Scratching cars - What a rush!!

[jamesson1980]

Being the victim of a screwdriver vandalism on the weekend, my 5 week old FG polished up a treat with a bit of Meguiars Scratch-X (can't recommend it enough).
But with that awful taste now outta my mouth, my thoughts turn to the psychology of the car scratcher. I spied my car's attacker, not what I expected: 50-60 yrs old, poo brown woolen jumper and twitching like Dennis Ferguson. At the time I spotted him, I didn't know my car had been attacked, he looked to be ferociously dry rooting the back of a mercedes wagon about 6 cars up from mine. When I heard the sickening sound of duco being torn by sharp metal, it became obvious what he was doing. I walked on over to him. He promptly bolted across the highway and tried to blend into the shopping crowd. I tracked him down, he had some sort of screaming meltdown at me and a shop assistant called the police.
Heading back over to my car, I noticed almost every car in the lot had been attacked on the boot/tailgate. Among them was an F6 phoon and a spotless black VY clubby. Some had even had metal damaged deeply. Luckily for me, the FG wasn't even down to the primer, hence why it could be polished out.

So, what do we reckon is behind this phenomenon?? Be it the usual feral kids or the non-conventional older vandal, how can they do it and seemingly enjoy it... and who else has been the victim of this dog act?

[burnz]

you should have stuck round to the cop's showed up.
and point the finger!!

[V3RSAC3]

Jelousy my friend. I'm very sorry to hear, but it's fantastic that you got it out. I had my car scratched back in 07' when I was at school in the carpark. I found it mostly jelousy that pushes these kind of people to do such things :-(

[Peter B - CV8]

So what happened to him ?????? Were the cops called for the damage you witnessed him do..... Not the type of person that one would associate with vandalism.

[jamesson1980]

Originally Posted by burnz

you should have stuck round to the cop's showed up.
and point the finger!!

I did exactly that.. well in regards to the Mercedes anyway, I didn't witness anything else. But apparently I wasn't the first to notice him, the cops were already all over it up the other end of the parking zone.

PS: moments after starting this thread, I notice another vandalism thread in which a car has been SERIOUSLY damaged, not just scratched. Puts my scratches into perspective but it also goes to highlight my point and magnify my curiosity as to WHY. Fingers crossed for the hasty repair of that member's car, no one deserves that!

[Bobman]

So did the cops take him?

Sounds like the same type of old men who are nosy neighbours and who don't like anyone from any other generation.

[jamesson1980]

Originally Posted by Bobman

So did the cops take him?

Sounds like the same type of old men who are nosy neighbours and who don't like anyone from any other generation.

They had him and they were checking out the cars, I'd say they joined the dots pretty quick.
This occurred in a once sleepy Victorian coastal town that has, in the past decade, become one of the states busiest tourist hubs. I'm leaning towards the theory that Mr Scratch has been living in the town for 200 years and is bitter at the rapid development and population of "his" once quiet place. I noted that the worst damaged car which was the Merc wagon I saw him carve up, in fact had NSW plates. That's all I can come up with as a possible so called justification for this.

[auxr]

Sounds to me this gentleman (cough) maybe a recent release from a mentally impaired institution.

[Fordman]

Originally Posted by V3RSAC3

Jelousy my friend. I'm very sorry to hear, but it's fantastic that you got it out. I had my car scratched back in 07' when I was at school in the carpark. I found it mostly jelousy that pushes these kind of people to do such things :-(

True, I'm still at school and people put the wipers up every day. I can see the humorous side, once or twice, but when they do it every day it gets annoying, if only i could find out who and fix them up ing_sm

But it is a jealousy thing a agree.

[Jason[98.EL]]

Originally Posted by auxr

Sounds to me this gentleman (cough) maybe a recent release from a mentally impaired institution.

And how did you come to that conclusion ?

Yes the guy has no respect for other peoples property that is all till we hear why he did what he did

[paule11]

Quote:
Originally Posted by auxr
Sounds to me this gentleman (cough) maybe a recent release from a mentally impaired institution.

And how did you come to that conclusion ?

Yes the guy has no respect for other peoples property that is all till we hear why he did what he

I cant see any sane reason to damage other peoples property?

[Mr Hardware]

Yeah i hate it, i don't get it
a few years back i used to park my car outside the local cop shop every day (cos i worked at the department beside the cops) and one day my car got keyed. Now it did have all the trappings of a typical scenario - parked every day in a derro part of town outside a cop shop in a shiny late model falcon - what are the braindead druggos gonna think other than its a d's car. Still haven't fixed it, might have a go with this scratch-x stuff.

[HLC]

absolute toss bags that do this sort of stuff, and whilst my car is now rooted,

it had been the victim of careless scratching at uni anyway and its just as gutting. especially when you first get it. what a joke unfortunately. ill never understand that mentality.

[Fev]

Originally Posted by HLC

absolute toss bags that do this sort of stuff, and whilst my car is now rooted,

it had been the victim of careless scratching at uni anyway and its just as gutting. especially when you first get it. what a joke unfortunately. ill never understand that mentality.

Every day i see more and more about people i dont get - i just can't comprehend what goes through their head... im starting to wonder where the government's been dropping Agent Orange because something is seriously messing up the gene pool..

[JutroXR8]

In my cousin's street, if you park your car on the road (i.e. not off the road and on the nature strip, you'll most likely end up having your car egged or have something else thown on it like paint. It's just a ridiculas OCD that some person has about people parking their cars on the road. By law you're not supposed to park your car on the nature strip, or have you're vehicle parked in your driveway and hanging out over the foot path or road. You get f wits everywhere!!!

