I drove that car all over New England racking up the miles. The insurance adjuster said it takes 14 days of the car being by by until they start calculating the money. I don’t think I’ll get a lot due to the miles fortunately I put a chunk aside especially for a car and called in a kinda decent amount of money my brother owes me. I was just pricing Tesla and some of the newer Lincoln’s.

Am I correct that the car mark has cooled a bit? I’m not going to say prices are “cheap” but the seem a little normalized after that major run up a few years back. I’d rather buy low miles used as you drive that new car off the lot it loses value like a new Tag Heur.

I’m just peaking as I am so far out of the car game I really had no idea. I had just seen a cool microbrand watch I wanted to slip in its very sleek saw it on Reddit but ok I pledge now no watches until car taken care of. Unless it’s an amazing deal. I am accepting offers for amazing deals, be it a car or a watch.

I very much appreciate the cool feedback. I really was at a loss this AM every single comment assisted me processing this uncool event and I am indebted to you all.

glownyc · Sep 29, 2025

Porteroso
Some of what you're talking about was signed into law Dec. 2024. Probably more of a case of people not following changes to the law too closely.

What part was signed into law Dec 2024?

It could have been worse

Walrus

Dan S

Harbormaster

Porteroso

Walrus

Larry S

Davidt

Speed2Sea

calalum

Evitzee

Duracuir1

Walrus

glownyc

Walrus

The Father

Mediocre

Walrus

Porteroso

Walrus

glownyc

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