Car theft (albeit temporary) or just a prank? What say you?

[Meep-Meep]

So I'm working at my shop Sat changing PS hoses on a 68 Galaxie and had to run to the store to get some 3/8" return hose (I only had 5/16" tranny line) and when I got back under the hood I noticed oil all over the engine compartment. Then I see a trail of fluid on the ground like someone got in and drove the car. I will also mention that a few workers at the place next door were having a little BBQ and were there the entire time while I was working, and were there when I got back, but when I asked them no one saw anything. Hmmmmmm. A big gold Galaxie behemoth 50 feet away suddenly driving off and 5-6 people didn't see anything????

As of today I have cleared with all my buddies (including the practical jokers) and the car owner to see if they drove the car while I was at the store and none did. I reported the incident to the property management just for the sake of reporting it and will talk to the fence company owner tomorrow AM. I will also admit there hasn't been much love between me and the fence company. Of course I can't prove anything other than the car was obviously moved and at this point the car owner is willing to file a police report. I'm in favor of doing so just to get it on record but since there was no real damage done and no one was hurt the cops will probably just laugh at me.

The thing that pisses me off is some a-hole got in and drove a car that did not belong to them and without permission to do so. I will also point out that I'm just a hobby shop and the fence guy is a pretty good sized business that probably pays a lot more rent than I do so of course the property manager will not want to do anything to tarnish that relationship (based on her expected boiler plate response to me). Taking it one step further, and being borderline conspiratorial, I bet both the property manager and the fence company would love to see me gone in favor of more space and higher rental income!!

I consider a prank to be between people you know and this is not the case. I don't even know these guys names. So what do I do at this point? Suck it up and get over it and be paranoid that my own cars are next? Concede to the criminals and move to another location? Call the Sheriff and get put on the waiting list of non violent petty crimes? Go postal on the fence company?

 

[70rr-brian]

Go postal on the fence company?

That would be my choice... If you are reasonably certain it was them.

If your not the in your face FU type then maybe figure out a way to get back at them in a passive aggressive sort of way. Be creative.

 

[moparmarkk]

get a big one man dog,cant count the times people ran out of my yard,i had a 130 lb.black shepard that scared the crap out of everybody,not as fast as bullet but it sure was fun watching ,now im the crazy guy who lives in the bend of the road with a wolf.im sending your box out in the am,mark

 

[WileERobby]

I look at this a little differently... maybe, anus-face got surprised when his liitle jaunt with the car got snuffed because fluid started spurting all over !! Almost like, "up-yours, jack.... surprise !! " Hope the engine was hot... Imagine HIS reaction as it was happening !

 

[Budnicks]

I think it's bull you have to deal with this crap in the 1st place...A mean a$$ dog is a good idea, if you are allowed to have pets there on the property... It's private property so you are pretty limited on what you can & can't do... Post some signage "no trespassing" , "property protected by Smith & Wesson .357 magnum" , "never mind the dog beware of the owner" , a bunch of real or fake video camera monitors out side , alarm stickers on the windows & a simple flashing led that can be seen when looking in the shop or a real monitoring system & security motion detection sensors/lighting or with a load a$$ bell (scares the crap out of them) if you really think something else will happen, make the authorities aware of the situation, so if something does happen, you have all bases covered & something on record... Your liability & rental insurance, is up to date I hope...

 

[696pack]

It is a slippery slope.

The police and the landlord are not going to want to get involved based on not having a witness.

Do you let it go and let them think they can get away with anything? If you retailiate it could turn into a full blown war.

I think I would let it go but if something else happens then you need to do something that sends a message "hey two can play this game."

My guess would be based on what you have said here is that it was intended to be a simple, quick, joy ride so they could say they drove one of those. OR, maybe they intended to steal the car and suddenly realized they were going to leave an obvious trail to the eventually disabled car.

The real problem is that with "several workers" as possible suspects all but one are going to feel put upon even though they KNEW who and what took place. So, you are going to have to make it clear that ALL are just as responsible as the one that actually did it and at the same time not open yourself up to getting caught in the act.

 

[Crunchy_Frog]

Why don't you have a video surveillance system? They can be quite cheap and available at any BB, WM, Sam's, Fry's.... or you can get the more expensive better quality ones through a specialty store.

