Murphy is smiling yet again

[DVS]

Sorry, no sex in this post, if that's what you're looking for. I know...maybe I should have mentioned that in the title.

I've got an old 1994 Honda Civic. It's got 165,000 miles on it. I've recently had the brakes done, oil changed, drive shaft replaced, four new tires and have been saving my money to get new shocks and struts on it.

I got off work this morning, and went in the house at about 8:00 A.M. This evening, I decided to go out to the car and get a case of water that I have in the trunk. I figured it would be nice and cold, and some cold water would taste very good right now.

I got the keys, and went outside, and my car was gone. It took me a little while to realize that it was gone. I thought to myself...where did I park it? But, reality set in and I then knew my car has been stolen. And they took it in broad daylight, right out of my own driveway.

No, I'm not insured for theft. So, if they don't get my car back, I don't know what I'm going to do. I can't afford another car. I've spent all of my extra cash getting this one so it's dependable.

There's no broken glass, so they must have been able to get into it fairly easily. It's a '94, so maybe security wasn't that good back then. And, 1995 Honda Civics were the most stolen car last year in the U.S., so maybe they thought mine was a '95. I hear they like to street race them.

Another problem is, there was a 9mm pistol in the trunk. It was hidden in a duffel bag, but I don't think that will stop them, if they are looking for something of value. If and when they get my car back, if that gun is missing, I'll be more than pissed off. It cost a lot of money and I could never replace it. And the fact that a gun would be out on the black market, just another idiot with a gun that could hurt someone...that makes me sick.

The police said they thought they would find it. They said most thieves just drive them until they run out of gas, then they go steal another. I didn't have a lot of gas in my car at the time, so I hope that's true. And, I hope they don't get caught in a police chase and I see my car hit a tree on the evening news.

I can handle a few extra nicks or scratches. No, it isn't the prettiest car around. It's got some small dents, some hail damage, etc. The previous owner had a problem with non movable objects. But, it runs great and I do want it back. It's all I've got, so I hope whoever took it for a joy ride, takes care of it and leaves it in a nice out of the way spot for the police to find.

So, please think happy thoughts for me...and the police. I don't have the best of luck, and this is just the latest in a string of bad luck that constantly follows me. I've often said that Murphy and I are close friends.

I still could use a nice cold drink of water.

 

[Sir_Winston54]

:: Adds another good-vibes antenna, pointed the direction of DVS's car. And DVS. ::

 

[FurryFury]

I am so sorry. I would think my 1990 or 1993 cars would be safe from thievery and your 1994!

 

[graceanne]

I think I recall someone saying that the reason that Honda Civics are so easy to steal is because they only have 25 keys to all of the cars. Get those keys and you can steal any honda civic anywhere.

If you get it back get a 'club'.

And I'm really sorry. *hugs*

 

[sinnocence]

I'm sorry to hear that DVS. It's true that Honda Civics are very popular among the street racing crowd. I used to be involved in that and they were EVERYWHERE. It's because they're normally cheaper than any other import and parts are cheap as well and so easy to find. Accords are popular too. I was given a '97 Honda Accord by my dad. When he lived in the city several years ago and I was visiting, someone tried to break into the Accord. They used a crow bar to pry the window away from the frame and the rubber weather stripping was laying on the ground. Thankfully we think the alarm went off and scared them away since we weren't home when it happened.
Sadly your car is a prime target for thieves. I hope the police find it soon and you get it back. Sending good thoughts your way.

 

[goodgirlfl]

Oh Im so sorry that totally sucks.

I know how you feel I have a 2000 Honda Civic Si, that has been stolen once and vandalized twice.

Now it not only has the club on it but a very expensive Viper alarm on it keeping it safe.

Good luck and I hope that you get your car back.

 

[Homburg]

That's awful, man. Yeah, mid-90's civics are commonly stolen. It's not that they are particularly easy to steal, but more that they were very popular, so the method to steal them became more commonly known. Hell, some of the easiest cars to steal are very high-dollar ones that you'd never think would be easy to poach (there's a really cool trick you can do with a mid 90's mercedes 420 and a screwdriver, but I digress).

Good luck recovering your car. I would unfortunately say goodbye to the pistol and anything else of value in it if it is recovered. The one thing I will say is that steering columns are cheap at salvage yards. If your car is recovered and not smashed up, the column will be a wreck. Most yards around here charge around $100-150 for a column, and replacing it is about a two hour job (plus a rekey by a locksmith) at a shop. Have it done at a body shop and you will probably save money over a dealership or service center.

If you want to ask specific questions, feel free to PM me.

 

[DVS]

Just went out and looked in my driveway. I thought...they took it without telling me, so maybe they'd bring it back without telling me. Nope...still gone.

Now, do I look for another car? And if so, how do I get to the car lots to do that? Stupid thought...how would I pay for another car?

