ARGHHH

[hail2skins]

So, I'm heading out to work today and I'm approaching my car. I hit the remote to unlock the door and as I get close to open the door, I notice glass all on my seat and my dash ripped apart.

Yep, someone broke in and stole the radio. I believe they tried to find my GPS because of the window holder but I don't keep that in the car. I called work to inform them I wouldn't be in and then I called the police. While waiting for the police, I called my mother and she asked if they took my clubs. I said no without even checking. After speaking with her, I decided to look and they were still there but they did go back there and take my sub-woofer that was attached to the back of the rear passenger seat. I was shocked the clubs and fishing gear was still there but I guess they know what they wanted. I'm pissed and thankful at the same time.

The sub-woofer will be hard to replace I'm sure. I got it at Circuit City before they closed and it fit perfectly in my car. It was one-piece 8" MTX and did require an enclosure.

They didn't take the ipod adapter but I believe they got both the XM/Siruis and bluetooth adapters.

The window is all taped up and I have a 2pm appointment to get that replaced. I'm waiting for a call from the audio people at State Farm to have my equipment replaced.

It has been a rough start of the week for me. Twisted my ankle over the weekend which had me off yesterday because of swelling and now this.

[BurgundyNGold]

Man, that sucks. Getting your car broken into sucks as much for the time and money you have to take to replace everything as it does the anger and feelings of violation from someone breaking into your car. At least they didn't go after your clubs. Aside from being a pricey replacement, I imagine that you got them outfitted for you, which makes it even moreso.

[shally]

disgusting !! so sorry for you.. just a total pain.. here, they dont even send police to investigate. you go there and file a report..

[Patrick]

Man - sorry to hear this Mike. I had it happen to me last year - four vehicles (one being mine) got hit in a Lowe's parking lot. They were just going for the GPS systems. What pissed me off was my insurance covered the window but not the GPS. ....... AND the other thing that really got me - I was only in the store for 20 minutes buying some tool - one being a "sledge hammer". I got hung up at the register for about 10 minutes BUT if that had not have happen I would have walked up behind the dude who was breaking into these vehicles. Of course I'd be the one in jail now .........

[nicefellow31]

I never take my XM radio out of my truck. That will change. I didn't know there was a market for stolen GPS either. Sorry you had to do thru that.

[hail2skins]

I never take my XM radio out of my truck. That will change. I didn't know there was a market for stolen GPS either. Sorry you had to do thru that.

Thanks everyone. Been a rough day and then the site slows to a crawl. Got that straightened out.

Yeah nice, if you can take your XM out of the car, do so. My radio has a removable face but I had left it in there but I normally take it out when I'm done with the car for the day. Won't be forgetting that again.

I had heard stories about thieves looking for GPS's in cars especially if they see the holder in the window. I even heard that they look at windshields closely to see if there is evidence of a gps being used (residue from window holder).

[VegasSkinsFan]

Thanks everyone. Been a rough day and then the site slows to a crawl. Got that straightened out.

Yeah nice, if you can take your XM out of the car, do so. My radio has a removable face but I had left it in there but I normally take it out when I'm done with the car for the day. Won't be forgetting that again.

I had heard stories about thieves looking for GPS's in cars especially if they see the holder in the window. I even heard that they look at windshields closely to see if there is evidence of a gps being used (residue from window holder).

Thieves have been taking GPS systems from cars expecially when they are at the mall or a store because they can check the origin ( home address ) and go and break into the house. But to make you laugh...maybe it was Vinny C who broke into your car for not making him feel loved here. :) But sorry to hear that you were broken into to.

[CarMike]

Hate to hear that Mike. I've had my run ins with thieves as well. My Jeep got broken into all the time. They never found anything though since I had a detachable face on my CD player. Once I was at a hockey game in Greensboro and someone threw a giant rock through the passenger side window and took a nice jacket I had just received for Christmas. Then back in '98 or so someone broke into my wifes car and took her CD player.

Get this. Just about a month ago my BIL had his catalytic converter stolen off of his truck. That happened to 4 guys in one night. Here's an article dating back to 2008 talking about how much CCs are worth:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/29/us/29converters.html

CHICAGO — Jose Fernandez said he decided some time ago that on his salary as a restaurant worker, he was better off without his 1996 Toyota 4Runner. He hoped to make a nice bit of cash from its sale.

[A thief can sell a stolen catalytic converter to a scrap yard for a couple of hundred dollars. The honeycomb filter inside contains platinum traces.]

Before he could do that, though, someone beat him to extracting value: A thief sneaked under the sport utility vehicle with a battery-powered saw, slicing from the Toyota’s underbelly what may be one of the most expensive small parts of the auto world: the catalytic converter, an essential emissions-control device made with small amounts of metals more precious than gold. Who knew? Mr. Fernandez didn’t.
Theft of scrap metals like copper and aluminum has been common here and across the country for years, fueled by rising construction costs and the building boom in China. But now thieves have found an easy payday from the upper echelon of the periodic table. It seems there may not be an easier place to score some platinum than under the hood of a car.

