Security cameras have severe restrictions on placement and what you can video tape, at least in most states. I know here no one can place a camera that video tapes any part of public property. Therefore, I couldn't tape my own car from my own house, even though it would be the only thing in frame, just because it was on a public road.

Don't you love when the law works in favor of the criminals?

 

That's terrible, sorry to hear about your troubles. Poor car.

 

Don't know of any laws like that. You can't secretly video tape someone to entrap them, such as a setup of some type,, but you can video tape in general. You can use video to secure your home. I have them all around mine when my son's car was vandalized. He was caught and recieved the fullest sentenance the judge could impose. You can imagine why. Video is the best witness money can buy, and it gives you peace of mind knowing you will catch the bad guy if something should happen. I can pull mine up while on the road, from my TV's in the house, or right now while typing to you....

 

Nobody ever messed with my 66 Buick, but if they did I probably could not even tell. You have my sympathy. There are a lot of a-holes out there for sure. That's why I keep my XFs garaged and still worry when I park them in a lot -- try to keep away from everybody but who knows when some bonehead will roll a shopping cart at it just because. Curious -- where do you live? My son's XF is parked at his apartment at FSU and I encourage him to keep it covered so it is less of a target, but we both still worry.

 

I live in a gated condo community in Vernon, NJ. So I don't have a garage, but park in a lot with a lot of other people. That's why I didn't get a convertible, but got the coupe. Still waiting to hear from the autobody shop...

 

I take it you asked around if anyone had seen anything...look around for spray paint and such, like dumpsters, and do a little detective work on your own... I would want to catch these guys...

 

Sorry to hear that. My car got keyed a few years ago. Definatly not a fun experience.

 

Ugh. Went through that with my wife's Jag a few years back. Kids thought she was getting too "uppity".

But your case is far more insidious. With your next car you may want to consider a Web camera and silent alarm, among other (ahem) measures.

 

Bill,

I am so sorry to hear this, it just really gets under my skin to know that someone would do this to someone else's hard earned and well maintained property. I would say that it looks like someone had enough passion when they did it - that they definitely know you somehow, and in my opinion that makes it much worse. Sorry bud, hope it all works out and you have the world's only copper metallic XF (color from the Viper, beautiful in person)

Ghost is most certainly right, my headlights on the '04 were pretty bad when I got them, but I wet sanded 10+ times with super fine sand paper and recleared them, they look nicer than any I have seen.

My sister graduated FSU - go Noles. IMHO I think a cover draws MUCH more attention to the car. The old thought of 'don't push this button' and EVERYONE will push it. Try to hide it under a cover and MANY will want to know what is under there.....

 

thanks, BoilerUp - hey I have a question I've been meaning to ask you for a while - when your car was totaled, did you manage to keep your "P" stamped license plate fasteners??? Sorry to hear about your car, also.

No word today from the body shop, so I may stop by tomorrow and see if they've got info for me.

My current burning question - while the headlights/taillights may look great after being buffed, the scratches were pretty deep - do I want them buffed, or do I insist on new???

Regards,

Bill

 

The more stuff that you insist be new, the better the chance of them totaling it. I find it hard to believe, though, that a new paint job would even come close to them totaling it. If it comes down to new lights and totaling, you can make that decision later.

 

Each state has differing laws. In Illinois, at least to my local police department's chief, the allowance for say video taping your kids in the park with a handheld and getting other people on camera doesn't apply to mounted cameras. If I had a driveway and it was parked in it, I could video tape the driveway, but since my car sits on the street, I can't for some reason. It's a ridiculous law but one that's apparently there for people's privacy. I only think it protects the douchebag that keeps breaking things on my car.

Yerdsyerds, fyi, I think there's a system that insurance companies use to decide if they total out a car. Something like 50% of the estimated value. I don't know exacts, I just remember talking to my grandfather about it. Maybe someone on here knows specifics.

 

Way higher than 50 percent. More like 75 percent before it's totaled. You should be fine if your damages come to roughly $7,500.

 

Pretty close! Damages come to $8,000. I thought it was going to be more, so much to my relief it wasn't and repairs start monday. All of the body panels will be repaired, including the window trim - which I'm curious to see how they get that to look. All the glass will be replaced, as will the headlights and taillights. The wheels will be refinished. It would have been prohibitively expensive to go with a different color, so machine gray it stays.

 

See if they'll paint the car before installing the glass. Also, if the headlights are being replaced, keep the old ones and do a little practice to see if the scratches will work out. Or offer them to someone here who may want to give it a try.

 

I would, in fact, make sure that when I did find out who the person was, they would spend a few nights in the hospital for their time and effort.

People are so ignorant and disrespectful I can't even believe it.

 

I would bet it was more than one to do that much damage and they had to be local if a gated community....still would be talking to neighbors and such...someone had to get paint on their clothes, dispose of the paint cans, etc.....

 

Sickeningly true. Ah, the American criminal and justice system.

 

I don't know, we just jailed a drunk plastic surgeon....he offered a brow lift to the nurse doing the blood draw. I thought she was going to unload on him. Her husband was a SWAT/Paramedic. She doesn't take much from anyone...lol...Anyway, you have to catch them first, which is what has to happen to these vandals...

 

I;m so sorry to here about your Crossfire ! This happen too are 300C Srt8 back in Oct , But not has bad, seem that they did not like my tires and stuck somthing in the side wall of tires and few srews drill into bottom of tires , I was not Happy!!!!!! made a police report and the Ins. paid , I don;t under stand why somebody would take the time to do this ! I must say times have changed , I also know what goes around come around and they will be------------------------ will just leave at that ! Hope you back on road soon