1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Burglarized Prius!

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by pcjr, Mar 27, 2006.

  1. DaveSheremata

    DaveSheremata New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2004
    249
    15
    0
    Location:
    Arlington, Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mystery Squid @ Mar 29 2006, 05:28 PM) [snapback]231873[/snapback]</div>
    Liberals in Houston Texas!? ;)

    Dave
     
  2. asaca

    asaca New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2006
    10
    0
    0
    Location:
    SF Bay Area
    "[Wow - while all you folks are foaming at the mouth with your opinions about Peter, I don't know why you're ripping on him so hard. While you may think that he's irresponsible, unintelligent or dishonest, I don't think there's call to be insulting him. As bad as his judgement may seem to be, there's no call to be rude. It's obvious that there are *all* kinds of assumptions being made. "

    Yes. No need to be so harsh. We're all human and make mistakes. Just learn from it and try not to do it again.
     
  3. pcjr

    pcjr New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2005
    56
    0
    0
    One more thing I have to say before I go off to the dealership to get my window replaced -- I guess it's a question of trust, or distrust. I really don't know how to convince people otherwise that it's not a scam, unless you live in the Bay Area and have one of those Prius get-togethers again (do these even happen anymore? it seems like every 10th car is a Prius nowadays). Then you can meet me in person. P.S. I just uploaded pictures of my smashed Prius on my website. I'll change the text of my webpage too so they will feel less threatened about donation -- ha! is being threatened even possible?
     
  4. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    19,891
    1,191
    9
    Location:
    Nixa, MO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pcjr @ Mar 29 2006, 05:42 PM) [snapback]231909[/snapback]</div>
    Well, I think you're going a long way to restoring some trust, but your initial post leading to a site asking for money then talking about how you lets some street walker named Candy into your car and gave her money was a huge mistake. I read it as "scam" and nearly deleted the thread. I don't know if you're just naive, new to the web, or what, but you need to be a lot more careful living in a city like SF.

    Starting with photos and your story of being robbed would have been better. FWIW, I suggest pulling down your donation site, swallowing your pride and saving your money up to get the repairs paid for.
     
  5. hycamguy07

    hycamguy07 New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2006
    2,707
    2
    0
    Location:
    Central Florida
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Soulbrosampson @ Mar 29 2006, 04:43 PM) [snapback]231828[/snapback]</div>
    Please note this didnt happen to a girl, it was posted by this guy named peter who was trying to hide his identity...

    Some one else stated the members reading this thread where Foaming at the Mouth, I would think so after reading the first post about some poor girl then we find out its really a guys post & wants money.

    Some of us would feel sorry for the car, but wouldn't send the owner a dime... I would feel alittle foamy too being lied to, your story does sound like it could be a movie plot of some kind. But thank you for coming out of the closet & admitting your not fake.

    With names like "California" & "Candy" or the police treating you as bad as you say sounds like its out of a dirty harry movie...

    I think we are just adding to your story here, maybe [you] can explain it better..?

    I would give this thread a rest...
     
  6. Salsawonder

    Salsawonder New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2005
    1,897
    47
    0
    Location:
    La Mesa California
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    My favorite part of the paper is the "Currents". It is the section with the manners lady, comics and Dear Abby or Ann. The most interesting stuff is in there.

    People have become pretty comfortable pushing the envelope of "good taste". People who decide to get married but have lived together for a while ask for $$ for wedding gifts, Brides expect their Bridesmaids to bend over backwards and empty their purses to make the Brides Day perfect. Some folks expect a donation from people attending a party.

    Peter has definitely shown poor judgement in deciding to "investigate" the theft himself (which may also account for some of the cops attitude). He put himself in further jeopardy by allowing someone he doesn't know into his car.

    Many people leave more stuff in their car then they should. If it is that important find a better way of transporting/using it. Sorry for your troubles Peter but it is time to own up and I am afraid you will need to pay your own bills.
     
  7. hycamguy07

    hycamguy07 New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2006
    2,707
    2
    0
    Location:
    Central Florida
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Dude ~

    How old are you? Medication? This is an quote from your re-edited web page.

    "Anyway, at first I had planned to make this a webpage a way to raise money for a reward leading to the arrest and conviction of the burglar, and the recovery of my stolen items. However, when I let people know about this webpage at www.priuschat.com, many subscribers just got pissed, thinking it was a scam.

