| Author | Message | ||
| Omar (Auraraptor)
Member Username: Auraraptor Post Number: 417 Registered: 9-2002 |
Funny how we have to worry less about having the car stolen then having the emblem ripped off (along with paint) >:^( | ||
| Robert (Rjklein4470)
Junior Member Username: Rjklein4470 Post Number: 249 Registered: 3-2002 |
I parked my F-car in a very nice mall, where I live. Came out to find my tire stems missing, so I went to the security desk. I told them what had happend and asked if I could review the film. Sure enough found the kids that did it, and they parked so we could see the plate Number. Since the value was so low there was little the cops would do about it, but I did get a copy of the tape. A friend of mine is a state trouper, and I told him what happend. He told me he could not give me the address, but if I wanted to write a letter to the kids parents with a copy of the tape that he would send it so I did. Couple weeks went by, and I recieved a letter of appology from the young man who took the stems, along with the items that he took. It seems like a lot to go through, but maybe this kid will understand. | ||
| Erik R. K. Jonsson (Gamester)
Member Username: Gamester Post Number: 301 Registered: 11-2000 |
Ross, were the police/you able to recoup money/damages from the perps? | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Member Username: Ross Post Number: 989 Registered: 3-2002 |
i wonder if the vandalism is somehow model specific? do the flashy ones get more negative attention than say a 456? does anyone ever key a mondial? | ||
| Myles H. Kitchen (Mhkitchen)
New member Username: Mhkitchen Post Number: 4 Registered: 10-2001 |
I no longer park with the top off or the car unlocked. A couple years ago, we went to Tarpy's Road House, near Laguna Seca on a Ferrari event weekend and parked our then 308GTS out front with the top off and windows down. When we came out after lunch, we found that someone had stolen the horn button! What AXXholes! Last year, during the Pacific Region Ferrari Club Picnic in Menlo Park, someone stole the valve stem caps off the 355. So, unless you have security, you're not even immune during Ferrari Club events! | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Member Username: Ross Post Number: 963 Registered: 3-2002 |
i don't think the snake box would help on the vandalism side. frankly i don't think very much works at all. a few years ago i drove my 348 to a party in holland park. i parked in front of the greek consulate since i thought that looked pretty safe (keep in mind this is the street where bill gates, his buddy allen, and richard branson all have homes). after the party i felt i had imbibed too much so i took a cab home. that night about 3 am the cops ring the doorbell to ask if the 348 with this license number was mine, i said yes and went with them. a group of 3 guys had tried to steal the car (which wouldn't have happened anyway since the immobiliser was on). they broke the drivers side window, which alerted the greek consuls son who was awake in his bedroom facing the street. he called the cops, they actually came and caught these guys red-handed. the cops then asked the consulate for copies of the videotapes from the security cameras, and sure enough it was all on tape. i was asked to go to the police station the next day to give my fingerprints so that they could distinguish them from the thieves. when i arrived and was going through the motions, i mentioned to the policeman how happy i was that somebody was finally going to get punished for this sort of crime. he answered that the perps had already been released and that they were only taking my prints to properly record the incident ! since the perps had not actually been able to move the car, they had only been done for vandalism and received a fine !! i was shocked and pissed off ! i told them that i hoped they had gotten accurate info on these guys because stealing cars was their job and they would be back at it that night ! so eye witnesses, videotape, and caught in the act, and thats what happens in london. | ||
| Guillaume (Vancooper)
New member Username: Vancooper Post Number: 45 Registered: 10-2002 |
Funny you mention snakes because I have seen a hologram equipped alarm system that would create a hologrammed snake around the car if someone got too close to the car! I bet you it worked pretty well! | ||
