Stolen Car Alert

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

If anyone happens to see a black 2 door 1999 Honda Civic with a broken antennae, (as in,not there) replacement grill in the front (no "h" emblem) and an apple sticker on the back and MIT west garage parking sticker in one of the side windows and a Somerville zone 1 parking sticker on the front window, please let me know? My car was stolen last night from the intersection of Conwell Ave and College Hill with a bunch of our Outdoor Challenge Equipment in it, and of course our deductible on our homeowners which would cover the equipment is $500 which is only a bit more than the 17 abmats we just lost, and money we just invested into our growing business. *sad face*

And before anyone lectures me about keeping things in the car, what exactly would you do when you live in a nice quiet neighborhood near Tufts, have a class at 5am at a local park, and live in a 3rd floor walk up? I pre-load my car every night for the next day so my neighbors don't hate me.

I'll be honest, it was the car and not what was in it that got it stolen, it's an Si, so the wanted her engine. Not her other contents. She's otherwise a very generic little car. I'm sorry I don't have a picture, but she was still fairly new to me.

Anyhoo, if you see her, call the Somerville Police at (617) 625-1600 and drop them a tip, as we've checked the local tow registries and a report has been filed. Thanks.

(and feel free to rebroadcast)

Comments

[bombardiette.livejournal.com]

Do you know your plate #? That would be the most helpful piece of info to watch for - especially stuck in traffic.

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

Thank you, sorry, I'm not braining well this am. 375 AM1. I really don't expect it to be out anywhere, I expect it to be getting chopped.

[bombardiette.livejournal.com]

Understandably so. A friend of mine had his car stolen from the Winter Hill Bank parking lot a couple of years ago and we expected the same thing...

But on his way to somewhere with a mutual friend, they happened to drive by the car parked outside the projects on Mystic.

So, hold out hope. And we commute through Medford and Somerville every day, so I'll keep my eye out for it. I'm so sorry this happened to you. : (

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it. My husband is going to take a wander through the housing on North St/Rt 16 as its right around the corner from us. But..ugh, I thought I was just being an airhead this morning as I wandered around my neighborhood at 5...looking for my car.

[bombardiette.livejournal.com]

That's not a bad place to start looking, for sure. If I don't see an update from you saying it's been found in the next day or so, I'll take a skip over to Mystic where my friend spotted his car. They found it over a week after it was stolen, so, you never know.

Also, I live in Malden which is a potentially likely place to see a stolen vehicle (I've seen a ton of them towed in my 'hood after being abandoned there) which means I'll be vigilant on my commutes. : ) It's such a horrible feeling, I'm sure.

[veek.livejournal.com]

Oh, honey, I'm so sorry.

[pjmorgan.livejournal.com]

Most stolen cars are recovered, abandoned somewhere. Perhaps not in in their pre theft condition and with some contents missing, but you'll probably get your car back.

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

The worst part is that I had it packed for my class I teach in the mornings. Exercise equipment that my business associate and I had just bought for our fairly new business with money we had earned, *with our business* I like the car and all, but that's the part that really smarts. Plus, they got my whiteboard!!!

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Seeing as this is an Si, I kind of expect it to be sans engine, but really, the thing that I'm steamed about is the contents. Anyone stealing it won't care about my rainbow colored agility road cones and my white board, but I do!

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

Thanks dear. Who knows, it may yet be found. I had to walk around my block about 5 times before I'd believe I hadn't just moved it somewhere dumb!

[bombardiette.livejournal.com]

Argh! Unfortunately, even if the car is recovered, the equipment might not be. : ( My buddy lost all of the tools that were in the car when he found it - except the screwdriver they used to pop the locks and ignition. Brilliantly, he used that same screwdriver to start it up and drive it home, in effect, stealing it back.

With luck, maybe they won't know what they've got in terms of the value of the equipment and just sort of...leave it alone. Do you have insurance for your business? Would that cover that particular loss?

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry about the loss of your car and equipment. About the only recommendation I can make about where to store the equipment in the future is still in the car, but keep it all Out Of Sight. Inside a trunk, under some "trunk cover" thing, or just put a tarp/blanket over it. Leaving stuff in plain view when parking outside, especially on a street is, alas, not a good idea.

Good luck with the insurance company and getting another car. Who knows? Some kids might have taken it for a plain ole joy ride and the police may find it quickly.

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Most of the equipment was in the trunk, there were only a few things in the back on the floor, not very easily visible. But I appreciate the advice.