 

[68383]

You might retaliate against the wrong person. Do two wrongs make it right?

Were the keys in it? All my stuff is locked when I'm not near it.

 

[Ron 73]

Id like to think im wiser now then my younger days but some things don't change and this is something that id hate to have to make that choice, i had to do this years ago when my 66 fast back was stolen, to this day i don't know what happened with it. I hate this happened Meep, im sure when you weigh the options you'll know what to do.

 

[Meep-Meep]

get a big one man dog,cant count the times people ran out of my yard,i had a 130 lb.black shepard that scared the crap out of everybody,not as fast as bullet but it sure was fun watching ,now im the crazy guy who lives in the bend of the road with a wolf.im sending your box out in the am,mark

Does that box have a big dog in it!!?? Haha!

 

[Satellite65]

You might retaliate against the wrong person. Do two wrongs make it right?
Were the keys in it? All my stuff is locked when I'm not near it.

Remember the scene in 'Goodfellas' when Henry Hill confronts the guy who was harrasing his girlfriend? Something like that oughta work. Who cares if it's the wrong person, as long as it's one of the group and they all see it go down. Might even be better, turn the rest of the bunch against the one who actually did it.

Of course, you gotta be one intimidating MF to pull that one off and be prepared to lie through your teeth if the authorities get involved, but it could be fun.

On a more serious note, lock your stuff up next time you go out for a few. I rent a large unit at a self-storage place and I wouldn't even leave to take a leak without locking it up.

 

[Finallygotmine]

a bunch of real or fake video camera monitors out side , alarm stickers on the windows & a simple flashing led that can be seen when looking in the shop or a real monitoring system & security motion detection sensors/lighting or with a load a$$ bell (scares the crap out of them)

It's a real dicey thing for sure. As bad as it sounds, you can be held liable for having fake cameras if something really does happen and the cops come to check out your footage and you don't have any. I know it sounds stupid but I've heard that it is true.

Maybe start carrying open. Pack a .45 on your hip when your walking around. I'll bet everyone starts treating you different.
Too bad you have to deal with **** like this though.

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

So I'm working at my shop Sat changing PS hoses on a 68 Galaxie and had to run to the store to get some 3/8" return hose (I only had 5/16" tranny line) and when I got back under the hood I noticed oil all over the engine compartment. Then I see a trail of fluid on the ground like someone got in and drove the car. I will also mention that a few workers at the place next door were having a little BBQ and were there the entire time while I was working, and were there when I got back, but when I asked them no one saw anything. Hmmmmmm. A big gold Galaxie behemoth 50 feet away suddenly driving off and 5-6 people didn't see anything????

As of today I have cleared with all my buddies (including the practical jokers) and the car owner to see if they drove the car while I was at the store and none did. I reported the incident to the property management just for the sake of reporting it and will talk to the fence company owner tomorrow AM. I will also admit there hasn't been much love between me and the fence company. Of course I can't prove anything other than the car was obviously moved and at this point the car owner is willing to file a police report. I'm in favor of doing so just to get it on record but since there was no real damage done and no one was hurt the cops will probably just laugh at me.

The thing that pisses me off is some a-hole got in and drove a car that did not belong to them and without permission to do so. I will also point out that I'm just a hobby shop and the fence guy is a pretty good sized business that probably pays a lot more rent than I do so of course the property manager will not want to do anything to tarnish that relationship (based on her expected boiler plate response to me). Taking it one step further, and being borderline conspiratorial, I bet both the property manager and the fence company would love to see me gone in favor of more space and higher rental income!!

I consider a prank to be between people you know and this is not the case. I don't even know these guys names. So what do I do at this point? Suck it up and get over it and be paranoid that my own cars are next? Concede to the criminals and move to another location? Call the Sheriff and get put on the waiting list of non violent petty crimes? Go postal on the fence company?

