Another 'crime in Charlotte' thread.... (Harrisburg: car insurance, house, neighborhood)

[eman1200]

35 years in the NY/NJ area and never had a single brush with crime. Been in Charlotte 6 weeks and today my car was broken into.....while parked at a golf course of all places. Stole my cell phone and my brand new work blackberry that were both stored out of sight in my center console. There was absolutely nothing of value visible by looking into the car, just a random hit. Punched the driver side lock out. The knuckleheads even took a case of water that I had on my back seat. Go figure. Completely and totally aggravated right now.

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by eman1200

35 years in the NY/NJ area and never had a single brush with crime. Been in Charlotte 6 weeks and today my car was broken into.....while parked at a golf course of all places. Stole my cell phone and my brand new work blackberry that were both stored out of sight in my center console. There was absolutely nothing of value visible by looking into the car, just a random hit. Punched the driver side lock out. The knuckleheads even took a case of water that I had on my back seat. Go figure. Completely and totally aggravated right now.

Good grief. What is so discouraging about this is knowing that nothing was visible.

Were you actually parked on the property of the Golf Course? Do you think someone was watching your car and saw you put your cell phone away?

[eman1200]

yes ani, parked on the property. don't know if someone saw me, I don't really know how these goons work but I guess it's quite possible. I called the manager of the course and let him know, although I know there's not much he can do. filled out a police report too, although all that's gonna get me is an entry in the 'local crime' section of the sunday paper, which I coincidentally happened to see after today's lovely events. it was a good half a page of today's newspaper. I'm sorry, did I mention how aggravated I am right now?

[barndog]

oh, eman, that stinks! i know how frustrating that is from personal experience...

did the police have any ideas?

[New2Charlotte]

Some of the property crime in charlotte just amazes me. If you ask me the problem is that I have heard that police do not always respond to these types of calls. I have read from at least two posters on this board that when their car was broken into they were told to come in and fill out a police report. Now if I were a criminal and I knew the police didn't respond in person to these calls, well...

In your case, it seems to me they figured there was a certain demographic that would be playing golf and if they hit a few cars they were bound to find something.

What sucks is that you took reasonable precautions but became a victim anyways. That's got to be frustrating.

[evan1229]

Hate to ask but what course?

[eman1200]

police didn't have much to say. filled out a report over the phone, no one even came out to the scene. I don't expect much to be done about it, quite frankly I'm not sure what can be done. but at least looking at the car and the area and just having a cop car around may have helped a little.

[barndog]

ahhh. not surprised. the police really didn't help me either. the only thing that did help me was in my conversation with them about the attempted theft of my car and resulting damage to it, i learned about a problem neighborhood that was close to mine and learned to keep my house and outside possessions locked down better...and that doesn't even begin to apply to your situation.

so sorry again...that's a terrible welcome to charlotte. i hope your week gets a lot better!

[anifani821]

I know this sounds ignorant but how does one "punch out the lock" on a car? Is there a device that does this? Did the cops say anything about this being a common method of gaining entry into a car? I assumed windows were getting smashed to gain entry.

Now I guess you have to repair your car lock, too . . . and I have a high deductible on my car insurance so that would be out of pocket for me . . . this is just awful.

I would NEVER have thought that my car would get broken into at a golf course of all places.

Do you mind revealing what area of the city/county this happened in? (Don't have to name the course - would just like to know - N, S, E or W, LOL.)

[eman1200]

evan, I was hesitant at first to name the course....I didn't post this to cause trouble for them, but the more I think about it people just have a right to know. it was Charles T Myers on Harrisburg Rd (exit 39 off 485). if you go there, I would find a parking spot closest to where the most people are, I guess. I don't even know what to suggest.