Just returned from my trip to the States. I took my car to a friend's place because he lives in a "good" neighborhood and I figured my Fiero would be saver with him than here where I live in the city. This is one of my best friends and I know he has looked after the car the best he could. But here's the damage:
- The Fiero emblem on the nose has been stolen, pried of with a screwdriver. - Someone hit the back of the car (and of course didn't leave a note). - My fiero was keyed. There's a scratch running from the back to the front.
I hate Holland. I truly hate the fact that even in a very good neighborhood your property is not save from vandalism. I hate the fact that everybody here seems to live by the rule: "everything goes, as long as you can get away with it". Oh well. I guess if I left the car where I live, there would be nothing left of it (where I live, if you leave your car for just a couple of days, it would be stripped, broken into and probably stolen).
IP: Logged
07:55 AM
PFF
System Bot
Archie Member
Posts: 9436 From: Las Vegas, NV Registered: Dec 1999
Bummer Cliff. I thought Holland was so good for crime and stuff. Didn't know it was like that. Although we have high car theft rates and car vandalism here too. Problem seems to be even when they do catch them the judges treat them like some poor victim being jealous of what people have and slap them on the wrist, many times over with no jail.
What's the courts system like there with car thieves and vandals? The same as here?
Well, my car has been stolen once. They caught the guy when he was driving my car but he was set free the same day because they couldn't proof he was the one who had actually stolen it. $1500 worth of damage and the insurance wouldn't pay for it.
Crime in this country is getting out of hand and the government isn't doing anything about it.
[This message has been edited by Cliff Pennock (edited 08-13-2001).]
IP: Logged
09:00 AM
Tonker Member
Posts: 612 From: Ottawa, ON, Canada Registered: Jun 2001
Sorry to hear obout that Cliff. I think it's the same everywhere. The accused's rights for some reason seem to be protected much more strongly than victim's rights these days.
IP: Logged
09:31 AM
Songman Member
Posts: 12496 From: Nashville, TN Registered: Aug 2000
I know the feeling. My T-top was on the side of the interstate from about midnight till 10AM because of a broken belt. The window got knocked out in that time. The only thing I can think of is that I am glad it was just a window and not one of the T-tops...
Sorry I didn't get to meet you while you were here too! Hope you at least enjoyed the trip before you had to go home to that stress.
Sorry to hear that. How bad is the rear damaged? If you want, my Brother-in-law works at a Pontiac delaership and can get the nose emblems for $15.00 (His discount) If you want I can get one for you. Just let me know.
Where I live is generally safe to leave your car outside, but occasionally some idiots will break in and steal what they can. A cousin had his car broken into but he had one of the old pull-out radios. The thief actually had the guts to trash the interior of the car and leave a note that said "Next time leave the radio in the car!" His insurance only gave hom $900 for damage but it cost over $2000 to repair/replace the damaged items.
------------------
Got Emblems?
IP: Logged
11:04 AM
PFF
System Bot
b lo 0 Member
Posts: 497 From: Loganville, GA, USA Registered: Jul 2000
If it makes you feel any better, my fiancee and I went to Little Five Points in Atlanta to buy one pair of shoes in her Saturn ($800 custom stereo). We were gone for ten minutes, came back to the car, and the passenger door was wide open. Whoever jimmied the door open was dumb as hell, tho, all they had to do was pull the trunk release to get a sub, amp and $150 worth of CD's, but they didn't take anything, not even her brand new cell phone that was on the visor. Sorry to hear about the Fiero. Hey, move to America, sure, we've got theives and vandals, too, but ours are STUPID!
------------------ '85 GT (in progress)
White Lightnin! (NOT moonshine, for all you hillbillies!) Audio Imagery, budget-priced car audio supplies from people like Monster Cable, Sony & more!
Originally posted by Cliff Pennock: Well, my car has been stolen once. They caught the guy when he was driving my car but he was set free the same day because they couldn't proof he was the one who had actually stolen it. $1500 worth of damage and the insurance wouldn't pay for it.
So he was driving your car and didn't know how he got there?
Sorry to hear about your problems.
IP: Logged
12:16 PM
Raydar Member
Posts: 40686 From: Carrollton GA. Out in the... country. Registered: Oct 1999
Sorry to hear that Cliff. When I initially read the thread, I thought you were referring to the USA! Crime here, especially back East, is probably as bad??? Since deterrence is a facade, the crime rate is probably predicated by the economy. How is the economy over there?
"I think it's the same everywhere. The accused's rights for some reason seem to be protected much more strongly than victim's rights these days."
Actually they should be. Protecting the rights of the accused is at the crux of liberty and freedom. Now the convicted, well, that's a different story.
"In Minnesota we had the same trouble with crooks saying, "you can't prove I stole the car" so now we have a couple ways around that,"
I've never heard that defense, the old possession rule! Whatever works to snag the fnckers.
"They both work just fine but mostly the crooks don't go to jail for any length of time until they screw up their probation really bad."
It's called recidivism, and the rate is like 70%. But before you blame the system, as in liberal judges and slimy defense attorneys, it can also be incompetent prosecutors. When they sentenced the 'Halloween rapist,' they sentenced him to 84 years, but the problem is that some of it is concurrent. He might only do 30-40 years. But the real problem is that he was on felony probation at the time of commission of the crimes, which should have more than doubled his sentence, but the prosecutor forgot to bring proof of that and the judge could only give him maximums for persons not on parole with the provided sentencing schedule guidelines).
"Still like "eye for an eye" justice though."
Old Testament retribution is what most Americans like, that's why we have the death penalty with 2/3 approval. The only problem is that most of the rest of the world, including Russia and most of (if not all) Europe has done away with it. How do you seek retribution against a car thief who probably doesn't own a car?
"Hey, move to America, sure, we've got theives and vandals, too, but ours are STUPID!"
Our real thieves and vandals live in Washington DC.
[This message has been edited by EdsB52 (edited 08-13-2001).]
sorry to hear that cliff. I was really mad when someone tried to break into my car. They did $1400 worth of damage and the body shop could not find half the parts that were needed. I had to find them and then bill my insurance company. What a pain. I hope everything works out ok for you.
------------------
James Essar AOL IM Name: FieroMaster88 88 Coupe With a new V6 5 speed Isuzu trans AcCel 8mm wires rapid fire plugs custom intake with K&N filter. Soon to be 2" closer to the ground and have a turbo