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

We have homeowners, alas, the deductible is *just* above what the equipment in the car was worth, or so ($500)

[bombardiette.livejournal.com]

Argh. I did note that in the post - I was just wondering if you had any additional. That absolutely sucks though.

Well, if you're around Saturday I may be in the square to pick up a paycheck. I'll buy you a drink. : (

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

Thanks, that's sweet. I'll actually be volunteering at the Fluff Fest! Making about 300 fluffernutters for other volunteers.

[ifotismeni]

i had my car stolen a few years ago. it was recovered a few days later, banged up but intact. hang in there, we'll hope for the best for you.

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I appreciate the good wishes!

[tsuki-no-bara.livejournal.com]

oh dude, that sucks. i'll keep an eye out.

(i have a two-door 1998 civic. just a year older than yours.)

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

Thank you. This one was purchased from a good friend, and he had it from new, so I'm a little upset about losing my car, and his old car, and..yeah. No fun.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

1990s Hondas almost never come back--as you suspect, it was almost certainly targeted by someone acquiring for a chop shop, not by joyriders.

We lost our beloved 1995 Civic hatchback last year, so I feel your pain.

OTOH, it might be worth calling the Traffic and Parking in various surrounding communities and alerting them; our neighbors' stolen car wound up in Chelsea with three months' worth of parking tickets, long after they had settled with the insurance company.

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

How very odd! You'd think that the police would check that too, but..well, one never knows. I appreciate the tip though. I'm saddened by the idea of having to replace her, both by financial obligation and just the fact that this was still a new to me car that I was getting to know. I appreciate the comment :)

Credit Cards

[best1968 (from livejournal.com)]

Some credit cards provide purchase insurance so you may be able to get your money back that way.

Re: Credit Cards

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

Thanks! We'll look into it since the equipment that was with the car is just a hair below the deductible...sadly.

[jenskot.livejournal.com]

Hey, good luck - you may assume irretrievable chopshop, but strange things can happen: my car was stolen from the back of my looooong driveway in Brighton one time, and found six months later (covered with parking tickets, haha) in Newton after the kids who joyrode it abandoned it. Not only was all my stuff still there, but they'd left some other shit like a PDA. Free PDA for my troubles!

[jenskot.livejournal.com]

Whats the deal on 2000s Hondas? Still a major target? I'm in the market for used, and I'd love a Honda, but not if I'll only have it in my possession for five months...

[miss-chance.livejournal.com]

okay, that's just wacky! (about ending up with their car back and a free PDA in it). I hope I'm never so bored that stealing a car is the best thing I can think of to do with my time.

Here's hoping for a speedy recovery!

Just out of curiosity, was it parked in a driveway or on the street? I park in that area not-infrequently.

[jenskot.livejournal.com]

It was in a nice area near BC, and it was off-street - apparently the joyriders had been grabbing a few cars in the Brighton-Newton area, but the cops couldn'tve cared less even after mine was recovered ("Dust the PDA for prints!" "Yeahhh... no."). I was just pissed that the meter maid had been ticketing the shit out of it for months and never bothered/couldnt run the plates to see if it had been stolen from 3 miles away until it went to the registry level to block my renewal. :P

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

Ask your local police! Here in Cambridge, it's 1990s Hondas; according to our mechanic, after the 2000 model year the computer got harder to cope with.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

I was just pissed that the meter maid had been ticketing the shit out of it for months and never bothered/couldnt run the plates to see if it had been stolen from 3 miles away until it went to the registry level to block my renewal.

This is what happened with our neighbors--the stolen car stuff seems not to filter down to local Traffic and Parking offices efficiently enough, so I think it's always worth a try.

[ron_newman]

All of the local chop shops are on or near Webster Avenue on the Cambridge/Somerville line. It may be a good idea to call around to them, or visit them in person. I don't remember the names of any except the largest -- Nissenbaum's.

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

Thanks Ron. Any legit chop shop is supposed to require a title before touching a car, salvage or otherwise, but it may be worth taking a look. The police have been extremely helpful so far and have been looking in all the right places, so they may have already checked there!

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

Makes it somewhat comforting that around here if a car gets ticketed enough, they just tow the sucker..at least that's what I've seen, may vary according to neighborhood visibility.

Stolen car

[aryan020.livejournal.com]

I just saw a late 90's Honda Civic Si with a boot on the front wheel parked on Broadway at School Street right outside of the Citizens Bank (winter hill). I believe it might have been dark green but it's getting dark out so I couldn't tell the exact color. Can't guarantee it's your car but it's definitely worth taking a look.....Good luck!