Why are there so many jealous vandals?

[Bex]

Had my car nearly seven weeks and so far I've had some idiot drive into the back of me and now someone has dcided to "key" the passenger door!

Why are there so many jealous vandals?

Before my Mini I had a VW Polo and this was keyed twice, that's three would-be artist(e)s leaving their signatres in less than a year!

Does anyone know whether these "scratch/bump" places are any good for repairs? And other than move from the crime capital of England (Newcastle/Sunderland, should anyone want to avoi this area) are there any ways of deterring these morons?

[Pebble]

It that kind of attitude in the UK that has led me to decide that I will be staying in the US where people tend to accept that other people are allowed to have nice things.

Of course, park it in Miami and it might get stolen, but there seems to be less pointless vandalisim.

[AidenL]

Damn the begrudgers, I hate them its the same in Ireland, so many jealous people, I've had it happen on previous cars too, I just thing they should be hung from a tree and stoned........


Sorry for the rant........

[AprilWhine]

Remember the teenager who was caned for vandalism? I wonder if he ever did it again.

[Big Al]

Bring back the Birch .

[wingedsheep]

nothing as major as getting my car keyed... but I had my S less than a week and some dork stole the valve stem covers on the passenger side. It's not like they were even the special covers that said "MINI" -- just simple metal covers... went over to PepBoys and replaced them with some plain black ones for $2. -- idiots.

[DaveH]

Wilson and Young Bodyshop in Seaton Sluice are very good.

So is the BMw bodyshop next to Fawdingtons on Leazes lane.

[Johnboy]

Just a repetition of something I posted in a different thread, which you may find useful - I live in London, park on the street, and noticed that the cars parked in the middle of the street have noticably less damage than those on the ends of the street..... I guess that, thankfully, most vandals are lazy too!

Dentmasters was given the thumbs-up by one of my colleagues (for minor dings). Unfortunately, it won't help with more significant panel damage, and they can't do anything for paintwork damage.

J.

[Vix]

Avoid Camden like the plague - my last car got broken into twice last year outside a club (screwdriver in passenger lock). The first time, it took six weeks to fix and the day I got it back, it got done again: I'd only had it THREE HOURS!
I had to laugh though, 'cos the second time they nabbed the 'Motorists, do not leave valuables on display' poster, that the Met had kindly provided me with, which was folded up in the glovebox. Both times they didn't manage to take car itself so, I should be thankful for small mercies.
Actually, also in Camden (High St), I once witnessed a group of lads stealing the hard top of a parked BMW, attach it to theirs and then drive off - unf**kingbelievable.
Other places/people to avoid:
Tesco/M&S car parks. A trolley attendant told me that he enjoyed ramming posh cars with them (and swiftly gave me a demonstration -eek).
Parkbrite (wash cars in car parks). Quite often use dirty/gritty water so, beware.
Parking anywhere near a University en-route from/to the local Pub. Obviously.

One way to deter vandals outside your own home is to invest in a specialised car cover: I shall definitely be getting one for my Mini.

[timapplin]

My paintwork wasnt damaged by vandals in the street but by a garage employee. I agreed to have car washed as I had not had any probs with them washing my MC.
It rained just after they handed it back to me and I didnt realise till I got home . All I can say is the 'VANDAL' used a pan scrubber as the entire bodywork is covered in scratches like an ice rink effect
Reported and took car back its booked in 2 Dec for rectification.Ironically my old MC was in the showroom in pristine condition as I had left it


MCS/BRG/WHITE BITS/CHILI PACK/CD MULTICHANGER/DRIVING LIGHTS

[Smurfn]

I can't understand why people would do things like this to someone elses car, I guess I am still a little naive (even though I am 32). It makes you realize that some people really are just drongoes (am I allowed to say that?).
I have had my MCS for about 1 month now and had the "S" taken from the back, leaving a couple of little paint chips for me also, and then a couple of days later went to the car in the morning and found that someone had thrown an egg on the front, luckily it was on the windscreen and not the paint.

Discussed the situation with my wife, I figure there are 6 options:

1. Hope that nothing else happens.
2. Debadge the car so it is less of a target.
3. Buy a cover.
4. Try to rent a garage near home.
5. Sell the car and get something that wouldn't stand out.
6. Sell the house and buy one with a garage.

We went for option 3, hope it works because I really don't want to do 5 or 6.

[Harry Morant]

Crikey Smurfin - calling them drongo's is a bit harsh mate

Next thing you'll be calling them a pack of flaming galahs and they'll have to censor the post

[monsta]

They all deserve the death penalty in my opinion.

I've fortunately not suffered and key scratches on my MINI but a while back I returned to my car to find the passenger door mirror hanging from the wires that power the motor. Thankfully, I was able to fix it myself without buying a whole new door assembly.

They also stole my radio aerial at the same time.

And even longer ago, shortly after I got my car some **** in a car park put a dent right near the side repeater, it couldn't have been a car door due to the position must have been deliberate

*****!

Luckily my car is kept away from the public at night with a rottweiler sleeping near by

[Vix]

I, too, am now a, 'Victim of Crime' - clear n/s cluster smashed first floor Sainsbury's car park late Tues night.

'Stupid vandal', I thought, I'll just get a copy of the CCTV recording and take it to the Police Station - car park is new with state-of-the-art cameras after all.

A phone call later to Sainsbury's to report the crime and I discover that they don't own the car park, the council do - and that there's a security office on the second floor. 'Even better', I thought, on-site security. I'll report it first thing tomorrow.

Day time security officer tells me night time security officer is on holiday and will be for the next three weeks - without replacement - so, no-one was/will be watching the car park after 6pm. 'No worries', I tell him, I'll just have a copy of the CCTV recording then, please. He tells me the cameras do not record, sorry, they're simply live. Ok, I'll just leave my details so that you can note the crime for your records. 'You can't. We don't have a form for that. You have to go to the police station - on the other side of the road. Are you sure your car's been vandalised and someone's not simply knocked it?'

I depart making mental note that, according to all monitors in security office, all cameras in car park point at security office only (despite there being four floors to cover). Police give me a nice leaflet telling me I've been a victim of crime and a compliment slip. Crime still un-reported as crime number goes answered. Still trying to get through. New lens on order...

[supercuper]

About 6 weeks ago I had the front badge swiped and they tried to get the back one but for some reason didn't. It ****ed me off knowing some little SOB has that badge and is probably at school bragging to his friends.