My car has been keyed overnight while parked on the curb in front of my building. Convenient street parking was one draw for the particular building I moved to in Bed-Stuy…but I can see that that there possible vandalism is the hidden fee. The key job looked like it took a good 10-20 seconds at least, as there are all these childish scribbles on the hood. Two other cars parked on the curb got a quick key line down 1 or 2 curbisde panels, but my key job takes the cake. I’m really self-conscious about having a car in Brooklyn, particularly Bed-Stuy, because not that many people have cars out here. Regardless of the motive, the question is “what’s to come?” I could try to get the scratches buffed out, but I don’t want to go back and forth with the vandals. And though I’m looking for work in the City (in which case the car goes away), the car’s a necessity for now. There are no signs of private parking lots in the neighborhood either.

Does anyone have a similar experience of being keyed in street parking that they had otherwise intended to keep using?


Comments

  1. Agree with a bit of the above, but will say that its not likely to be a neighbor or even kids on the block, more likely a.holes just walking through and live further on.

    As for getting it fixed, I sorta go by the Broken Window’s theory, and try to get things fixed quickly on my car, since I feel that a tagged up / keyed up car is more likely to get the next passing punk’s attention and he’ll feel like its ok to add to the damage.

  2. I’m always surprised at how many of our neighbors have very nice cars. Volvos, Suburus, Mercedes. We don’t have a car yet but if/when we get one we’ll get a good, safe car but something not TOO expensive as I have always assumed it would really get abused in NYC!

  3. Thanks, everybody, for your sharing your experience and suggestions. I’m kind of amazed at my naivete. I guess it’s clear that I didn’t grow up in the city. I’ll remember to take it all in stride : )

  4. i feel your pain ckwells123. ironically i posted a forum right after yours this morning about the same thing…in the same neighborhbood.

    the ironic thing is that i can count the number of lexus’, range rover’s, etc. routinely parked near my (substantially cheaper) car yet somehow my car seems to be the only one affected.

  5. Is this a joke? Car keyed in Bed Stuy? What next, dirty soles from walking around city streets?

    Your car is probably safer in Bed Stuy than any other neighborhood. That said, this is the city. Your car is going to get banged up no matter where you live, unless you park it in a garage.

    I live in Bed Stuy. We have a car. I’ve seen a lot worse. Murder, assault, and arson, for example. Consider the possibility that it actually may have been a child who did this, and not someone who has anything against you.

  6. Well, I have a car which I park on the street and I am sympathetic. Once I woke up to find my car window had been bashed in. I wondered why the hell they did that, it didn’t look like anything was taken. But then I realized that my ashtray had some change in it – no mega bucks, just toll change and that was what was taken. So don’t advertise anything in the car or leave stuff in there, but maybe it is just me, but if that was me, I would fix the car. Maybe after a while people will get to know you and your car and look out for you. I have a man who is retired who helps me take out the trash (works since I travel for work) and he keeps an eye on my car, actually on our entire block, and although things happen, I only had one thing happen in 6 years. Good luck. Welcome to Brooklyn.

  7. i will add, take everything out of your car and leave nothing visible. i used to also leave the center console open just to show people there was nothing there as well. i’ve even seen the glove compartment open in some cars, but that was a little much for me. that will at least minimize a little the smash and grab.

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