    So now this webpage serves as the selling of a good story. If you liked this story, donate. The proceeds go to the cost of replacing my stolen items.Perhaps I will read this story, turn it into a podcast. Then you can listen to it as if it were an audiobook. If you do a search on eBay, you will find an Australian IT company in Sydney, whose PowerBook got stolen from their offices. They wrote a book about it that sells. The only difference is that they recovered their laptop. My laptop is still out there, somewhere.


    Im done no more replies from me.

    pcjr thanks for the extra PC advertising it shows the members are on their toes! :) :huh: :unsure: <_<

    galaxee, says it best in the end post..
     
  8. pcjr

    pcjr New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2005
    56
    0
    0
    Well I actually grew up in SF (the cop taking the report asked me where I was from, because he thought I was really naive to let Candy into my car too). This is the first time I've been a victim of a crime. Or maybe I'm not that naive, and that I can read people pretty well -- I'm sure you can pick up when people are malingering in the hospital. And I know a real pregnancy vs. a pillow pregnancy. Anyway, maybe she really was trying to help. You had to be there. She actually sounded pretty tearful on the phone when I told her that my laptop had my research data on HIV. I made sure she knew that, thinking she probably knows someone affected by HIV or AIDS. And I also asked her to tell "California" that too, that it's not just any old laptop. Anyway, I uploaded photos to my website. I'm keeping my donation site, but the proceeds just go to me, for selling a story for entertainment. Forget about a reward to catch the burglar, since the cops won't even bother, short of the guy walking into the station and turning himself in and confessing. Then maybe the cops will put down a doughnut and lift a finger to fill out the paperwork. However, if anyone knows of a private investigator who does pro bono work, let me know.

    As for trust? That was never there in the first place.

    P.S. This burglary happened 4 days ago. I'm still reeling from it, and Toyota has delays in ordering the part and replacing the window, obstacles to "moving on." So it's easier said than done to swallow one's pride, or to take responsibility for one's actions, etc.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Mar 29 2006, 06:50 PM) [snapback]231916[/snapback]</div>

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusguy04 @ Mar 29 2006, 07:20 PM) [snapback]231954[/snapback]</div>
    Nope, he was actually like that! When I said I'll be filing a complaint, he sounded worried.
     
  9. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2005
    9,810
    464
    0
    Location:
    MD
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    i realize you're trying to collect your dignity and you're feeling pretty violated after having your car broken into, but take a step outside your own shoes for a moment and think what it looks like to the rest of the world.

    you're a doctor. asking for money. from strangers. because your car was broken into. in a crappy neighborhood where break-ins are expected.

    uh-uh. most of us aren't going to eat that up. i just wanted to get that out.

    what are your insurance limits? vandalism due to burglary should be covered with the exception of your deductible. (that includes the glass from the window) and if you're keeping your car in that area often, it only costs a couple bucks more a month to decrease your deductible to something more affordable. never have a deductible that's more than you can cough up at a moment's notice.

    in my lab, we are required to save everything on the lab server, in addition to keeping hard copies in lab notebooks (printed at the end of each day) and on our respective computers. i also save everything to disk and keep it in my bag.

    really sucks that this happened, but it's a hard life lesson. we all have rough spots. take a deep breath and know you'll get through it.
     
  10. sub3marathonman

    sub3marathonman Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2005
    557
    75
    0
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pcjr @ Mar 29 2006, 06:04 PM) [snapback]231864[/snapback]</div>
    I'm glad I was able to add to your vast knowledge.

    But yes, you did say that "California" would not use a gun, at least according to "Candy," he just wouldn't hesitate to kill a person whose car he burglarized.

    The fact that you portrayed the "victim" as a woman who lost a "toiletry bag" adds to the mistrust people rightfully have for your story. And, for those coming late to this, Peter has changed the pictures on the webpage from a woman screaming and pulling her hair to instead show a few photos of a damaged Prius. I suppose this was an attempt to make the story more believable. We still don't know why "California" broke the back passenger window when the "toiletry bag" he mistook for a purse was sitting on the front seat.

    It is also interesting that Peter found it necessary to insert information about "California," that he was an "African-American male wearing a black coat and black pants, riding a bicycle." Adding a bit more fuel to racial prejudices? If "California" can't find you hopefully the NAACP will. Does anybody remember Susan Smith's great story?
     
