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Vandalism - I have been victimized!!!
Reverend_Chaos
Suit Up!Spokane WARegistered User regular
Suit Up!Spokane WARegistered User regular
So sometime between 6:30pm and 8pm someone broke the drivers side front window out of my car. They didn't take anything, my doors weren't even locked.
I called the crime reporting number and got a police report filed, but because no one witnessed anything, no officer response, and really nothing will ever come of this.
I live about 7 blocks away from a High School and there are a lot of problems with vandalism and tagging this close to the school. I am thinking about putting a reward up for information, even though I don't expect anything productive.
So, any ideas about steps that I can take to prevent this in the future? I live in a house about 30 feet from the street. I have no driveway so I just park on the street.
I called the crime reporting number and got a police report filed, but because no one witnessed anything, no officer response, and really nothing will ever come of this.
I live about 7 blocks away from a High School and there are a lot of problems with vandalism and tagging this close to the school. I am thinking about putting a reward up for information, even though I don't expect anything productive.
So, any ideas about steps that I can take to prevent this in the future? I live in a house about 30 feet from the street. I have no driveway so I just park on the street.
“Think of me like Yoda, but instead of being little and green I wear suits and I'm awesome. I'm your bro—I'm Broda!”
Reverend_Chaos on
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There really isn't anything else you can legally do, and the security camera thing may not be legal depending on where you are. And I really don't recommend installing a car alarm unless you're a big fan of your neighbors hating you.
But really, probably all you could do is put up a security camera for if it happens again.. you got evidence.
They walk around breaking windows and slashing tires etc.
At least your tire wasn't slashed! That would be more of a pain in the ass.
Nothing to be done really, and I wouldn't even bother putting up posters or anything.
If the evil-doers saw that, they may even revisit you.
This is the worst stuff that happens to your car, because there is no recourse (legally).
I moved away from an area prone to this and I am happy about that.
Are their areas with more like that you can park in? The odds of this happening to you again are probably slim, but boy is this type of thing a "learning" lesson.
1Park your car in a place that is well lit. If you have a driveway or a garage, put a security light up. These are reasonably inexpensive. If you have on-street parking, try to make sure your car is near a streetlight or other source of light that stays on all night long. Back your car into the driveway, if you have one. That makes anyone trying to hotwire your car visible to anyone who drives past.
2Park the car in a garage, if you have one. Make sure the garage is locked at night. If your garage is detached from the house, make sure there is a light on between the house and the garage.
3Invest in a car cover. Although they can be a bit pricy, they don't cost as much as a top of the line alarm system. Also, a full sized car cover is a deterrent to vandals. After all, if they have to lift a cover to damage your car, that's usually more work than a vandal wants to put into things.
4Add a security system decal. This can often fool a vandal into thinking you have an alarm system, but make sure it's from a real security system, not one that is noticeably fake.
5Get to know your neighbors. If you haven't met any of the people who live by you, now's the time to do so. Frequently, people see suspicious activity taking place but fail to report it. Reduce the risk of that apathy by being friendly with those who live in your community. Someone who knows you is far more likely to pick up the phone and call you when they spot someone messing with your car.
6Install a steering wheel locking device. This won't keep people from vandalizing your car, but it will prevent theft and often the two go hand in hand. I personally recomend a steering wheel to brake pedal lock.
If it happens again in the future:
1 - Keep important data handy. Before you even get into a situation like this, make sure you have your insurance company phone and policy number with you at all times. Keep this information in a date book or PDA, or even on a slip of paper in your wallet or purse. Include with it your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and license plate number. Depending on paperwork or a cell phone that was left in your glove box won't help you if the entire car is stolen or has been rifled through.
2 - Call the police. Insist that they come to the location so you can file a report. Get the name and contact number of the officer who takes the report, and find out when and where you can get a copy of the report. This information will be important later on when dealing with your insurance company.
3 - Contact your insurance company immediately. They will take down relevant information and guide you as to what to do. Make sure you ask them any question you may have, such as towing or rental car needs. Don't assume anything.
4 - Document everything. Document all of the damage done, as well as any missing items. If the car was damaged when in the hands of a valet, garage, or when under the care of another party, go over the list with them and fill out any necessary paperwork. Request a copy of this paperwork, although they may claim that company policy prevents them from giving it to you. Get the name, title, and contact information for all of the people you deal with. If you have a camera, or even a camera phone, take pictures of everything.
Going forward, keep a folder of all paperwork, receipts, and notes of conversations you have regarding the vehicle. It's important to keep this organized and at hand, as you will inevitably be dealing with adjusters, the police, company representatives, and the repair shop at various times over the next few days and weeks.
5 - Finally, keep calm. It sounds silly, but getting mad or frustrated won't help. Yes, you feel violated and vulnerable, but you need to keep your wits about you to make important decisions over the next few hours.
This isn't a hard-and-fast list, and everyone's situation will vary. But use it as a guide to prepare yourself and your family members if it should ever happen. College students, in particular, often live hours or days away from home, and should make sure they are prepared in advance in case their car is damaged.
Theyre expensive, but if you love your car like child its worth it.
Most auto insurance companies offer discounts for having one.
If thats the case, http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/security/9feb/
Since its not a functional camera, there shouldnt be anything illegal about ( IANAL read the fine print in your state's law) but it'll make the next thug think twice before he messes with your car and/or home.
I know you mean this with good intentions but it's an awful suggestion for a couple of reasons. The deterrence effect of CCTV is highly debatable. The studies tend to be all over the map with the results. But the meta studies tend to show almost no deterrence effect. So putting that up is a waste of $12.99 plus shipping. This assumes that the vandals don't rip it down. I've seen plenty of video in which angry vandals do exactly that. At which point you can add a small amount of damage to the walls to the cost.
There is also a legal liability issue in the perception of safety. While it's not as big a deal in suburban or rural areas, it still can be an issue. Dummy cameras are always a very bad idea.
Its not the best option, but its a cheap, simple option you can take, which is better than doing nothing.
It's actually worse then doing nothing. Since it will do exactly zero to prevent future property damage, it then leaves you out the cost of the property damage plus $12.99. Under the circumstances, doing nothing would be $12.99 cheaper. So it's not better then doing nothing.
This is correct. A fake camera is a terrible idea and I'm pretty sure I've read about people in the US getting sued for having a fake camera by someone who got victimized in front of it.
Aside from the fact that it's just one more thing to get broken, and the sorts of kids who walk around smashing windows are not thinking about getting caught and are not afraid of surveillance cameras. They know even a real CCTV camera won't do shit to help them get caught if that baggy hoodie they're wearing completely obscures their face anyhow. And in a lot of places the cops can't do too much to minors anyhow, so the kids don't exactly give a shit about getting caught.
The best thing you can do is pay for extra insurance against vandalism.
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
Correct. It's less likely for homeowners then business but it's still a slim chance.
This however is wrong. Getting a facial ID from a CCTV camera is extremely rare. Very few cameras are set to the kind of field of view that would allow you to get a face. You can often get height, build and clothing. If they park by the car or drive by, you can often get make and model of a vehicle. It's unlikely those alone would be enough for a conviction. It can however be grounds for looking for other evidence.
This is most likely his best solution.
Be on the look-out in the near future though. In my experience with vandals, they sometimes like to hit the same place in a short amount of time for some reason.
All in all, the best thing you can do is buy insurance, because there isn't much you can do short of catching these guys red handed.