[ltd]

People of low intelligence do it in the vague hope they don't get caught. Personally, I'd laugh my head off at this old bugger getting busted; knowing that he's going to be paying for the damages.
I'd actually put a claim against him, and being a resident of the area so incensed by tourists he's most likely to own his own home, so pleading poor is not an option. Furthermore, once established he owned his home or had equity in it I'd organise other victims of his crimes to put a claim against him. Should he fail to pay them as well I'd go to the expense of winding his assets up and seeing this moron evicted from his home. Maybe then, he might learn to respect other peoples property.
Should he have nothing though, there are always ways to make people find the money (and I mean legal, non-violent).

[ltd]

Originally Posted by JutroXR8

In my cousin's street, if you park your car on the road (i.e. not off the road and on the nature strip, you'll most likely end up having your car egged or have something else thown on it like paint. It's just a ridiculas OCD that some person has about people parking their cars on the road. By law you're not supposed to park your car on the nature strip, or have you're vehicle parked in your driveway and hanging out over the foot path or road. You get f wits everywhere!!!

Put a claim against the council for one of their streets being contributory to damages to a vehicle (paint, not the eggs), then someone may take it seriously

[RG]

Originally Posted by auxr

Sounds to me this gentleman (cough) maybe a recent release from a mentally impaired institution.

You may be on to something here, although not quite so extreme.

Sounds like he may have been a low functioning member of society considering the fact that he did it to multiple cars in plain view and then had what appears to be a slight breakdown when confronted.

Hopefully he gets the help he needs, although unfortunately in this country I doubt that will happen.

Sucks about the cars though.

[FTE72]

Can Institutions be mentally impaired?
Oh, you meant mental health care facility.
Hope he gets the help he obviously needs.

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by Jason[98.EL]

And how did you come to that conclusion ?

Yes the guy has no respect for other peoples property that is all till we hear why he did what he did

You cant be serious, this is the reason this country is going to ...political correctness.
Ask me, the bloke deserved a belting for being stupid enough to think he'd get away with it.

If his motive is with the influx of tourists, I wonder if he considered why the Merc driver had NSW plates. Perhaps he should have waited until he knew they were definately tourists and not some poor bloke who's been sent interstate on work commitments.

Oh thats right, he didnt care so why should we defend his mental state, he's clearly a nutcase and quite likely always will be.

[Pinch]

$2700 to repair my BA XR my wife was driving to work on a Monday. High School teacher, it was just after reports were issued on the Friday before. Two deep scratches down entire near side. Got the guard, both doors and quarter panel. Two passes.

School wasn't interested. Excess paid. Car fixed. Meh.

[auxr]

Originally Posted by Jason[98.EL]

And how did you come to that conclusion ?

Yes the guy has no respect for other peoples property that is all till we hear why he did what he did

Fairly easily assumption by reading what was in the thread - twitching, mini melt down - assumed something maybe psychologicaly wrong.

Still though, can't imagine why a member would be trying to defend this persons integrity when this type of vandalism is becoming a scourge of society. :

[auxr]

Originally Posted by FTE72

Can Institutions be mentally impaired?
Oh, you meant mental health care facility.
Hope he gets the help he obviously needs.

LOL - should be politically correct and not type so quickly - should have read institution for the mentally impaired, sorry

[Mr Hardware]

High School teacher, it was just after reports

Occupational Hazard i guess!

[GavL]

Seen this happen to a couple of people.

Quite a few years back some friends had bought a new Audi A3 and Holden Calais (had both for about a fortnight), parked somewhere near each other in a public place. Came back a few hours later and both cars had keen keyed with a ring that went around the whole of each car - the doors, boot, bonnet. Damages were estimated between $10-$15k. As you would - they were very upset.

Another one I saw is there's a relitively well kept Jeep near where I work and it used to park in one of the side streets. One day someone etched the words "F * * * OFF!" into one of the door panels fairly deeply. He now parks in the secured parking complex where I do :p

[mik]

this stuff has always been happening but it seems to be more common now, Australia has changed its, now a melting pot of cultures(the oppressed and angry at the world in their own eyes) add to that the gap between have`s and have nots is widening, also i think add to that lack of discipline in young people, more population , more mentally ill, punishment for youngens these days is laughable, teachers can`t touch them , parents molly coddle them,.......the extent of their punishment .................ok you naughty boy no play station for you tonight:.

[Mr Hardware]

the day-'care' generation

[phoenix555]

Originally Posted by jamesson1980

how can they do it and seemingly enjoy it... and who else has been the victim of this dog act?

My last car (Honda Integra Type R 2000) was broken into at the end of July - the seats, the mats, the badges, the indicators, stereo, GPS and phone charger. But they also took the time to scratch some loooong gouges in most of the panels.

So it wasn't enough for them apparently to just vandalise the inside, but why not, while we're here, let's do a real good job. The cops said it was odd - those that steal usually don't take the time to do malicious damage and vice versa.

I was worried (and confused!) that it might be personal until I found out (a day later) that is was the third car of its type in four weeks that my assessor knew of.

So they were just having fun? I call them FU scratches. F@#$ you for having a nice car. F@#$ you for thinking you're better than me, or some other misguided, misplaced opinion.

[Mr Hardware]

in most cases i think it'd simply be an example of tall poppy syndrome.

[paul84]

Had my BF keyed around June this year, wasn't too impressed. I was at a mates workshop and had it parked out side. However I should of known better to park it out front at night across the road from a train station (should of seen it coming really). Key'd right across the spoiler from end to end, right down to plastic.

At first I was pretty ****ed off, but I just thank my lucky stars it wasn't anywhere else on the body. I figure atleast a spoiler can be taken off and the whole thing re-done with minimum fuss, but still its the principle of the whole thing.