[dbudh001]

damn - that sucks
+1 w// everyone that say go with aftermarket trunk

:::chris tucker in friday comes to mind when he said daaaaaaaaaaaaaaamnn :::: lol

[AlterZgo]

I doubt if the roommates did it. Only the stupidest of vandals would purposely vandalize a car parked in their stall and leave a note. It's way too easy to track down who the space belongs too.

The roommate clearly left the note. However, the vandalism on the car does not look like key marks. In fact, it doesn't look like vandalism at all... more like the OP was driving in or out of a parking lot and the parking lot toll gate dropped on the trunk... or maybe something from an automatic carwash gone awry.

[M340i Pride]

Originally Posted by churchillps

Burglary typically requires a breaking.

you are right. i meant theft...

[roylo]

I really cant make up my mind if the room mates done it or not. At first I thought they would be stupid to vandalise it as its so obvious who would have done it, but then they admitted they have vandalised a previous car parked in the space.

But.. if they did do it, and to remove some suspicion they vandalised the car, why didnt they get back down there and remove the plate before the OP left when they found out their mate owned the car?

[Smokey]

Originally Posted by bmwpride335i

you are right. i meant theft...

Theft requires taking someone's property without consent with the intent to deprive the owner of its use. Theft usually requires asportation-- carrying away. I think you meant destruction of property

[doubleIN]

Originally Posted by X2Board

Revenge is a dish best served cold...

Just in case you have to pay out of pocket for this.

+1. imo just go ahead and pay for this, either repair or new trunk lid. tell them you think you know who did it, some girl was mad at you or something like that. then after a year or so, you get them back. they won't have any clue it was you at that point and you can just sit back and laugh

[Javier]

Fix the trunk with CSL replacement.
Then go put some sand in their as tank

[M340i Pride]

Originally Posted by Smokey

Theft requires taking someone's property without consent with the intent to deprive the owner of its use. Theft usually requires asportation-- carrying away. I think you meant destruction of property

theft because of what is stated above with the possibility of actually taking the sticker with them (use, sell). lots of people dont just destroy reg. sticker when they take it off the car but to actually use it or can sell it. (if they can get that reasonably clean off the plate)

but dang you know the law well.... thats lawyer terminology!

[Smokey]

Originally Posted by bmwpride335i

theft because of what is stated above with the possibility of actually taking the sticker with them (use, sell). lots of people dont just destroy reg. sticker when they take it off the car but to actually use it or can sell it. (if they can get that reasonably clean off the plate)

but dang you know the law well.... thats lawyer terminology!

Lol. Am actually an atty. Now, I see why you said theft-- I thought you were thinking of malicious destruction of property.

[bredi]

Did you check to see if their car's registration is current? Maybe they have a new sticker, one that looks like yours... Ha! They would be too dumb to do that... nah.


Try this... "ok guys, so you didn't do it." "Can you help me find out which of your neighbors did it?" Ask for their help to get to the bottom of this. If they don't offer to help you, as friends should. Then they did it. And move on with a decision, drop it and drop them, or pursue. If they do help you, then maybe they didn't do it. Or, they think you won't take it so far that it would impact them. At which point you tell them you are going to file a police report to find out who did it and for insurance purposes. As well as talk to the management of the building to see if there has been a history of such vandalism. Getting them involved is key. They have the power to evict. Even talk to neighbors. Ask your "buddies" if they would be willing to talk to the police to HELP you. Let them know that "you'll get to the bottom of this". I mean, "guys don't you want to know who did it too? It is your spot and whomever did it, thought it was your car"!

This lets them know your serious, without confronting them further into denial. As time goes on, you can always still accuse them after "collecting the facts".

At this point, you know more about it, and who your friends are. But if there is a car war going on in the complex, and something happens to their car, they will then accuse you. And its escalates.

Try to get them involved in the "problem in their complex", it diffuses it and you may get a more reasonable arrangement. Later, You could even ask everyone to chip in $75, to "help a bro out". It gives them the guilt option of helping you, and they feel like they can contribute on "bro" level without admitting they did it. If that doesn't do it, then fuck em. Cut your losses, but at least if something happens to their car, you can tell them they "have a problem at their complex".

Good luck!

