they took all of our things, now we have no things.
January 30, 2011 2:49 PM Subscribe
Our car was just robbed while passing through Los Angeles, anyone have any advice?
My girlfriend and I are in the process of moving to New Orleans, and had pretty much everything we owned in our car, last night we stayed at friends in Hollywood, and in the morning pretty much everything we owned was gone. We did have most of our valuables inside, but still lost a lot. the most important thing being my girlfriends collection of custom Japanese ball-jointed dolls. Everything else is replaceable, but she is very upset about losing them.
So does anyone have any advice? We are going to file a police report, and check out the pawnshops, craigslist, and ebay.
Is there anything else we should be doing? Is there anywhere in the area where someone might try to sell the dolls other then pawnshops?
Thanks.
My girlfriend and I are in the process of moving to New Orleans, and had pretty much everything we owned in our car, last night we stayed at friends in Hollywood, and in the morning pretty much everything we owned was gone. We did have most of our valuables inside, but still lost a lot. the most important thing being my girlfriends collection of custom Japanese ball-jointed dolls. Everything else is replaceable, but she is very upset about losing them.
So does anyone have any advice? We are going to file a police report, and check out the pawnshops, craigslist, and ebay.
Is there anything else we should be doing? Is there anywhere in the area where someone might try to sell the dolls other then pawnshops?
Thanks.
I'm so sorry - call your car insurance company, too - you may have a policy that covers belongings in car. Also, slim chance, but if you still had an active renter's policy insurance, it might be of help, too. Also, some of the things, if purchased on specific credit cards, might be covered in case of theft (again, slim, but you should turn over every stone). Again, SO VERY SORRY.
posted by 2003girl at 2:54 PM on January 30, 2011
posted by 2003girl at 2:54 PM on January 30, 2011
Best answer: Check dumpsters near where the car was parked.
posted by ethnomethodologist at 3:22 PM on January 30, 2011
posted by ethnomethodologist at 3:22 PM on January 30, 2011
Check dumpsters near where the car was parked.
This.
Dolls don't say 'easy cash' to most car smash and grabbers. I once had two CD binders (200 CDs) and hundreds of dollars of Uni textbooks stolen from my car - they were tossed in an alley nearby, once the thief opened the bag and realised he couldn't convert them easily.
Look around. It's a long shot, but it might work.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 3:27 PM on January 30, 2011 [3 favorites]
This.
Dolls don't say 'easy cash' to most car smash and grabbers. I once had two CD binders (200 CDs) and hundreds of dollars of Uni textbooks stolen from my car - they were tossed in an alley nearby, once the thief opened the bag and realised he couldn't convert them easily.
Look around. It's a long shot, but it might work.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 3:27 PM on January 30, 2011 [3 favorites]
Also, does your car insurance cover this?
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 3:28 PM on January 30, 2011
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 3:28 PM on January 30, 2011
Mod note: Answer the question without giving advice about how to avoid getting things stolen please. You may not be aware how completely jerkish it sounds. Thank you.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 3:37 PM on January 30, 2011 [7 favorites]
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 3:37 PM on January 30, 2011 [7 favorites]
Best answer: Also, your girlfriend might want to post descriptions/photos of the dolls at specialized forums like "Den of Angels", in case someone tries to sell them online.
posted by OolooKitty at 3:55 PM on January 30, 2011
posted by OolooKitty at 3:55 PM on January 30, 2011
Response by poster: Check dumpsters near where the car was parked.
We just got back from doing this, no luck I am pretty sure the thieves were driving, the weight bulk of stuff taken was to much to take on foot, so it seems unlikely that stuff would be ditched too close to here.
Also they seemed pretty professional, nothing was broken, door was jimmied with no damage, and the stereo was taken out cleanly.
Anyhow, not much to do now, going to go drop a some lists off at pawn shops around here, then probably go have some drinks. Drinks will probably help.
posted by St. Sorryass at 4:05 PM on January 30, 2011 [2 favorites]
We just got back from doing this, no luck I am pretty sure the thieves were driving, the weight bulk of stuff taken was to much to take on foot, so it seems unlikely that stuff would be ditched too close to here.
Also they seemed pretty professional, nothing was broken, door was jimmied with no damage, and the stereo was taken out cleanly.
Anyhow, not much to do now, going to go drop a some lists off at pawn shops around here, then probably go have some drinks. Drinks will probably help.
posted by St. Sorryass at 4:05 PM on January 30, 2011 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Also, your girlfriend might want to post descriptions/photos of the dolls at specialized forums like "Den of Angels"
She actually is a big poster there, so that was one of the first things she did.
posted by St. Sorryass at 4:08 PM on January 30, 2011
She actually is a big poster there, so that was one of the first things she did.
posted by St. Sorryass at 4:08 PM on January 30, 2011
This happened to me when moving about eight years ago. A number of my things (including my passport) were returned two and even three years later, so they may not be gone forever but might not be found right away. Leave a description with every pawn shop you talk to and a number where they can reach you (or better, someone local).
Your car insurance may not cover the car's belongings, but your renter's insurance might. If you don't have any and you were parked in a friend's driveway, their renter's or homeowner's insurance might (tread carefully here; you might raise their premiums by collecting).
If there was anything with personally identifiable information on it that might have been taken, put a flag on your credit report.
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 5:29 PM on January 30, 2011
Your car insurance may not cover the car's belongings, but your renter's insurance might. If you don't have any and you were parked in a friend's driveway, their renter's or homeowner's insurance might (tread carefully here; you might raise their premiums by collecting).
If there was anything with personally identifiable information on it that might have been taken, put a flag on your credit report.
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 5:29 PM on January 30, 2011
Perhaps this is an obvious suggestion, but the Los Angeles Police are all over car thefts these days with surveillance cameras and emails and the like. LAPD online has a link of things that have been recovered, pictures inviting those who lost something to claim their goods. Email the cops or visit lapdonline.
posted by effluvia at 6:18 PM on January 30, 2011
posted by effluvia at 6:18 PM on January 30, 2011
Long shot, and you might not have the time or stomach for it, but you might try running a CL add seeking to buy those dolls. You'd be surprised at just how dim some thieves really are. Should this work, you'd need to be very careful, and try to get the police involved.
When we found my friend's stolen bike this way, there were 6 guys in the parking lot where we met, and we had contacted the RCMP in advance with a very accurate description of all the non-stock parts on the bike. We simply told the crooks that this was stolen property, and we were taking it back, as our friends hopped out of their cars and surrounded the two punks after we gave the signal.
As an aside, their ability to gain entry to your vehicle without damage doesn't so much scream professional as it does habitual criminal. Any tow-truck driver can do it.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 8:27 PM on January 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
When we found my friend's stolen bike this way, there were 6 guys in the parking lot where we met, and we had contacted the RCMP in advance with a very accurate description of all the non-stock parts on the bike. We simply told the crooks that this was stolen property, and we were taking it back, as our friends hopped out of their cars and surrounded the two punks after we gave the signal.
As an aside, their ability to gain entry to your vehicle without damage doesn't so much scream professional as it does habitual criminal. Any tow-truck driver can do it.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 8:27 PM on January 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
Only other thought is that there are cameras just about everywhere these days. You will probably want to check around the neighborhood and see if anyone caught the thieves on tape.l
Also, so sorry this happened to you.
posted by bearwife at 2:53 PM on January 30, 2011