My car was stolen this morning...ask me anything.

[Buddyblazon]

My 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan was stolen off the street this morning right in front of my house.

Have had it for 2 months. Still had the temp plates on it. I had the permanent plates, just hadn't put them on yet.

I use it in my job. It makes me money. For me, this is the equivalent of when say a carpenters tools are stolen.

I am pretty darn upset. And since my g/f works nights, she's still asleep. I just want someone to vent to. And since I haven't had much that was non-political to vent about in the past few years, I figured the lounge was better than GD.

So...fire away.

[CatholicEdHead]

1. Do you have insurance?

[maveric]

2. That sucks man! Are you insured for theft?

Or is it all going to come out of your pocket?

[Buddyblazon]

3. I am insured...

1000$ deductable though. Of course if I had no insurance it could be worse.

The biggest problem is I need the van A LOT next week.

[bigwillq]

4. That stinks.

Sorry.

How many miles are the car?

[Buddyblazon]

5. It had 89k...

but we shopped for weeks for one with the right combo...low mileage, clean.

The mileage wasn't that low...but it was unbelievably clean for 89k. By FAR the cleanest we saw. Everybody thought it was brand new. THAT kind of clean.

And we got it for 7k. A great price for what we looked at...and she ran like a dream. I'm a mechanical inclined type of dude. This car was taken care of.

[bigwillq]

7. Are there any leads?

On who might've stolen the car.

[Buddyblazon]

8. No leads...

Cop said 90% of daylight thefts turnout to be repo's. But we've only had one payment since we've only had it for 60 days. And we made that payment on time. We've got the records of it being withdrawn from our account.

[bigwillq]

9. Was there any suspicious activity

in your neighborhood prior to the theft?

[Buddyblazon]

11. Yes....our goodfriends across the street (my old roommate and wife).

She said she saw the vehicle out front 45 mins before I told them it was stolen...and a guy sitting in a late '80's early '90's white American made 4 door. A latino looking guy sitting in the drivers seat looking around. She was looking out the window and noticed him but thought he was a friend of our other neighbor (she's a little...ahem...loose...guys coming and going often).

He was parked directly behind my vehicle.

My guess is that his buddy was up under the dash. And he was looking out. Could be wrong. But the car was stolen in a 45 min window. And we live on a quiet street.

[bigwillq]

12. Good.

You have something to report to the police. I hope you told them this info.
At least there's a start maybe getting the car back and maybe getting the people involved in this crime.

[Buddyblazon]

14. We told him...

he said it sounded like the person that took the car. The behavior and timing was just too coincidental.

[bigwillq]

15. Any valuables in the car? (nt)

[Buddyblazon]

17. No...thank god.

I can have as much as 10k in sport memorabilia...but usually around 5k. And I just happened to empty it at our storage last night.

There was a football case. And my two favorite CD's (AC/DC High Voltage...and a really rare Z-Trip)...but thats about it.

[bigwillq]

18. May I ask

what do you do for work.

The sports references got me wondering.

[Buddyblazon]

19. Sports memorabilia auctions at NBA/NHL games....

I also travel for the company and work NFL games around the country. We sell signed photos, jersey's, equipment all framed and matted...all "pretty like".

In the summers I work concert production (PA and Run mostly...crew occasionally). Thats my first love, and do the memorabilia thing hoping that someday I'll get a permanent gig as a local prod. manager.

Quit for a couple of years and tried desk jobs. But they make me feel like I wanna pull a "Cobainer No brainer". So I do anything that keeps me from working a 9-5 gig.

And actually, I make more money this way.

[bigwillq]

22. Cool job.

I'm a sports writer for a newspaper in Connecticut. Mostly high school stuff. I love it.

[Buddyblazon]

23. Yea....I love my Nuggets (and Avs...and Broncos).

But I find people being nice to me because I have something they want. And when I don't give them what they want (for prices that I don't get the stuff)...they can get pretty snotty...at least the Hockey fans.

The Nuggets fans don't have as much money...but since we have a team again...there just happy we're winning. They certainly are good people though. And obviously VERY loyal to put up with a losing team for many years.

But truthfully, I love the concert production world. Been in and out for 10 years. Long days, but I get to drive some of the coolest people.

Sports writer. That sounds like it would be a lot of fun too.

