Save your marriage for $39.95

We all know marriage is no game. Knowing what our partner will say what he/she thinks you'll say is not always easy. But, fortunately, there's no guessing when it comes to protecting your vehicle from theft. Kim G's loss and subsequent blog shows us how vulnerable we all are. I've lost track of the number of stolen cars I'd recovered in my career, sometimes drivable, sometimes not. One good one was when a guy left the keys in the ignition (with engine running) of his classic Cadillac De Ville parked in front of the 7/11 at Maryland Pkwy and Karen. It was never a nice neighborhood that I can remember, but common sense was lacking on his part! Typical job security. He saw it speeding away, called it in and I was one of two cops who were lucky enough to be nearby, and after a short pursuit the driver crashed it into a power pole in an alley off Sierra Vista and Cambridge (another ghetto). I drove back to pick him up a the 7/11 so he can retrieve his car...badly damaged, but drivable. I remember him cussing out the scum bag who took it and in the same breath wondering how he'd tell his wife how it happened!

It could have been worse as I'd found several like this one below. Or, wheels and parts missing.

I never took a stolen car report when an anti theft device was used; like dead bolts on front doors; they're only good if used. Some were just "joy-ridden" and left trash, dirty and missing all the c.d.'s, personal property, tools, check books, coins in the ash tray, etc. At one point the judges became reluctant to severely punish stolen car offenders if they didn't take the car with intent to permanently deprive the owner of it! Hence, a lesser degree of auto theft was added to our state's thousands of laws. I had a few who'd "cold plated" the stolen car... does this show enough intent Your Honor?!! Not always. Oddly enough, my last pursuit before I retired was a stolen Cadillac where it was left running in a home's driveway, to warm up on a cold morning. I found it and followed which soon turned into a pursuit. As he made the right turn at I-95 to Salt Lake City, the driver lost control, skidding sideways. I thought of ramming him, but knew I had too many witnesses. He took advantage of this and drove over the curb, down the hill and crashed the fence in the drainage ditch just missing the homeless, and continued onto the streets below. (where only four-wheeled trucks should go) Other units intercepted it near Jackson and F street and he abandoned it, getting out to run on foot. I ended up following him as he ran down a street yelling, "Look, the white poleeeece are gonna shoot this n_ _ _ _ _ !" I got a conviction in court months later when it was learned he was certified an adult on a prior stolen car arrest. He was 18 when I arrested him. The Cadillac had front end damage, steam bellowing out from the engine area and had two flat tires.

Anyway, anti-theft devices: I used to use one, I think it's in the garage, somewhere. . . . used it when my 4X4 Toyota was new. Hmmm. Anyone believe in Karma? Hope not. Let's hope since school is out, some rambunctious youngn's will not be too bored. Majority of crime is committed by the male, ages between 16 and 26. Disclaimer: no referral to RM's boys :)

Let's be safe out there fellow bloggers and please comment if you have any crime awareness/prevention tips. I could go on and on and on and on.