santiago fonseca

You made a couple of assumptions my brother. I was temporarily in Miami doing a job, so it was the Miami airport I went to. I left the car at the hotel because that's my home away from home and took the hotel shuttle to MIA. And it IS a 4.5 hour drive from here to my home in Tampa. Capisce? :-)

santiago fonseca

Yes. I agree - they may not deter the pros, but it should slow the amateurs and I will not give them the chance again - not here anyway. We've traveled a lot with my car, but only in Miami (no longer a US city...) would this happen in the open - just like in any Latin-American country. Years ago 4 wheels were stolen off a - get this - police car in Peru while the three cops were sleeping. I saw the picture. Back then, three cops would be on every patrol car - a driver, a sergeant and the dude with the firepower.

santiago fonseca

Have not seen the footage yet, but I have "formally" asked for it (in writing) - and have asked for some kind of acknowledgement from the hotel corporate/management. The local manager feels terrible about it but it is not up to her to do anything for me. She's asked her higher ups. I will continue to ask until I get something. They have that stupid "we're not responsible..." policy but it talks about stuff left IN the car - nothing about the overall integrity of the car. The SUV that was broken into last week is what they are claiming no responsibility for but in my case? I'll keep on them.

The Bimmer is safely home now and I'm waiting on ModBargains to deliver the wheels to the dealer who will mount & balance Continentals on the wheels and I'll take them home - mount them myself, and then slap the BMW wheel locks on them. I thought about buying a second set/differemt brand and putting two locks each on each wheel, but again, if they want to and can't take the wheels they'll damage the car anyway. The best thing is to not give them the opportunity again - so they win!

Regardless, thanks to everyone who answered with a positive message, advice, or a "sorry mate" type message. Those of you who stated the obvious "I would not have left the car parked at the hotel..." maybe you need to just say nothing, because you do not know what the circumstances were. I know it was a stupid thing for me to do - to trust my fellow man, and hearing it from you did not make it any more or less stupid. I hope nothing happens to your cars - but if it does, and you post, I will not say "you should not have done (whatever)". Just a thought...

About the prints - I specifically asked the cop who took the report and he told me "anyone's prints could be on the outside of the car" and I said - "yeah, but the same prints in all four fenders???" He told me they can't use prints found on the outside. Such BS. They also left all the bolts on the ground, and he told me they "can't get prints from them..." They KNOW it's illegal MoFos, and they probably know who they are, but will not do anything to "profile" them. Eric Holder would sue the police department. I am just waiting for the call to donate to the PBA and I'll tell them to go and piss up a rope...

I'll post pictures with the new wheels - same M6 replicas, but the gun-metal & black ones. No longer do they make the black ones.

Cheers everyone!

ssmokn

Sorry about your car. That really sucks. Maybe next time they will get caught in the act and with any luck a bullet or two between the eyes. Friggin' cockroaches.

I also think wheel locks are a waste of time and effort.

ssmokn

They can't use prints on the outside of the car? Ask the cop why EVERY cop touches is finger or hand to your trunk or rear fender when approaching your car on a traffic stop. See what he says then.

jcantanixon

Two different reasons.

1. Linking someone to a crime. Prints on the inside mean the person has already broken in, but if the car wasn't broken in to, they won't use the prints on the outside of the car to link someone to the crime because it can easily be disputed. (ie. I touched all the fenders admiring the wheels, but I didn't steal them)

2. Marking a vehicle so it can be identified later. In a traffic stop, a LEO will put his print on the car so in case a crime is committed (taking off, shooting, etc)..they can use the print to help prove that the vehicle is the same one. Nothing to dispute.

TheRab

Dirtbags, that's so grimey. It upsets me to think about crap that happens like this

santiago fonseca

I am sure to put himself at the scene of the crime if I decide to shoot his ass...

yeah, two cops told me they "can't use" prints on the outside. It is preposterous!

santiago fonseca

You must be an attorney... And yes, you are most likely correct! And yeah, I can't fault the cops and they are probably tired of emphatizing with idiots like me. I was just pissed that it was so matter of fact with this one guy and I was just powerless. His cohort was a bit better explaining the whys the next day.