  11. pcjr

    pcjr New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2005
    56
    0
    0
    Another thing I learned from you is that people have the shortest of attention spans and low reading comprehension. Did you not pick up the part where I said, the woman picture is a stock photo when using the Rant template to make webpages on AOL? And did you not read the blog link where I said I would be updating the webpage to replace the stock photo? As to breaking into the back passenger window, I was thinking about that too walking home 5 miles today after dropping off my car at the dealership. The passenger window gets broken in so that the thief can reach to the front seats and to the hatchback area as well, whereas if he broke into the front seat, he would have had to climb to the rear seats to get to the hatchback area and then climb back to the front before coming out the window. Remember, my alarm did not go off, so he must have known that if he tried opening the doors to exit, then the alarm would go off, so he only climbed through a window. So the guy knew the weakness of the alarm system and must have had experience breaking into similar cheap alarm systems.

    And it was true that "Candy" described the burglar as an African-American, however unpolitically correct that may be. Unfortunately, that's what happened. I wish I could say she described the burglar as a white guy, but that's not what happened, and I'm not going to change the story to make it more palatable to the NAACP. But you must be a half empty glass kind of guy rather than a half full glass kind of guy. You forget that "Candy" was African-American too, and she was trying to help me out, so wouldn't you say that that paints a positive picture of an African-American?

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sub3marathonman @ Mar 29 2006, 11:26 PM) [snapback]232169[/snapback]</div>
     
  12. coolfire74

    coolfire74 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2005
    47
    0
    0
    Location:
    Boston, MA
    When I first saw this story, I believed it was a scam. Now, after I've finished reading all of the replies, I further believe it was a SCAM and actually a naive SCAM.

    As so many people already pointed out, there are so many suspicious and really unreasonable facts.

    By the way, I believe the "broken glass" should be covered by insurance with the exception of your deductible. Believe me, my driver side and front passage side glass in my 97 corolla was broken 3 times in 1 year and I did not have decent insurance with that old car, but it was still covered. I did not pay one dime to repair it. All you need is to call your insurance and tell they your glass is broken by someone, they will give you a reference number without further questions (of course you still need to tell them where and when). The insurance company told me there were some damages which covered by insurance with the exception of your deductible, and broken glass was one of them.

    Do you really need to pay for your glass? Did you really check with your insurance? How can I believe you?

    By the way, I am also working on medical research. Believe me, there is no sucessful HIV vaccine so far. Thousands of talented scientists are working on this direction, but nobody (or at least most of the scientists) would believe a successful vaccine is coming in the near future. So, please, take it easy, and take you time.

    And also, it is hard to believe someone driving a Prius and use Powerbook laptop, and also playing around with blogs and homepages (all of these indicates that this person love technology and gadgets) do not know the importance to make backup of the data.
     
  13. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2005
    6,278
    373
    0
    Location:
    Central Texas
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Mar 29 2006, 04:50 PM) [snapback]231916[/snapback]</div>

    yea, and how about collecting your self respect and quit begging for sympathy and accept responsibility for your actions and learn from your mistakes instead of asking to be bailed out by the generosity of human kind.

    Now you know why insurance is paid for and now you know why we don't buy 1000 deductibles?
    If you want a 1000 deductible.. pay the difference of what a 100.00 dedutible would be and put that extra in your account and you'll have the 1000 when you need it.

    I really get sick of people wanting everyone else to pay thier way and cover thier foolish gambling mistakes.

    Your a grown up now........ act like one...... and quit treating the whole world like they owe you something and like we are your parents.

    In my book, you are no more than a thief and a liar and you have little reason to live if all this is not real....
    Take pride in your own life and you will have a reason to live.

    Humm.... I wonder if I got my point across without being to harsh? :)
     
  14. Sufferin' Prius Envy

    Sufferin' Prius Envy Platinum Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2004
    3,998
    17
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Well this is an interesting coincidence . . . I read PriusChat and I just so happened to have just bought a Mac outside a Carl's Jr in the Bay Area for $300 from some pregnant gal and her husband. They said they needed the money for prenatal care, more than he needed his back-up computer for medical school. I really didn't need the computer, but since I happened to have exactly $300 in my pocket – and they looked like a loving couple who could use the money – Well, I bought it as it looked like an awful good deal.


