When I moved to Philly in 2005, I brought with me, my 2004 Hyundai Elantra, which I had bought brand new the previous year. It was the first valuable thing that I ever bought with my own money.

Since 2005, the following things have happened:

The side window was smashed for vandalism purposes. Nothing was taken.
The car was broken into on the 1800 block of S. Sartain. The dashboard was ripped out so that the factory installed CD player could be taken. In total, there was $4000 worth of loss/damages.
Someone stole the antennae.
Someone backed into the my in the Starbucks/Quest Diagnostics parking lot while I was sitting in it.
When living at our old house, the neighbor parallel parked her car, backed into my husband's car, and ended up pushing it into mine.
Someone pulled out of their parking space into my car while I was driving down 21st street.
And I will save the best for last-- A couple of months ago, I came out to find "f*ck you a*shole" keyed into my trunk. It isn't large, but they keyed it in deep, and I cannot afford to have this fixed.

The above incidents do not include the 47 million scratches, dents, and scuffmarks caused by people who just don't give a **** and tend to use the "touch" method when parking.


I can't imagine that the keying of my car was meant for me personally. I am a very quiet, stay-to-myself type of person in the neighborhood. I am very involved in my own life with my husband, schooling, and job-- I do not get involved in the ridiculous neighborhood drama that goes on. Nor do I ever park in a way that would be disrespectful or difficult for another person to get out of a parking spot. I take great care to respect other peoples' vehicles when parking so that I do not hit them or bump them.

The only aforementioned incident I can forgive is the break-in. And that is only because I work with a lot of ex-offenders and I tend to look at stealing from a different perspective. Yes, it feels violating, and yes, it sucks and it's not fair-- but there is a reason for why it is done, of which I can understand. Vandalism is just ridiculous to me. People who back up in parking lots without realizing that they put windows and mirrors on the car just so you can see what you are doing, piss me off.

Just had to rant. I haven't ranted about this in awhile.

Good lord, this is definitely a rant-worthy situation. Because of the war zone that it is in South Philly especially for a vehicle, I would never subject a brand-new car to these mean streets. I too have had my car dinged and dented and painted on, but my only consolation to myself was, Well, at least it's just a secondhand jalopy. I would really be sickened if it were new.

Sorry to hear how much worse your experience has been.

Pink,
Just out of curiosity, where was your car parked when this happened?

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Brian B

Please expand on your perspective of stealing.

Am I to understand that you don't mind people breaking into your car, just not backing up into your car?!

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"Simply put it is possibe to have convenience if you want to tolerate insecurity, but if you want security, you must be prepared for inconvenience"
General Benjamin W. Chidlaw December 12, 1954

Hi Brian,

I actually don't know. It could have been one of any of the surrounding blocks or my house, or perhaps even on my block. I noticed it one day during the week, and the car could have been parked any number of places when this happened.

[quote=PinkSoil;807372

Just had to rant. I haven't ranted about this in awhile.[/quote]


I feel for you!! After living in several different states I have to admit that Philadelphians are hands down the most disrespectful SOB's when it comes to cars (your's or their's......) and personal property.

I didn't say that I don't MIND people breaking into my car, lol. Of course I mind it-- it caused quite an inconvenience, not to mention a violation of my personal property. However, it is something I can forgive easily. I guess I see stealing as a product behavior of a million different things-- mainly having its roots in poor resources. My car was the unfortunate one that got broken into that night, that's all. There is really nothing to dwell on except for the fact that in my field, I am dedicated to reducing the need for these types of behaviors, even if it is just one person at at time. I obviously have a view on certain behaviors, such as stealing. This view wouldn't be authentic if when the time came that when I actually became the victim, then I freaked out, wanted revenge, etc., etc.

If someone backs up into my car, that's just stupid, lol. No lack of resources there. Just look out your damn back window. That's why they put it there.

Thanks Pink. I was curious because of the message scratched into the car. I was somewhat more fortunate. Some jerk left a note on my car calling me the same thing they did you when parked on 2700 block Smedley. They took a swipe with a key or nail a week earlier on the same block. Needless to say I don't park there anymore.

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Brian B

Sorry that you've had to witness your car being slowly destroyed...

In terms of the keying incident, not to make you paranoid, but this might have happened because you do try to keep to yourself, are not originally from the neighborhood, stay out of neighborhood drama, are a professional, and might be perceived as "too good" for some of your neighbors. I had a friend who lived on a small street in South Philly and he got a similar vibe from his neighbors. They were threatened, I would think, by the arrival of individuals unlike themselves in their neighborhood.

Regarding your view of stealing, I would agree that it is less hypocritical of you to stick with it despite having become a victim, but I have to say that I disagree with your view in general, even though I consider myself a far left liberal. Is it OK to steal from people who are not much wealthier than yourself for example? How would the person who broke your window know that before he or she did the crime? What if you had some circumstance that would have made it difficult for you to repair the damage, like having minimal insurance coverage? The person that broke in couldn't have known any of these things in advance. Also, you don't know his or her circumstances--they could have a number of options available to them, but choose to do this type of thing for fun.

I'm also in the mental health field and always encourage my clients to honestly deal with the consequences of the decisions that they make in their lives, whether in relationships or elsewhere.

Could be worse. My car was recently stolen from the Acme lot and "recovered" in Camden. Among the items removed: engine, trans, doors, hood, fenders, trunk lid, and the interior. Oh, it was also torched.