Did i just do something stupid or what???

[smiddyboy1]

Half an hour ago I hear a car pull up outside my drive, I take a look out and see an almost identical car to mines outside!
So in a flash, without thinking I grab my trainers and run outside to see whats going on... just as the car is pulling away. So I run back in grab my keys and jump in the car to give chase (dont know what i was thinking at this time). The car was stopped at the end of my street, and the driver must have guessed that he looked a bit suspicious and jumped out his car to protest his inocence.
Turns out he was looking at the house for sale at the other end of my road and on his way out the street had seen my car and innocently was just taking a look.

I'm just trying to find out everyones opinions on this,

My car isn't anything special (52 plate w203) but to me it is and I've worked hard to pay for it, I must have looked at around 15 - 20 before i bought it, (ie spec / colour / comand & xenon)
And ive been cleaning and polishing it since i got it so that I could post a picture on this site but I love keeping it clean anyway, so maybe with it being quite shinny it drew his attention. I've just put new 17" Adharaz on it and in my haste was thinking that this guy was casing my car and possibly showing the young people in the back which car / wheels he was ordering (his 2 sons were in the car, i ended up speaking to him about the house/street/area after it all settled down).

So am i really paranoid, or did i do the right thing. I know that if they were there to take it then it could have turned out very different.
With the way the cars are being stolen these days I think you can never be too carefull but at the end of the day its a car! !!!

 

[JC180]

Could of got you in a whole lot of bother that little jaunt.

His 'sons' could have been polish and 18 stone and given you a good hiding.

I would have left it, EVEN if they wanted it what could you do to stop them?

Lifes not worth it, people have died over less

 

[tony2311]

if you start getting parking/speeding/congestion tickets then you will know whos cone your car

 

[Rory]

Of course you did the wrong thing, but at least you know he was OK now, where if you hadn't chased him you'd be wondering about it for weeks.

 

[recycled]

defo the wrong thing/

 

[smiddyboy1]

Thanks for you views

In the cold light of day I know i did the wrong thing. I've often thought about what I would do if I was in that situation and I thought i would have just let it be, but when it did happen there was no thinking involved - i just went out.
Could have been a whole lot worse i know, I could have walked into anything!!!
Theres posts on this and other forums where people have came into the house at night for the keys and I really feel for them.I know of 2 other people this has happened to (sl and 330ci). so i guess its taught me a lesson and next time there defo no going out!

 

[PaulE230]

Could of got you in a whole lot of bother that little jaunt.

His 'sons' could have been polish and 18 stone and given you a good hiding.

I would have left it, EVEN if they wanted it what could you do to stop them?

Lifes not worth it, people have died over less

Whats polish got to do with it lol ?

 

[CMR]

I guess because a lot of them have done national service. Its a shame its not done here to teach the local youf a little more respect. I understand your original concerns, I too are over protective of my motor because it took a long to save up for. What gets me is when the local hoddies go round on a the bikes, or the car park turns into a football area I cant do anything. Either a knife comes out or it gets keyed if you complain. Most of London is the same, you still get social housing and its problems in any residential area.

 

[verytalldave]

Did you get his number?

Despite whats already been posted, I might have done the same as you. Depending on what the driver looked like perhaps...........
If he was a Vinny Jones lookalike I might have passed, but a Derek Nimmo lookalike it would have been a different matter.
A little curiosity sometimes can be advantagous.

 

[SilverSaloon]

why? there are plenty of C classes the same colour of yours. not sure why you chased him He was just parked up outside your house????

what did you plan to do if you caught up with him!?!

 

[Brian WH]

If he had been in a beat-up old ford escort, then his actions might have been more suspicious. But the same car as yours is not to my mind.

 

[smiddyboy1]

why? there are plenty of C classes the same colour of yours. not sure why you chased him He was just parked up outside your house????

what did you plan to do if you caught up with him!?!