Or, do I wait to see if the police find mine and wonder how it's going to look if/when they do?

And in the mean time, how do I get to and from work? I sure can't piss them off and lose my job. I work when most people are sleeping.

God, life sucks sometimes.Why did they have to pick on me? Pick on somebody who's insured or has a good paying job. Bottom line? I can't afford all this.

 

[rosco rathbone]

This reminds me of the time my partner was giving me a ride home and made an illegal left onto the Grand Concourse, in front of a cop car, in a truck with plates that didn't match either the vehicle or his driver's license, with an unregistered 9mm in a stash box. They impounded the car and he was sure he was going to prison, but they never found the gun. He got his story straightened out and got the vehicle and the gun back.

 

[Shadowann2]

My BF told me a story that reminds me of your situation. Especially the part about hoping it would show back up.

He was at the mall with his friend and they were ready to leave, so they went out to the parking lot to get in his friend's car. They couldn't find the car. He called the cops and reported it stolen. The next day a man shows up in his car at his house. The man got out and apoligized for taking the car. He explained that his wife had gone into labor while they were in the mall, and as they were rushing outside, his son got clipped by a motercycle's side mirror. The man and his family had taken the bus to the mall, and had no car to trasport his family to the hospital. He made the split decision to steal the closest car to go to the hospital. He broke the driver's side window and hotwired the car. He drove his family to the hospital, and they were all fine. When he returned the car, he said he would pay for the broken window. The owner of the car decided not to press charges.

 

[BiBunny]

why did you have a gun in your car in the first place?

I dont know enough about gun laws, but after some of horror stories i've heard about getting caught with a gun in your car, I would make sure to know my rights, and keep a copy of those laws in the case with the gun.

overkill i know, and probably not as useful as I imagine

It's a simple matter to get a concealed-carry permit for a pistol in many states. Say $10-$30 or so, filling out an application, and not having a criminal record. And if you carry long guns (shotguns or rifles) in the backseat or whatever, you don't even need a permit.

Why not have something there to protect yourself if you need it? If poor DVS had been in the car with the gun when the assholes tried to jack it, it probably wouldn't have happened.

I'm sorry, DVS. I hope the cops find your car and return it to you. Even better, I hope they find the dumbasses who did it and arrest them after returning your car to you.

 

[DVS]

why did you have a gun in your car in the first place?

I dont know enough about gun laws, but after some of horror stories i've heard about getting caught with a gun in your car, I would make sure to know my rights, and keep a copy of those laws in the case with the gun.

overkill i know, and probably not as useful as I imagine

It's perfectly legal to have a gun in the trunk of the car. And the gun was purchased legally. I don't know about the horror stories you've heard, but I do know the laws of my state when it comes to firearms.

 

[DVS]

It's a simple matter to get a concealed-carry permit for a pistol in many states. Say $10-$30 or so, filling out an application, and not having a criminal record. And if you carry long guns (shotguns or rifles) in the backseat or whatever, you don't even need a permit.

Why not have something there to protect yourself if you need it? If poor DVS had been in the car with the gun when the assholes tried to jack it, it probably wouldn't have happened.

I'm sorry, DVS. I hope the cops find your car and return it to you. Even better, I hope they find the dumbasses who did it and arrest them after returning your car to you.

Thanks, BiBunny. I'm a pretty good shot with it, too. But, one never really knows how they'd react when someone sticks a gun in your face and says "I want your car."

As for the CCW laws, some of the mid western states are more expensive. For instance, in Kansas and Missouri, for a concealed carry permit you have to take an 8 hour class on use and care of several different firearms, not just the one you own. That class can be with anybody licensed by the state to teach and prices can range a lot. The CCW permit is is $150 in Kansas. $40 goes to the county and $110 goes to the state. The permit is good for 4 years. If you don't renew before that time, it expires.

A gun in the trunk of the car is not considered concealed carry. It's legal to own a gun and not have a concealed weapon permit. How is someone going to get to the firing range for target practice without puting the gun somewhere?

The best place to carry such a weapon is the trunk. The law basically states that a loaded gun should "not readily accessible to persons in the vehicle." If you are stopped by the police, you are required to inform them there is a gun in the car. The trunk...they don't get so upset about. But, in the car itself, where you could get to it and point it at them... i.e. the glove compartment or under the seat or in your pocket, they pretty much frown on that. Until they see the gun isn't loaded, they have to assume it is. In the trunk, they are more at ease and less likely to shoot you by mistake.

The police know the gun was in the car. They need to know that, in case they stop the thief while still in the car. They have to assume he found the gun and is now armed and dangerous.

Just to clarify the simple carry laws of my state...(this is NOT concealed carry law)
an unloaded gun is fine, in the passenger compartment of the car. But, like I said, until the police know it's unloaded, they assume it is loaded. That causes more stress for everybody involved, if you happen to get stopped.

