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I just stood there holding my coffee for like ten minutes, I couldn’t believe it. I was expecting a prankster classmate to pull back in at any second.
You were at a local gas station?
Yeah right near my house, I stop there all the time for gas, coffee, you know…simple stuff. I had filled up and then pulled around in front of the station to pay and get some coffee; I was seriously gone for like 3 minutes.
What’d you do next?
I had no idea what to do. Honestly I was thinking about my final that I was going to be late for, it was early… you know… before class. I went back in and eventually the clerk found out and called the police, the whole thing was surreal. I tried to call my dad at work, but had to leave a message for him. I felt so helpless.
Did the police think the vehicle was stolen?
Well…yeah, but the policeman finally shows up, and starts by asking questions.
“Was it locked?” He asked,
“No.” I said. I had actually left it running. “I just went in to pay and grab some coffee.”
“Then he asks me if I knew it was illegal to leave a running vehicle unattended, and that I could have been ticketed! I almost started crying right there, but then he recommended I come with him down to the station to file a report.”
Did you go with the officer?
“I had already completely missed my final by that point. It was the police station or the gas station, so yeah I went. I spent like the whole day there, filling out forms and junk. I can't believe what a mess it caused, I think I wasted a lot of their time. ”
Have you ever done anything like that before?
No way, I’d never even spoken to the police before. I never thought something like this could happen to me. I mean, who would want my car? I’m just a college student driving a well loved Honda Civic!
Did you eventually get a hold of your family?
Yeah, my father came to rescue me at the station. He shows up and here I am at the police station, I totally felt like a criminal. I had to explain the whole thing, it was so embarrassing… I felt like such an idiot. It only got worse after that.
Like what?
For starters, I was supposed to go to a concert with friends that weekend, and guess who was supposed to drive? My freedom was completely gone. Getting to class and work became a total nightmare…riding the bus, bumming rides from my parents. To top it off I am like a college student right? All my stuff was in that car: cell phone, CD collection, textbooks, clothes, keys. They drove off with half my life when they stole my car.
The police eventually recovered the vehicle correct?
I guess you could say that. They busted some “chop shop” thing, and found parts of my car there. I guess they stole it for parts that they sell off? I had never heard of it before, but they said my car was one of the most common cars for that type of thing, who knew.
Did you have insurance?
Oh yeah, that was another nightmare. I'm a poor college student right, I mean I drive a junky car. So after they subtracted my deductible, I received like no money for the car…not enough to get another one with anyway. They didn’t recover any of my stuff that was in the car. I had to buy all new stuff, and obviously I didn’t get a dime from my insurance for that stuff because it isn't covered.
Are you back on track yet?
Almost, I just about have enough saved up for a new car, well, used—you know. I feel like I lost a year of my life, I can’t believe all I’ve been through. I am going to ask a lot more questions this time about my insurance. And I am TOTALLY locking my car from now on, I mean; I NEVER want to go through this again.
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