[bigwillq]

24. Who have you driven? (nt)

[Buddyblazon]

25. Let's see....

John Popper, Lauren Hill, the Marley's, Dwight Yoakem and Bridget Fonda, Chris Martin and Gwenyth Paltrow, Bruce Hornsby, Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Dwayne Allman, Lil' Kim, Chuck D and Flavor Flav, Busta Rhymes, Naughty by Nature, Trick Daddy, Kenney Chesney and Renee Zellwegger (sp?), Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Shania Twain, Louden Wainwright III(I loved him...just the two of us in my car...even helped him sell CD's as it was a small show...and we just bashed Bush for hours laughing the whole time)...and many many more.

Oh yeah...my favorite...Ringo Starr. Neat guy. Mouth like a sailor. But really cool...especially considering we had to have a police escort because someone called in a death threat. He said it happens in every single city he goes to...is that just not horrible?

[bigwillq]

27. Wow, that's cool.

I've met some pro athletes, some college coaches, Bill Murray and Leslie Neilsen were at this golf tournament we have in CT and tons of tennis players, we have a tournament here in New Haven, CT.

I have to ask this question for my friend Jon, who loves Kenny Chesney--was he nice? Was he good looking in person? I know the second part might be difficult to answer but I'm sure you can tell me if he was a good-looking guy or not.

[Buddyblazon]

28. I couldn't take my eyes off of Renee....

HAHAHA

And it was a 10 min ride from the hotel to the venue. And then she hung out by the prod office for about an hour...but had to leave because all these people were trying to "star fuck" her.

As I recall...Kenney was a good looking guy. He's in pretty darn good shape. But they sat behind me and my eye's were on the road...or looking in the rear view at Renee. They didn't really talk to me.

Sometimes they do...sometimes they don't.

But I'll tell you. Most performers are attractive people. Even the "ugly" ones have an attractive quality about them. Unfortunately it's a quality that labels look for when looking for talent. Lived in Hollywood for a few years, and met a lot of unattractive, EXTREMELY talented people...and not very many of them had contracts. And if they get signed...the first thing a label does is "work on their image".

[bigwillq]

30. What about Lil Kim?

She kills me some of the shit she wears and says.

[Buddyblazon]

35. I've driven her twice....

and NO! Not in the least. A ridiculous amount of make up. To the point it's repulsive. And those fake contacts. And her boobs are always falling out. And they are NOT model boobs. Not the type that should be falling out...but do only because gravity has been bad to her.

She's nice though. Always polite and friendly. And she puts on a great show.

Oh...I also drove DEVO this summer. Took them to an after party (and they bragged the whole way that it didn't matter that they were fifty...because they could still party like Kennedy's). The put on a great show and were really nice. I took Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerry Casale and the only non-original member...their drummer Josh Friez (sp?). They were so nice and so much fun.

And because they don't tour and only do "one-off's" they still have lot's of energy. And DAMN do they put on one of the best shows I've seen.

If they come to your town...GO! They only do a handful of shows a year...but I assure you that you'll have a blast.

[bigwillq]

36. Sadly, I don't think

I could name a DEVO song. I will look out for them if they come CT's way.

[Buddyblazon]

38. "Whip It"...."when a problem comes along...you must whip it"!

"She's Just a Girl"...they did remakes of the Stone's "Satisfaction" and a remake of "Working in a Coalmine".

Their songs are all over TV commercials now. I can promise you that you know MORE than a handful of their songs. Mark is a big producer now and has written a lot of stuff for movies. He did the Rugrats stuff. I'm not sure specifically what other stuff he has done in that genre. But he's like a Danny Elfman.

[bigwillq]

40. Oh, I heard 'Whip It"

Didn't know that was them.

[Buddyblazon]

41. I am not sure if they have a Greatest Hits album...

but I'd be surprised if they didn't. They have had a good number of hits. But if they do have such an album, I would suggest buying it. They'll bring back a lot of late '70's early '80's memories for ya.

[bigwillq]

42. Ok, I was still in diapers in the late 70s

and early 80's I was going into Kindergarten!

[Buddyblazon]

47. Well I was born in '72.

Much older sister gave me lots of exposure to popular music at an early age. I was freakishly advanced on what was hip for my age. My first report at age 7 or 8 was on Pink Floyd's The Wall.

I was kind of a weird kid.

[bigwillq]

51. Did you ever listen to "The Wall"

and watch Wizard of Oz?