    I will sell it back to you for $350 (gotta cover gas, toll and time costs). If you want it back, I can give you a location in Golden Gate Park where you can drop-off the money in an envelope. The computer will be in a plastic garbage bag at the same location for you to pick-up the next day.


    P.S. That is the next chapter for your story. So, if the computer happens not to be there the next day, I believe the money was money well spent - as this will make your story all that much more marketable. Besides, I think if you go ask Candy, for another $15, she could tell you who now has your computer.

    Gee, isn't it nice to have the Candys of the world to watch out for us, for a bribe? :unsure:
     
  15. jbarnhart

    jbarnhart New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2004
    629
    1
    0
    Location:
    Santa Clara, CA
    When I thought this was some anonymous person begging for money, my reaction was swift and harsh. I didn't believe the story adn I said so.

    pcjr "came out" and owned the story. He made it personal, and I understand the circumstances. While I may not have handled it in the same way, I do retract my earlier harsh observations. The story is real, and the person behind it is real.

    I understand the collective reaction of PC folks to the initial post. But I do not understand the ongoing vilification of pcjr and his burglerized Prius. C'mon folks, this is one of our own here -- a Prius person. OK, so you would have done it differently. I would too.

    Just stop hammering on pcjr and saying he's making it all up. etc. I think that's way over the line now that he's taken ownership of this story. Let's back off a little and try to think of some constructive suggestions.

    In other words -- so we wouldn't have handled it the same way -- how WOULD we handle it? What would we do NOW about it? Let's turn this into a constructive thread instead of the most vindictive thread since the anti-MS post.
     
  16. Sufferin' Prius Envy

    Sufferin' Prius Envy Platinum Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2004
    3,998
    17
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jbarnhart @ Mar 30 2006, 12:49 AM) [snapback]232241[/snapback]</div>
    I think I would first try the $350 in an envelope in Golden Gate Park. :lol:
     
  17. hycamguy07

    hycamguy07 New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2006
    2,707
    2
    0
    Location:
    Central Florida
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jbarnhart @ Mar 30 2006, 03:49 AM) [snapback]232241[/snapback]</div>
    Example:
    Hmmm Im guessing your not into punishment and time out is better? Oh you lied to us and asked us for money, never mind the old lady you ran over in the parking lot.. its ok we understand now peace unto you my brother........ lol

    Alright I dont trust em, & Ill pass it on to [you] so he can keep an eye on this guy..!
     
  18. Spunky

    Spunky New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2005
    469
    1
    0
    pcjr,

    I'm a writer. If I used your tale for a story and asked my critique group to review it, they'd roll their eyes at the plot.

    I know the old saying, that truth is stranger than fiction, but your tale appears rather...hmm...far-fetched.

    You feel violated by the burglery and it's human to respond by mustering all the weapons you can (insisting the police pursue the matter, conducting your own investigation, trying to raise funds for ads, using online technical skills, putting in a lot of time and effort into finding the thief and recovering your property) and fighting back, but it's time to cut your loses. Let it go.

    Don't worry, there'll be other battles that will be much more worth the fighting.
     
  19. Mystery Squid

    Mystery Squid Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2005
    2
    3
    0
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jbarnhart @ Mar 30 2006, 05:49 AM) [snapback]232241[/snapback]</div>
    It's VERY simple.

    People love bitching and drama.

    :lol:

    They just don't want to admit it.

    :D

    (I'm going to remember this one!)
     
  20. BellBoy

    BellBoy Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2006
    220
    2
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Alright...perhaps the story is real and perhaps pcjr is just a little too naive to understand why we reacted the way that we did. This has pretty much been covered here ad nauseum.

    I would like to add something that I don't think that I've read here: pcjr, you have to expect just a wee bit of cynicism from people when you have your hand out--especially on the web. It reminds me of that spoiled little girl that had too much credit card debt and milked the WWW for money to pay off her bills and then some (over $20k!). I seen news stories in St. Louis of a beggar that did nothing all day but panhandle and then were actually caught on camera getting into his BMW at the end of his "shift". It's crap like that which makes me say, "deal with this and move on."

    I suppose I could say that I've been raped by the oil companies and I had to buy a Prius to get some relief. Won't you please help? Send just $5 to...

    Give it a rest pcjr...get your insurance money and fix your car and learn from it. If you didn't have insurance...well that's another expensive lesson for you to learn.