| David W Burnett Jr (Dbdreams)
New member Username: Dbdreams Post Number: 43 Registered: 3-2003 |
Snakes! I bet that would work. | ||
| Horsefly (Arlie)
Member Username: Arlie Post Number: 930 Registered: 5-2002 |
Get a wooden box about a foot square with multiple 1/2 inch diameter holes drilled in a grid pattern on the top. Inside the top, put some screen wire over the holes so that from the outside, it looks like screen covered vent holes. On the other sides of the box, print in large letters: DANGER, LIVE POISONOUS SNAKES In smaller letters, put some technical sounding label on it like, Poisonous Snake Refuge Center Shipping Department. For added flavor, leave the lid slightly ajar off the top, or add a rubber snake with only the tail hanging out of the box. Place the box on the passenger seat. Few people will bother to break in and take a chance. | ||
| djmonk (Davem)
Junior Member Username: Davem Post Number: 214 Registered: 1-2002 |
Fred your absolutely right about jealousy which is why i never drive my car to work. | ||
| Randall (Randall)
Junior Member Username: Randall Post Number: 244 Registered: 1-2003 |
Hutch, That's standard. In Hawaii the average sentence for a first conviction of car theft is probation. The second offense is 6 months. It's better to track the people down and destroy their lives. | ||
| Fred (I Luv 4REs) (Iluv4res)
Member Username: Iluv4res Post Number: 355 Registered: 8-2002 |
Sorry to hear about the RR. I drive an old Toyota 4Runner as a daily driver. Get a piece of cr*p car, nobody bothers with it. I can also park it wherever I want b/c it doesn't stand out & who cares. Unfortunately, most vandals are jealous. Take the jealousy away, and there's nothing left. It's unfortunate that others can make enjoying expensive things difficult. That said, are you cheating on your significant other or perhaps recently ended a relationship? Those are sure-fire ways of vandalism entering your life!!! | ||
| DHutchison (Hutch308)
Junior Member Username: Hutch308 Post Number: 250 Registered: 1-2002 |
Here is one f*&cked up scenario that happened to my brother about 2 or 3 years ago in greenwich, CT. My brother took his CBR900F2 (it's a 600F2 with a 900RR engine!), and his girlfriend to a fair. He parked the bike in a safe area, and went off to enjoy the fair. About 1 1/2 to 2 hours later he is walking back to his bike with his girlfriend, and he sees a crowd of teenagers around his bike. He charges up to them, and one punk is picking up my brother's motorcycle. That little •••• had dumped my brother's bike and damaged the foot pegs, and fairing badly. My brother put the kid in a head lock, and told his girlfriend to go and get a cop. She went off and found a greenwich cop, and brought the cop back to the scene where my brother still had the little •••• in a head lock. Upon seeing the cop, my brother let the little •••• go, and told the officer what he had seen, and that he wanted to press charges of destroying someone's property, or vandalism. The officer replies "the only criminal act I saw was you (my brother) forcibly holding that youth.". My brother then showed the cop the damage to the motorcycle, and tried to get the cop to arrest the punk. The officer did nothing to the kid, and let him go without even a warning. My brother had to eat around $1600 in damage to his bike. So much for going the legal route. | ||
| J Claxton (Clax)
New member Username: Clax Post Number: 27 Registered: 10-2002 |
Thanks for all the tips & pointers. I appreciate it. David: I'll be in touch. Thanks again. | ||
| Carl Roberts (Carl63_99)
New member Username: Carl63_99 Post Number: 42 Registered: 10-2001 |
Randall, The idea of posting the vandals pics around as a sex offender is NOT good. First, it puts you on the same level as the vandal. Second, even more important, if the person has no record as a sex offender, they will have full legal right to sue you. I saw a clip on RealTV where some guys car was getting vandalized regularly, so he set up a camera. Caught the vandal on tape, and the cops took him in, got like two months in jail. He got out, and the first thing he did was go right back and vandalize the car again. Didn't learn a freaking thing! A surveillance camera is the best idea, then let the law handle it. CER | ||
