WTF is with this??

Question

OK so we live near cleveland but we are in a suburb. We went to cleveland to go on this boat called the nautica queen because we won tickets at some thing. We had to pay 5 bucks for parking. When we came back our whole car window was smashed and our dvd player and tv were gone. My mom made sure that no one could see them by putting a black towel over them. What i don't get is how come the police arent' gonna look for this guys or anyting. And my mom said that we cant get any money from our insurance because she said that the deductable or something would cost more that the stuff they took. On our car there are very clear fingerprints of the guy and the police looked at my mom like she was crazy when she mentioned that. So a guy brakes into our car and steals all that and we don't get anything and he doesn't get punished?? WTF??

Answer 1

to much crime, not enough cops

Answer 2

Here's the issue...prove it.   The only evidence you have is  possibly some fingerprints on the car.  Whose fingerprints are they?  When were they put on there?  Any decent defense attorney would tear that case apart.  Unless you have video and/or an eyewitness, the police are unable to do a solid enough case to prosecute anyone.  Really sucks, but its true.

Answer 3

Maybe the police feel theres more to worry about then a stolen electronic. idk, but thats just rude

Answer 4

Unless you happen to know who the person is, how do you expect the cops to catch them?

BTW, how do you know the prints where the prints of the person who robbed you?

Fingerprints mean nothing, esp on the outside of the car. All that proves is that a person touched your car. They could be yours or the guy who filled your gas. They may even be the perps, and all he has to claim is he touched your car.  In the abscenece of any real evidence linking him to the items or the inside of your car or a witness. fingerprints on the outside mean zip.

No, they are not going to send out a latent print team for a property crime. Hate to disappoint you. It may seem like the crime of the century to you, but in a Big City, its relatively minor. Unless they happen to catch the person with your goods randomly, you will never see this person again or your stuff.

Had it been a murder, yes, they would dust the car, but even then, that would only be to point them in a direction. Once they find a person, they need actual evidence the person did it, other than fingerprints outside the car that prove nothing.

The old "towel" trick is almost as effective as putting a sign saying "expensive stuff right here" with an arrow pointed at your car.

In fact, since you do not plan on filing a insurance claim, you really just wasted your time filing a police report.

Answer 5

Happened to me too. How they gonna catch the guys? They are long gone with your stuff and left no evidence. What else you gonna do? Sorry, it does suck.

Answer 6

One other thought is occuring to me in this scenario. I understand about he deductible charges and not wanting to send it through insurance, but you mentioned paying $5 for parking. That implies a vicarious liability on the part of the parking lot company that you paid not just to park your vehicle, but for the security that they would have to provide.

I would definetely contact them immediately and if they do not want to send this through THEIR insurance, I would file with small claims court.

If they charged you to park, they are also partly responsible for your vehicle while it is there.

Best of luck and I hope this is useful to you

Answer 7

You are not alone. The cops don't investigate small crimes, at all.

Answer 8

To the cops, the paperwork for your crime was more trouble than it was worth.

Answer 9

what is sad, if they did catch them, you would have to provide model numbers and serial numbers to claim your property.

most people don't have that information.

Answer 10

here the police don't come out and investigate burglary of motor vehicle, they fill out a report on the phone so you can file insurance.

they never try to catch anyone.

yes, most criminals are not caught or punished.

Answer 11

That is a pretty minor crime compared to so many others.

Word to the wise- never leave valuables in plain sight. Thieves know a towel over something means it's valuable. They were probably drug addicts or homeless people looking for stuff they could quickly pawn.

That was basically a crime of opportunity.

Answer 12

happened to me too.  Someone scratched a nasty word into my car and got a way with it.