if the punk by the road wants a parking spot, let him have it...

[http://users.livejournal.com/cgull_/]

Today's life lesson, and a hint for the locals:

So I'm sleep-deprived and crabby from work as I drive into Davis Square to go to the post office, about 4pm today.  As I pull into a handy metered spot, a street tough in blue jeans and jean jacket and square gold earring accosts me and claims he's saving the spot for his girlfriend "who's going around the block".  I get rather annoyed at the Somerville habit of thinking public streets can be reserved, so I get out of the car anyway.  He's upset by this and clearly wants to get rather physical about it, but I ignore him, feed the meter, and go off to the post office.  Bad judgment call, sigh.  He still wants to make a fight out of it, but I stay away from him and keep walking. 

I come out minutes later, and this fellow is gone...but the guy nearby taking his cigarette break is looking at me rather intently.  I don't see anything wrong with the car before I drive off, but the flat tire is evident before I get to Porter Square.  My tire got knifed, and now I need a new one.  Actually, more likely four, because my particular car is picky about matching tires.

So I walk back over to the business where our Potential Witness is from.  I think they know what happened, but this fellow doesn't even come up front.  They say he didn't see anything, so I have nothing useful to take to the cops.  *sigh*  I can understand his/their response, though.

So this is just by way of warning that if this fellow wants his space in Davis Square, let him have it.  The parking spot, I mean.  It isn't worth it.  He's not hard to identify as Trouble, fortunately.  You won't have any question in your mind if you see him.  Has anyone else?

I'm taking this almost sanguinely; the tires weren't expensive and they're half used up.  I'd have been more upset if he keyed my car.

Aside: I've been around here 15 years, and I've never had trouble like this before-- I expect many more quiet years, especially if I act slightly smarter.  I still think it's generally a pretty safe area.

Comments

[sonofabish.livejournal.com]

That blows. I'd call the cops and tell them what happened. Who knows- maybe either cops are already familiar with this douchbag or a security camera caught him. Not surprising the witness wasn't helpful- he was probably threatened with the same knife he used to slash your tire.

[http://users.livejournal.com/cgull_/]

Oh, I did, but I can't describe people to save my life, at least not tonight. I hadn't thought about security cameras.

[ron_newman]

there's a security camera attached to the back of One Davis Square (CVS building), right next to Day Street. But I do not know whose camera it is. (Did this happen at a Day Street meter?)

[perich.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'd call the cops anyway. At the very least, a complaint in the system might put paperwork on this guy that'll help get him arrested in a later case.

[eeyorecol.livejournal.com]

That stinks, but I agree that you should call the cops anyway. Perhaps if it happens (or has happened) to someone else, they would have a record.

Also, if I'm going to the Post Office in Davis, I usually park in the 5 minute parking right in front of the post office - there are usually spaces (and hopefully no punks)

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Always, always, ALWAYS call the police. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, if nothing else.

And always park in the space. Always. Never, ever, ever let people like this intimidate you. They are bullies and cowards, and if they are not allowed their way often enough, eventually they might learn the lesson. Probably not, but it never hurts to try.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

x3. This is one of the most useful things about having a cellphone: you can call the cops during the interaction.

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

cell phone for taking picture, and immediately posting to a blog, forum, etc in case the perp gets uppity. one could say, post to facebook with caption "this guy is about to jump me, call 911 if i don't post a followup in 15 minutes"... all while inside your car.

does insurance covered slashed tires?

#

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

does insurance covered slashed tires?

I would think so; that'd be vandalism, which should covered under the "comprehensive" (i.e., "fire/theft/vandalism") portion of your car insurance. Yet another reason to get a police report. However, a single tire, even one priced at $200-$250 (like the ones for some expensive German hardware I could name), probably won't exceed the amount of the deductible. So it's probably not worth making a claim unless you're going to have to replace all four. In cgull's case, with only one tire of four actually *damaged*, you'd probably have a heck of a time convincing the insurance company to spring for four new shoes, since in their view you probably don't "need" all four.

I'm not sure to what extent "excessive" comprehensive claims could cost you an increase in insurance rates in MA, or a policy cancellation or nonrenewal. In some states if you make too many comprehensive claims the insurance company ends up giving you the hairy eyeball in one way or another.

[darxus.livejournal.com]

I very much agree with this, except for the "it never hurts to try" part.

What cops?!

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

You should have engaged him in a duel. Like a real man! :) :)

Maybe he had to get to Gold's Gym in a hurry?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mattt/]

Don't let anybody like that intimidate you. That person sounds just disgusting. I'm very sorry this happened.

1. Parking isn't that hard to find in the square.
2. There's no saving spots.

In the future, and for anybody else reading along, whenever engaged in a confrontation like that about your car (or bike), stay with your vehicle/bike until the thug walks away. Never leave your property unattended. If he doesn't leave on his own, call the cops and say that there is someone threatening you or making you feel uncomfortable and if they could send someone over you would most appreciate it.

Re: Maybe he had to get to Gold's Gym in a hurry?

[darxus.livejournal.com]

Excellent point about calling the cops if they refuse to go away from your car.

[darxus.livejournal.com]

"It isn't worth it."

I disagree. I would be very uncomfortable with encouraging that kind of behavior.