(not sure why i chased him)!!!? are one of those people who would just let anyone walk away or take your stuff away without sayuing a word! of course im protective over my possessions, who isn't?
I was asking ther forum their opinions on what i did and if they felt the same.
Far too much people turn a blind eye to car crime and a whole lot of other crime, maybe we should all be a bit more enquizative!
My street is a dead end only about 14 houses in it, so for the comment of "he was just parked up outside your house" it did seem a little odd. I know you can park wherever you want to and thats fine but im going to be sure theres nothing untoward going on
I did catch up with him as the initial post said.

 

[A210AMG]

Thats taking neighbour hood watch a bit too far?


I hope I don't drive up your road slowly...


In this day and age you could have come off a lot worse, maybe taking the number plate / or a quick pic from your phone? but even then...just as he drove slow past your house?

how do you cope when you leave your car in a carpark?

 

[smiddyboy1]

Thats taking neighbour hood watch a bit too far?


I hope I don't drive up your road slowly...


In this day and age you could have come off a lot worse, maybe taking the number plate / or a quick pic from your phone? but even then...just as he drove slow past your house?

how do you cope when you leave your car in a carpark?

ANYONE is free to park outside, I just found it a bit suspicious.
He wasn't driving slowly he was parked looking in (am i the only one who thinks whis way).There HAS been a few thefts from the cars and cars going missing so when i saw the same car i just went to see what was what.
as for the car park comment ,thats just OTT!

 

[crockers]

Both wrong and silly..................

 

[A210AMG]

Sorry mate, chasing a car for simply parking outside your house I think is odd and over the top also.

Thats my point of view, and YOU asked

Thanks

 

[c240yaz]

I wouldn't class it as stupid, just pointless. Why bother.

 

[verytalldave]

Who here has never done anything "pointless" or "silly"?
At least in other persons opinions.
I would imagine ALL of us - many times as well.
We all have our own little weaknesses and foibles.....

Somebody on this forum said when he polished his car it took about 4 or 5 separate applications of wax. To me, THATS silly.

I really don't see why so many of you are in total disagreement.
Its not impossible that chummy could clone his plate for many unlawful reasons.
IF that had taken place and he had THEN related his tale, I bet not so many would be so quick to deride his efforts to protect his property.
OK.....upon reflection, it probably was a tad over reactionary, but sometimes we have to make split second decisions and then live with the consequences - right or wrong.
I STILL say I would probably have reacted in the same way. I would rather be sure than wonder "what if".........despite all the comments made..

My only difference would have been that I would not bothered posting this message.

 

[E200K]

If there was a house for sale in my street then I would be expecting a fair bit of sticky-beaking and cars driving by slowly or stopping. In that instance, I probably wouldn’t have given the bloke a second thought.

If there was no house for sale, I would quite likely do something very similar to smiddyboy. Whether or not I would “chase” the bloke up the road is questionable but I would definitely go outside to see what he wanted and to ask if I could “help” him.

Putting myself in the other blokes shoes for a moment, if I wasn’t doing anything wrong then I wouldn’t be at all bothered by being “questioned” on my reasons for being there.

These days, too many people seem to be conditioned to look the other way rather than confront situations. Of course, there’s the subtle and less than subtle ways of doing things. Maybe in this instance, and with the help of hindsight, “chasing” them up the road wasn’t the most subtle approach but good on you for having the courage to do it, smiddy.

 

[TonyVianoAmbiente]

In the cold light of day I know i did the wrong thing.

I don't think you did the wrong thing. You took a risk - the guy might have been a thug, or even armed. But you didn't assault him, and in the unlikely event that he was up to no good, you marked his card.

The alternative - to do nothing - would have left you wondering for weeks on end what might happen. At least you have been spared that.

I would like to think that, in the same situation, I could remain detached and avoid taking personal action, but I know I would probably do the same as you. My current car isn't worth taking action about, but I have owned much more expensive cars in the past and would not tolerate anyone messing about near them.