[Edward]

That doesn't even look like key marks. Looks like someone set a big heavy box or something rigid on your trunk and slid it off. And the registration sticker could have been totally random. People have no money right now and need that sticker to drive around.

I also think your friends would be incredibly stupid to vandalize someone's property while it's sitting in their parking spot. When people take my assigned spot in my apt garage, I park next to it in the empty one and just forget about it. They know what they are doing wrong and it's just not worth me writing a nasty note only to risk them coming back and messing with my own car.
That makes me think they didn't actually vandalize your car. Sorry to see the damage man. It definitely isnt fun to go through.

[tibra1]

Originally Posted by Edward

When people take my assigned spot in my apt garage, I park next to it in the empty one and just forget about it. They know what they are doing wrong and it's just not worth me writing a nasty note only to risk them coming back and messing with my own car.

Way to be a door mat..stand up for yourself much?..

[scarzie]

Originally Posted by tibra1

Way to be a door mat..stand up for yourself much?..

Not trying to throw stones, but you SERIOUSLY need to take a chill pill man. Stand up for yourself with regards to a parking space? Yeah OP, next time this happens wait next to your car 'til the person who did it comes back and show him who's boss . Or better yet and do something REALLY mature and throw "a brick thru their windshield." I'm sorry, but when I see people post things like this (read: no regard for other peoples' property) I get really frustrated, I'm pretty sure it was mentioned a few times but two wrongs don't make a right. What if you were somewhere and you didn't know for some reason that all the spaces in the lot were assigned and you walked out to your ride keyed like this? As crazy as it sounds, mistakes do happen, almost as much as miscommunications like this situation.

[tibra1]

Originally Posted by scarzie

Not trying to throw stones, but you SERIOUSLY need to take a chill pill man. Stand up for yourself with regards to a parking space? Yeah OP, next time this happens wait next to your car 'til the person who did it comes back and show him who's boss . Or better yet and do something REALLY mature and throw "a brick thru their windshield." I'm sorry, but when I see people post things like this (read: no regard for other peoples' property) I get really frustrated, I'm pretty sure it was mentioned a few times but two wrongs don't make a right.

No I really dont think I need to chill..when I pay my hard earned money in property taxes for a parking spot that I own..and some jerk decides he will park there b/c he feels like it..thats where I draw the line..

You wanna be a pussy and let people walk all over u and take whats yours be my guest..using your logic I dont suppose you would mind someone walking into your house, having a snack and watching ur TV right?

Some here really need to grow a pair or not..your choice

Originally Posted by scarzie

What if you were somewhere and you didn't know for some reason that all the spaces in the lot were assigned and you walked out to your ride keyed like this? As crazy as it sounds, mistakes do happen, almost as much as miscommunications like this situation.

Ignornace of the law or the rules is no defense for parking illegally in someone else's spot period!

[scarzie]

Originally Posted by tibra1

No I really dont think I need to chill..when I pay my hard earned money in property taxes for a parking spot that I own..and some jerk decides he will park there b/c he feels like it..thats where I draw the line..

You wanna be a pussy and let people walk all over u and take whats yours be my guest..using your logic I dont suppose you would mind someone walking into your house, having a snack and watching ur TV right?

Some here really need to grow a pair..or not..your choice

First of all please do not go around throwing around names we aren't in high school anymore; I'm not a pussy and I don't let people 'walk all over me and take whats mine' I just tend to use a little bit of rational judgement in the decisions that I make. I understand that it is your property, and in the past when I have rented somewhere that requires a designated parking space that space has been included in my rent (I'm well aware that this is different for the given situation, just pointing out my personal experience with the circumstance at hand) so clearly I don't have full emotional understanding of the situation. That being said, and using your line of judgement, if a drunk driver were to kill my girlfriend in a car accident, would it be justified for me to go and kill his wife for doing so? No. That's not what's right and that's not the way things work in this country. I'm sorry if you don't think I have a pair, but I do choose to think and act like an adult instead of resorting to something somebody in high school would do.

[oulaw]

Couple of things.

First, find new friends. I have known some REALLY stupid people and have been pissed at things and have seen friends pissed at things. I have NEVER damaged someone elses car.