| Terry (Dogue)
Member Username: Dogue Post Number: 317 Registered: 9-2001 |
In most cases of vandalism, the random, jealousy kind a cover can be a good deterrent. Most of these losers are too lazy to worry about uncovering a car. Of course there are some people that will go to great lengths to ruin someone elses day. In your case, Clax, it may not help, because you think they know you, but you might consider it. | ||
| BretM (Bretm)
Advanced Member Username: Bretm Post Number: 3331 Registered: 2-2001 |
Classy look at discipline and how it should be applied in the United States. Applies well since most vandalizism I would imagine is done by young people, males in particular. Also quite funny. http://maddox.xmission.com/beat.html | ||
| Randall (Randall)
Junior Member Username: Randall Post Number: 235 Registered: 1-2003 |
Dr Tommy, That kid was in Singapore. I think he reciieved 4 lashings of the cane(even after the US trid to get him out of it) and then was sent home. I'd love to see this system in America. As for the vandal problem, I'd use cameras. I've seen ads for ones that connect to your car alarm. Once you have the guys photo, screw him with the cops, and when you're done there print up fliers with his pic and name that say he's a convicted sex offender and post them around his neighborhood. | ||
| Guillaume (Vancooper)
New member Username: Vancooper Post Number: 44 Registered: 10-2002 |
My friend and I were just talking about this the other day and I mentionned I would just beat the hell out of anyone who would damage my Mini and he goes and replies that he would use a bazooka on those person I replied "you use a bazooka to blow away buildings and such, not to punish someone who damages your car, that's too drastic" | ||
| David W Burnett Jr (Dbdreams)
New member Username: Dbdreams Post Number: 33 Registered: 3-2003 |
This really does suck. If it someone that knows you it shows what a coward they are. If it is just random hateful envious distruction it shows a lack of respect and class. I for one would rather the culprit just go ahead and give me whatever they feel I have coming in the form of a ass whipping. Bones heal but to see somehthing you love detstructed really hurts! I like Tommy's glock idea and the flogging thing too. | ||
| Dr Tommy Cosgrove (Vwalfa4re)
Intermediate Member Username: Vwalfa4re Post Number: 1013 Registered: 5-2001 |
I've got it!!! Flogging! Remember that dumbass kid that got cought vandalizing those cars overseas back about 10 years ago? The government beat the •••• out of him. Now THAT'S a deterrent. I would like to be the first to go on record here as saying this: If you get cought screwing with my car(s) and are sentenced to five or six wacks by a pro, you can bet I'll volunteer to splash you with water between them to keep you alert for the next one. The louder you scream, the bigger I'll grin. Anyone who doesn't like this idea can simply choose to NOT vandalize. Real easy. | ||
| David C. (Worth_it)
Junior Member Username: Worth_it Post Number: 86 Registered: 10-2002 |
Sorry Barry, - I should have said : Clax - you've got mail. | ||
| Greg (Greg512tr)
Junior Member Username: Greg512tr Post Number: 112 Registered: 2-2002 |
Last week some vandals broke off both side mirrors on the 930 and wrote "Ferrari's S*ck" on the hood of my 512 (in the dust) I am going to keep the cover on it from now on but its sad that people do this to nice cars. | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Intermediate Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 1171 Registered: 6-2001 |
I'd hire someone to watch the car while its parked in those areas, and provide him with a video camera. Once you've got them on tape, turn it over the the cops, and get them charged. If they have assets, sue the crap out of them. | ||
| Dave (Parts_man_soda)
Junior Member Username: Parts_man_soda Post Number: 116 Registered: 8-2002 |
http://www.spyworld.com/ | ||
| David C. (Worth_it)
Junior Member Username: Worth_it Post Number: 85 Registered: 10-2002 |
Barry, You've got mail - Please reply - | ||
| Frank Foster (Sparta49)
Member Username: Sparta49 Post Number: 494 Registered: 3-2001 |
Tommy, Glock's are plastic stick with a SIG | ||
| Ed Christophersen (Dr_c)
New member Username: Dr_c Post Number: 21 Registered: 12-2002 |