By unloaded I mean the ammo or clip must not be in the passenger compartment of the car. That makes it too easy for someone to load the gun and use it against a police officer.

The law says either the ammo or the gun must be in the trunk. Both in the trunk, out of reach of anyone in the car, is much better.

 

[FurryFury]

This may or may not be useful to you. My Dad used to buy repossessed cars at auction for a song.

 

[BiBunny]

Heh, I didn't realize a gun in the trunk wasn't considered concealed carry, but it does make sense, I guess. I'm just used to people carrying loaded pistols in their glove compartments, so they do need the permits for them. Sorry 'bout the misinformation about the permits, too. I guess I should've said, "In my state, it's cheap and fairly easy to get one if you don't have a criminal record."

I dunno, maybe it's the kind of culture I grew up in, but I don't think it's unusual to have a gun in one's vehicle. I just wanted to address those comments.

The good news is, if they find the guy and recover your car and your pistol, he'll have more charges against him if he's carrying the gun around. Lock the bastard away!

 

[DVS]

Heh, I didn't realize a gun in the trunk wasn't considered concealed carry, but it does make sense, I guess. I'm just used to people carrying loaded pistols in their glove compartments, so they do need the permits for them. Sorry 'bout the misinformation about the permits, too. I guess I should've said, "In my state, it's cheap and fairly easy to get one if you don't have a criminal record."

I dunno, maybe it's the kind of culture I grew up in, but I don't think it's unusual to have a gun in one's vehicle. I just wanted to address those comments.

The good news is, if they find the guy and recover your car and your pistol, he'll have more charges against him if he's carrying the gun around. Lock the bastard away!

No need to be sorry. I wasn't meaning to be bitchy at all. I'm just making it understood to whoever that the gun was legal and where it should have been. Last time I looked, I'm still the victim here.

I do feel bad about a gun like that being let loose on the black market though. But, unfortunately, it's not difficult to get a gun without going through the legal process. Criminals can't get one the legal way.

 

[DVS]

This may or may not be useful to you. My Dad used to buy repossessed cars at auction for a song.

I've thought about that. But, because of my terrible luck, I'd probably get a nice cheap car and it would die the next week.

My sister says I've got the worst luck she's ever seen. She says I'm being tested for something. I said for what? She suggested patience, but had no real answer to what it could be. I think I've got patience covered. I'm the most patient person around. Forgiveness maybe? I'm not too good on forgiving someone for stealing my car.

Oh, you could also call my patience procrastination, in some cases. I never take chances, never buy something without knowing I can pay for it, and always pay bills when due. It's just how I was raised. My credit rating is above 750.

 

[BiaTcHiNFiRe]

I am so sorry this happened to you, DVS!! *HUGGS*

 

[Sexualinnocent]

i am sorry for you DVS....you deserve better.

 

[Homburg]

Thanks, BiBunny. I'm a pretty good shot with it, too. But, one never really knows how they'd react when someone sticks a gun in your face and says "I want your car."

The smart person says "Right on" and gives them the keys. It's just a car.

And, yeah, the safest place by far to have a gun in the car is the trunk, and it satisfies the gun laws of the vast majority of states to carry it there. There is literally no more legal a place to put the firearm if you are transporting it in the car. (not aiming this at you, DVS. Just backing you up)

 

[intothewoods]

I'm sorry your car got stolen. I am also curious why you would have a gun in your car. To hunt with? For protection? If it's the latter, doesn't its location in the trunk defeat the purpose? Not being snarky. I'm genuinely curious.

 

[DVS]

I'm sorry your car got stolen. I am also curious why you would have a gun in your car. To hunt with? For protection? If it's the latter, doesn't its location in the trunk defeat the purpose? Not being snarky. I'm genuinely curious.

Well, you don't hunt with a pistol. It would be for protection. But, I can't legally and safely put it anywhere but the trunk without a CCW permit. Police get nervous if they find a gun in the passenger compartment of a car.

I had planned on taking the class for CCW, and that still is the plan, if and when I get it back, or ever get the cash to purchase another. The class isn't cheap, and the permit isn't either. And protection only goes so far. Like Homburg has said, if they have the jump on you, it's not in your best interest to try to do some quick draw thing against them.

If my class had been before this, I most likely wouldn't have it in the trunk Once I pass the CCW, I can legally carry it concealed on my person.

A friend and I were were going to go shooting. When I got home, I changed clothes, started putting things into the car and then set down and awaited his phone call. But he never called and I fell asleep. That sort of thing happens, when you work nights.

I guess the more correct thing would have been to go back out and get everything and bring it back inside, once I woke up and realized he hadn't called. Of course I would have done that, if I'd only known what was to happen. Hindsight is great. Instead, I kept trying to get in touch with him...trying not to waste the day. Somewhere during all of that, the car was stolen.