[Buddyblazon]

52. No...but I've heard they match up.

Is that true?

[bigwillq]

53. That's what I heard too.

Don't know if it's true.

[CanuckAmok]

6. It might be recovered.

My 4Runner was stolen a few years ago, and it was recovered abandoned and virtually damage-free two weeks and 600kms later.

Vans and trucks are popular to steal, because they can be used to haul lots of loot from burglaries.

They don't often end up being "chopped", because they're not really "high-demand" parts sources. Your van will probably be used to carry stolen stuff, and then abandoned somewhere.

Most indurance companies have a fixed period (usually 30 days) before they pay out on a stolen vehicle claim, so there's a good chance you'll get your van back.

If/when you do, be sure to get a third party inspection on it before signing off on your insurance company's release of claim. In particular, have the transmission inspected and the compression of the engine tested; you don't want to sign-off on your vehicle, and then a week later find out the drivetrain is shot because the thief drove it on the freeway in first gear for 200 miles!

[Buddyblazon]

10. The cop said 90% of vehicles turn up.

He told me not to get too worried. They'd probably find it.

On a funny note...the cop was the spitting image of Matt Damon. And really a nice guy. As soon as my next door neighbor (30, single and totally hot) saw him, she immediately came out all concerned. And of course stuck around till well past her due.

I got a laugh out of that one. I'll have to give her crap about it tomorrow.

[CanuckAmok]

32. you might luck out...

When mine was recovered, it had a few hundred dollars' worth of stolen tools in the back. The police impounded the tools, and after 90 days, they gave them to me, as nobody had tried to claim them.

[radwriter0555]

55. Are you SURE about $1000 deductible on theft?

Shouldn't be. You should be totally covered. With lots of extras like rental car paid for, etc.

They won't cover what was in the car though.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

13. Well, that certainly sucks big time!

I am truly hoping you get it back.....and QUICKLY!


:hug:

[Buddyblazon]

16. Thanks for the hug...

I think I'm so upset because I spent two weeks looking really hard for the right vehicle. And this was by far the cleanest AND the best price. We found some for cheaper...but they were trashed. And we really only found a couple with a better price.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

20. My dear Buddyblazon.......

:hug:



Because that's what friends are for........

[Buddyblazon]

21. And....

:hug: for you too.

[npincus]

26. sorry to hear that

[Buddyblazon]

29. Not as sorry as me ;)

ATTENTION EVERYBODY...GO OUT RIGHT NOW AND GIVE YOUR CAR A HUG!

[npincus]

31. hey, at least you and your girlfriend are safe

it is only a "thing" after all- (yeah I know, easy for me to say!)

[Buddyblazon]

37. That's what everybody else said....

But I have one hell of a temper (Irish) and I don't know whether WE were the lucky ones...or THEY were. I played rugby for years and unless he had a weapon...I can promise you that I probably would've beat him within an inch of his life.

Of course I say that now. But had I actually encountered them, they could've well had a weapon. We know the at least had tools.

[intheflow]

33. I'm so sorry! My SO's car was stolen a week ago.

He had a '96 Jeep, and had only had it for about 5 months. We loved that car!

So I understand your being upset. I still feel violated a week later. Glad we could be here to help you vent. :hug:

[bigwillq]

34. Sadly, Jeep's are so easy

to bring into and steal.
Did the SO get the car back?

[intheflow]

44. No, it was found in a ditch

off the highway about 50 miles east of here. :(

[bigwillq]

45. Oh, that stinks.

Hope SO had insurance.

[intheflow]

50. No theft.

Which truly sucks. :(

But his ex has an extra car that he pays the insurance on (his former car), so he's back to driving that. He's not happy about having to cram his 6' body back into the '74 Super Beetle again, but at least he has some wheels.

[Buddyblazon]

39. Oh...I'm so sorry.

Well...you and me...let's throw down a shot of Jamison's to our former cars.

*gulp*

[intheflow]

46. Make mine tequila, and sure, why not.

Our cars are gone but not forgotten. *gulp*

[Buddyblazon]

48. Fuckin' A, Bubba....

*gulp*

[GreenPartyVoter]

43. Ouch. I am SO sorry! *hugs*

[Buddyblazon]

49. Thanks.

Hugs to you too!

[newyawker99]

54. I am sorry to hear this Buddy.

:hug: