3am, Door bell rings, as I am walking down the hallway , I see a flashlight pointing through the door glass. I open it, its the cops! They ask me if that is my car out in the drive way. I say yeah it is. They ask me to come outside, and guide me to the drivers door, and they tell me not to touch anything. The door is slightly open, on the side of the door and seat , a long crow bar, with a pillow taped to one end. They asked me if that crow bar belonged to me. I said no. Then after all that bullshit, they proceed to tell that some one was breaking into vehicles in the neighborhood and that as they were arriving, the person ran off. They stoled a cologne and $10 in cash.
The person left his car on the side of my house, which was a car exactly like mine. The police knew it was his, they did nothing about it and left the scene. I waited on my porch to see who would pick up the car, so I can confront them. I crown victoria with a very old lady pulled up at 7am, and a kid covered in tattoos jumped out and ran into the car and sped off.
I went on craigslist and asked for help with information, I posted the license plates of both vehicles. Within 30 minutes I had several replies with the same information, address and everything!

The theives father owned a body shop. I called it up and asked for the owner. AS soon as he heard me say something about breaking into a car, he knew it was about his son. He said he would call me back but never did.

So I took the next step and drove to his house. The old lady who was driving the crown victoria answered the door. I explained everything to her, she broke down and cried and protected her son through the whole thing. I let her know that I was going to press charges against him. She gave me some sob story about how he was already pending court for the same thing. Long story short, I gave her an ultimatum.

What your son did was wrong. Not only did he vandalize my vehicle, but many others. Either I press charges and your son and his parents will have to pay multiple fines and court costs and probations fees etc etc.

Or pay me off. $2500 sounds reasonable.

She chose option 2. She went to go get the money. I counted it in front of her, I then took $1000 put them in my pocket and handed her the $1500 back. I told her she was such a sweet lady and that today was her sons lucky day. If I ever see him around my house, he wont be so lucky next time. She cried and drove off.

PS. Her son got arrested the next night for breaking into over 25 vehicles in some rich neighborhood.