[Ibleedburgundy]

Sorry to hear that man, I know how you feel. Had my car broken into two years ago when it was parked in Old Town Alexandria overnight. Lost a GPS and an Ipod. Horrible way to start the day.

[WarEagle]

My cars are too old for electronics, so I'm pretty safe. In Arlington back in the 80's, someone stole the front grill from my 82 Accord. Even had the cops going "WTF?"

[ihatedallas]

So, I'm heading out to work today and I'm approaching my car. I hit the remote to unlock the door and as I get close to open the door, I notice glass all on my seat and my dash ripped apart.

Yep, someone broke in and stole the radio. I believe they tried to find my GPS because of the window holder but I don't keep that in the car. I called work to inform them I wouldn't be in and then I called the police. While waiting for the police, I called my mother and she asked if they took my clubs. I said no without even checking. After speaking with her, I decided to look and they were still there but they did go back there and take my sub-woofer that was attached to the back of the rear passenger seat. I was shocked the clubs and fishing gear was still there but I guess they know what they wanted. I'm pissed and thankful at the same time.

The sub-woofer will be hard to replace I'm sure. I got it at Circuit City before they closed and it fit perfectly in my car. It was one-piece 8" MTX and did require an enclosure.

They didn't take the ipod adapter but I believe they got both the XM/Siruis and bluetooth adapters.

The window is all taped up and I have a 2pm appointment to get that replaced. I'm waiting for a call from the audio people at State Farm to have my equipment replaced.

It has been a rough start of the week for me. Twisted my ankle over the weekend which had me off yesterday because of swelling and now this.


I had a very similar situation happen to em last year. Someone shattered my driver side window and stole an ipod out of my car. The worst part about the situation was the complete and utter DISASTER satellite made of helping me repair it. I still can't get my new window up and down the right way consistently. Losing my ipod was bad enough - adding another issue for my car is what really made it terrible.

[AGibbsGirl]

OUCH! Sorry this happened to you Mike, I hope State Farm is treating you well. :D

We started covering GPS units about a year or so ago. It really is nice to offer that coverage since these suckers get stolen all the time. Not surprised they only stole the raido stuff, easy to pawn. Golf clubs are to subjective, can't unload them as fast (At least that's what they tell us.)

You might want to consider a Personal Articles Policy for the sporting equipment. They are super cheap, are all perils, with no deductible, and then you don't have to take a claim "hit" to your homeowners if you put in a claim if they are stolen. I have $5k worth of snowboard stuff on mine and it cost me $70 a year.

As for those catalytic converters, we had 4 claims (in our small office alone) in one day from the University of Maryland last year...or the year before, can't remember now, but it was shocking!

[AGibbsGirl]

My cars are too old for electronics, so I'm pretty safe. In Arlington back in the 80's, someone stole the front grill from my 82 Accord. Even had the cops going "WTF?" LOL! I had ONE cross bar stolen off the roof rack of my Durango at an Ikea in Brooklyn, I thought it was funny until I found out it would cost $150 to replace it.

[BIGREDSKINSFAN1963]

just do like me,drive a crappy car that ain't worthing into!
i hope your insurance covers it all.do you have a car alarm on it?

[hail2skins]

OUCH! Sorry this happened to you Mike, I hope State Farm is treating you well. :D

We started covering GPS units about a year or so ago. It really is nice to offer that coverage since these suckers get stolen all the time. Not surprised they only stole the raido stuff, easy to pawn. Golf clubs are to subjective, can't unload them as fast (At least that's what they tell us.)

You might want to consider a Personal Articles Policy for the sporting equipment. They are super cheap, are all perils, with no deductible, and then you don't have to take a claim "hit" to your homeowners if you put in a claim if they are stolen. I have $5k worth of snowboard stuff on mine and it cost me $70 a year.

As for those catalytic converters, we had 4 claims (in our small office alone) in one day from the University of Maryland last year...or the year before, can't remember now, but it was shocking!State Farm has always treated me well. The window was replaced the same day. I've sent the receipts for the radio equipment and I'm going to the body shop to day for them to look at it. So far so good. I do plan on adding a 3rd party alarm though. I want one that has a remote that alerts you as well.

[guess88]

Not to make light of theft, but....

I had a friend who had his car broken into and stereo stolen, which sucked. On the other hand, they also had a sense of humor and in place of his cd player they left him a walkman. I laughed for days.

[AGibbsGirl]

Not to make light of theft, but....

I had a friend who had his car broken into and stereo stolen, which sucked. On the other hand, they also had a sense of humor and in place of his cd player they left him a walkman. I laughed for days.Where in the World did they find a Walkman? lol! That's too funny!

[RedskinsDave]

One of the benefits of newer cars is having all the stereo and GPS built in. I had my car broken into a bunch. Once they even removed my golf clubs to get to my sub. I will give you one guess which was more valuable.