I am an Alarm Company Owner in NorCal here I can send you some real alarm stickers for free...just pm me your info..I have a camera dealer in L.A. if you want some CCTV at cost. http://www.cctvstar.com/

 

[Evil Mopars]

The fact that they willingly got into a vehicle that wasn't theirs, and then played dumb when confronted about it when it was obvious it was one of them. One of them even had the nerve to say "maybe it was a ghost!!!!!" WTF???!!! well, that just pi$$es me off beyoooooooond belief!!!!! What if you had drained the oil and went to the store for a new oil filter, and they ruined the motor, or what if it was the HEMI car and they wrecked it, or ruined that motor? And just so everyone knows this car they went joy riding in was just at Alex's car show, not some hoopty.
I'd put in a massive HQ security camera system including every part of your shop and outside parking area. Let them know they are now being watched and recorded full time and any suspicious activity will be reported immediately to the owner of the complex and the police.

 

[Meep-Meep]

Yeah, the more I think about it the more p'd off I get. 696pack got me wondering that the intent could have been to take the car and I wouldn't put it past anyone at this point. And as evil points out the situation could have been a whole lot worse. I think cameras are on the way for sure.

I spoke to the Sheriff and CHP - I think. I got transferred and redirected several times and at one point I called the San Ramon PD and I got the Sheriff again. Bottom line is it's OK to take off in someone's car as long as you don't do any damage or criminal activity and have no witnesses of you doing it. I will attempt to talk to the fence guy tomorrow but I guarantee it will go nowhere. The property manager didn't give a crap either probably because C&J is a big rent payer and she doesn't want to loose him. And it's all the better if I get mad and leave that way she rents my building to the fence a-holes for more money. I call it basic economics.

It's easy to get wrapped up in some destructive retaliation planning but that will most likely backfire so I will have to think this through. Plus it's exactly what they will expect.

 

[bluefury]

What to do....?

So what do I do at this point? Suck it up and get over it.......!


If this is an isolated incident then "sucking it up and getting over it " might be the best choice. No harm...no foul.
You might concider taking purcausions ... like taking the keys and locking up before leaving in the future. Then if something happens you'll have good reason to take action.

 

[roadrunnerman]

i would make it clear to the fence co., property owner,and anyone else associated that if anything else happens they will be held responsible for any damages,loss,etc. for them to allow something like that to happen to your possesion. then maybe you can drop a hint and let them know that if somebody broke into there stuff(not you,but a real criminal) that you didn't see anything at all and you can't help them.

 

[Meep-Meep]

I gave an accurate and scientific analysis of the incident to the fence company owner this morning. Chris (C&J) was polite and calm while dispensing his usual dose of BS (we have a history). He said that his brother dumped the air out of the air brakes on one truck and some oil came out, which left a puddle by my area. That was his feeble attempt to explain the oil trail that actually starts from my door, backs up and drives down the road. FAIL! Then he switched gears to the current gate issue and the lack of security it poses to the compound, which is a direct result of their operation by the way! He continued to explain that the lack of security is the reason his dumpster fire happened and broken taillights were found on his trucks, so anyone could have walked up and drove the car. The probability of a random person going through the gate and finding the car (that arrived 09:00 that morning), which was at the opposite end of the compound facing a steep down grade at the edge of the property is ridiculous. Even more ridiculous that random person would also have to pass by 5-6 people having a BBQ then look inside to see the keys on the floor by the seat and drive the car right past the BBQ site. FAIL!!

Turns out the guy I think did it is the son of one of the workers and it was his first time up there. I saw the dad and said to him I don’t think you drove the car and I don’t think the other guy did but he didn’t jump to his son’s defense when I told him flat out that I think his son drove the car. He just kind of rolled his eyes and mumbled. It’s an isolated incident for sure but I may think about putting in a 4 post lift and stuffing the HEMI Bel inside. Maybe two lifts!!! What a bunch of BS. At least they are on notice that they are not dealing with an idiot and they won’t try this again.

 

[68383]

lock your stuff up next time you go out for a few. I rent a large unit at a self-storage place and I wouldn't even leave to take a leak without locking it up.

Totally agree.

 

[Ron 73]

Sounds like a great neighbor to keep an eye on Meep, Hopefully they wont try something again, The security system could be a help, and comfort just knowing and being able to see whats going on, if you live on base, with mine you cant be more then 500 feet away to be able to watch the monitor.. I imagine there are some you can be anywhere and see them but setting them up with Motion alert if not. If you go that route..