I have a time-lapse videotape recorder. You can either leave it on -- it records 24 hours on a 2 hr tape by recording .1 seconds out of each second (whatever). I have also set it up with a motion detector. When I put it in the front window, it records everything that happens near my car. It's really kind of a toy for me. I haven't actually done anything useful with it. At one time, we thought that the maids were trying to clean us out so I set up the tape with the motion detector. Never did get anything interesting on it. I was impressed to find out that the system worked well. | ||
| Barry Wolinsky (308gtb)
Member Username: 308gtb Post Number: 458 Registered: 2-2002 |
Excellent idea, Jake. Much less extreme! Clax, you'll have to set and tend the bait. You can photograph them in the act. I'm sorry you're having this trouble. Barry | ||
| jake diamond (Rampante)
Junior Member Username: Rampante Post Number: 95 Registered: 4-2002 |
You could try installing an AutoPage system that will alert you, via a pager, when someone is tampering with your car. | ||
| Dr Tommy Cosgrove (Vwalfa4re)
Intermediate Member Username: Vwalfa4re Post Number: 1004 Registered: 5-2001 |
A Glock, maybe. | ||
| EFWUN (Efwun)
Member Username: Efwun Post Number: 346 Registered: 2-2003 |
You know, depending on your pecuniary ability, you might hire a private investigator to watch your car for a few days while parking it in the same place you've previously had difficulties. Then, he can give you an Affidavit and you can have the heartless bastards arrested and prosecuted. | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 701 Registered: 10-2002 |
One thing comes to my mind: The Viper car alarm has as one option a motion IR (I believe) sensor. If you get too close to the car it barks back at you via speech synthesizer. You could use that connection (e.g. via a basic stamp) to trigger a photo or video camera. You could use a spy video cam, that wouldn't be visible. | ||
| Ken (Allyn)
Member Username: Allyn Post Number: 796 Registered: 10-2001 |
Gee, I didn't know that was just for the movie. My Lotus does that all the time! | ||
| J Claxton (Clax)
New member Username: Clax Post Number: 26 Registered: 10-2002 |
Doody, sorry about the off-topic post. I'll try to keep that in mind in the future. Setting up a video camera would be difficult, because it has happended in 3 different locations. I was hoping to find something that could be installed inside the car that is motion activated, and has a high enough resolution to identify the culprit. | ||
| Omar (Auraraptor)
Member Username: Auraraptor Post Number: 402 Registered: 9-2002 |
I liked that lotus too  | ||
| Barry Wolinsky (308gtb)
Member Username: 308gtb Post Number: 457 Registered: 2-2002 |
Clax, James Bond had a rather extreme alarm system on his Lotus in "For Your Eyes Only." But it wouldn't be practical for your purposes. Barry  | ||
| Mr. Doody (Doody)
Member Username: Doody Post Number: 944 Registered: 11-2001 |
condolences - that sucks big time. but this is not ferrari content - please keep off-topic discussions in the off topic discussion area. doody. | ||
| Omar (Auraraptor)
Member Username: Auraraptor Post Number: 401 Registered: 9-2002 |
if you park in a place you know, you could as the owner of the garage/parking lot if you could set up a camera just for a short while. A motion dector type | ||
| Ron Thomas (Ronsupercar)
Member Username: Ronsupercar Post Number: 553 Registered: 5-2002 |
If the vandalizem is taking place in the same area, I would park it as usual and wait with video in hand. This may take some of your time but you will have all the evidence you need to continue w/legal action... This is better than a beat down.. That is so 80'S | ||
| J Claxton (Clax)
New member Username: Clax Post Number: 24 Registered: 10-2002 |
In the last few weeks, my Range Rover has been vandalized 3 times while parked in public locations. I live in a relatively small city (200,000 people), so I am assuming that I am being targeted by someone who knows me, and my cars. Do you have any ideas on how I can identify the vandal? I was thinking of installing an in-car surveillance system, but I'm not sure if there are products on the market that will meet my needs. Somehow I need to identify this peron (or persons), and deal with them. Any ideas? |