A couple options that come to mind - take a picture of him before you walk away from the car, or call the cops before you walk away from the car.

And I agree that you should tell the cops what happened now.

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

I totally disagree with you. While leaving and just Not Confronting the Jerk may seem to you an act of self-empowerment, or Teaching the Jerk a Lesson, there's another thing to consider: confrontations can lead to physical confrontations. He was lucky to get away with a slashed tire, not 4 slashed tires and not broken windows or keyed car nor personal confrontation. This guy had a knife, which could have ended up in the OP's chest. Sure, you taught the jerk a lesson, but you're dead or in a hospital or scarred for life. Is that really worth it? I don't think so.

[darxus.livejournal.com]

For me, yes, it's worth it.

There have been a number of times I've confronted men who were obviously seriously off, and I've been very happy with the results. One is currently in jail. That one managed to come back at me when I had foolishly dropped my guard. He had all the time in the world to pick up a brick, and my face and I are very fortunate that he wasn't thinking that clearly.

Part of the reason I do it is I realize: better me than you.

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

ahh, i understand now. You're very happy that you escalated the confrontation to the point that your face could have (but didn't) get hit by a brick. All because of some little point (like a parking space). If you think a parking space is more valuable to you than a straight nose, or a brick-sized hole in your head, I agree with you. However, I like my mind intact, and don't like to risk my mind's contents on the whim of an unknown potentially dangerous person.

What I'd do would likely be to take the space, and if they were insistent that I leave, I might very well just leave. Or if they persisted in standing in the space while I was backing in, I'd just say "dang" and go find another spot. I like my brains intact. If you prefer to risk having your brains spewed on the ground, more power to you.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

True, there's a risk, although it's a lot smaller than you'd think.

But you also have to understand that's what people like this thrive on and why they get away with things like this. They WANT you to be scared of them. When you show you're not only not scared of them, but perfectly willing to call the police, it shuts them down and ends the problem (temporarily).

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you enjoy teaching these thugs a lesson by fixing your tire. You showed him! I'd rather not be out the $100.00 and the time to buy a new tire. But if you want to help the Michelin Man in this bad economy, go ahead. I think I'd rather save my money for something more interesting, like a nice steak dinner with my main squeeze.

Basically, I'm Not The Thug's Mommie. I do not choose to make myself his target.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Basically, I'm Not The Thug's Mommie. I do not choose to make myself his target.

No, you're just making yourself his victim.

I'm not encouraging anybody to get into a fistfight, but I've pretty much solved the few times I've been in this situation by calmly saying: "I am not going to get into a fistfight with you. I will, however, call the police immediately and give them your description if I see any damage done to my vehicle." And walk away.

Never had a speck of damage to any vehicle I've been in.

Granted, we're different people (I'm 6' and male, so they're less likely to see me as easy prey but a LOT more prone to attempting to start a fight, especially if I'm taller than them), but even so.

[darxus.livejournal.com]

Also, get pepper spray. You need to get a form from your local police for a permit, which pisses me off. But if you felt like you were in physical danger from this guy, you would have been justified in using it. And then you wouldn't get harmed, and he would still be there when the police arrived.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

The form's necessary, I've seen way too much stupidity with things like Mace and tasers not to at least want that level.

[tt02144.livejournal.com]

I'd say that calling the cops, if you feel in danger, before you leave the car, however, it won't be a priority call, and would be a 'he said'/'he said' situation. The most they would do would be to tell the guy to move along, since nothing can be proven. If anyone thinks that someone is going to pull security camera tapes for this, I'd like to be there when they do! Unfortunately, you live in a 'diverse' city and things happen!
And by the way, I've actually had the same problem.....a McKinnon's emplyee stood in a spot and wouldn't let me use it, saying it was for one of their customers who was 'buying a lot'. Whatever.

[soft-shoulder.livejournal.com]

I had a lady flip out on me one day. I drove around for half an hour to find a parking space and edged my tiny car into a snow bank. After I got out and walked away a crazed lady in a giant suv almost ran me over and was screaming about how I had better get my *beep beep* car out of her *beep beep* parking space that she'd drove around the block for. She threatened to kill me. Needless to say I moved out of fear.

Seriously, guys...

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

I actually think that these days it is not worth risking it. With all the guns in circulation and the unstable folks without a job, I would not feel comfortable starting a fight over a parking spot. This guy will run into someone else like him and they'll fight it out.

Re: Seriously, guys...

[bonzaineko.livejournal.com]

I completely agree.

I'm glad there are a few rough tough men here who are willing to teach jerks a lesson even at the risk of bodily injury. But as a 5-foot-tall woman who has trouble walking straight when the wind blows too hard, I hope you guys will forgive me for not being confrontational should I ever find myself in such a situation. ^^;

[http://users.livejournal.com/cgull_/]

I did mention the "sleep deprived and crabby" part. I didn't mention the "not thinking straight" part. I was rather out of it Monday.

If I'd been thinking straight, I'd have gotten 100 feet from this guy (and kept him in sight) and called the cops. My phone doesn't have an all seeing eye yet.

Next time, though I hope there isn't a next time. :)

I've changed out the tires for my winter tires, now I just need to find somebody to replace the summer tires, and get on with life...