Second, your better off reporting to the police telling them you want to press charges, buy an aftermarket trunk and letting it go. As a lawyer I can tell you conflict is usually a waste of time and money. I know it was late, but if someone fucks with your car, I don't car if its just a note on there, check your car out then and there. If you would have checked your car and found the damage, the police would have taken it seriously at the scene and questioned the three. One of them would have caved after the police seperated them and got x3 conflicting statements. Even without criminal prosecution, on the civil side it would have been much better that you went out and found the damage right then and there.

Now you can file a lawsuit in small claims. Pay the filing fee, service fee to get this guy served with the lawsuit and get a court date. You would take photos of the damage, the plate, and 3 estimates for repair. Your problem is going to be whether or not the judge believes you or this guy and the guy with him that will say they did the plate but not the other damage. The one thing you have going for you in justice of the peace court (if its like Texas) is that most rules of evidence dont apply to exclude evidnce, so most of the above gets in, including the texts from your friend about what he did with the others (even though normally statements by a non-party cannot bind the guy you sued, in jp court this would probobly be admissible). All you have to show is the legal standard of "what is more likely than not" to have happened.

The problem is you didnt even find the damage until the next day, arguably that prevents criminal prosecution because the DA would not waste their time when other reasonable doubts exist such as this other mystery car owner or someone at your own neighbor hood, but civil siide what is more likey than not to have happened (ie just tip the scales of justice in your favor and you win) is that they did this damage to your vehicle. I wouldnt wait for the court system, and even if you get a judgment in your favor, it comes down to how much money does this guy have as well If he dosnt have the cash to even pay a judgment if you get one or is willing to pay the judgement vs letting it go on his credit, again what is the point.

I say all this now after going through lawschool and having a career and a daughter. If I were 27 instead of 37, had a car this nice, and someone pulled this shit I know exactly how I would handle this.

[scarzie]

[/end rant]

[Syndicategt]

Should have filed a police report when you first noticed the damage. The scratching is not the big issue here.....it's the stolen Registration Sticker....which is a very serious crime.

[Cgmiller63]

It's crappy what they did but I suggest you move on. They are not worth the energy. Do file a police report, get your trunk fixed and find new friends. Karma is a bitch and they will get theirs in the end.

[bredi]

Dude, why not just go out and shoot them in the head because they parked there. I mean, its your property right? Actually its not, but if you still think its yours because you pay taxes... enjoy the feeling.

I don't think people purposely park in peoples driveways they don't know or "just because they feel like it". Especially if they think they might be towed. All of us I'm sure have parked in spots we thought were ok. Later to find out we have a ticket, a nasty note or that our car was towed. In most cases, all the above. In OP's case, he was visiting friends!

People consistently block my driveway in San Francisco. I have left many notes letting people know how lucky they are I didn't tow them. But I have and would tow them if I needed to leave. This has a more productive effect in the long run. Getting a "get out of jail free card" can be very powerful, and sends the right message, without being clouded in anger. But I never thought of damaging the car. Even if they are being stupid, arrogant or both. If you still get the urge to 'get em', getting towed can be worse than getting keyed. Heck, getting keyed might get someone an opportunity for an entire new paint job on the insurance claim. Maybe even some other damage claimed. Making all our insurance go up. When your towed, your stranded, have to pay a shit load of money to get the car out, including the parking ticket and any other parking tickets and all the time and hassle. Maybe even miss work to get it. Tick tock, the longer the car is there, the more it costs to get it out. Its a pain in the ass to get your car out of city impound . Not only that, they feel pretty dumb, and don't have much grounds to retaliate because the city and the law sided with you. If they are such arrogant delinquents, the will probably have to pay parking tickets, prove registration and prove they have a clean record. Just imagine how good you "got em back", all within civility, and it solved the problem of a car in your slot/driveway. Towing the car solves your problem, not damaging a car or kicking someone's ass. Thats just juvenile, and begs for more problems. Especially if they know where you live and how much you value your own car. Please consider this approach if you have the urge to damage someones car.

[tibra1]

Originally Posted by bredi

Dude, why not just go out and shoot them in the head because they parked there. I mean, its your property right? Actually its not, but if you still think its yours because you pay taxes... enjoy the feeling.
.

Obviously your ignorant about contracting for property..by definition if you have a deed and pay property taxes..its b/c you own the property

[1N54E92]

Get it painted and stop hanging out these douchbags .They are not your friends.