The day my car almost got stolen
I park my car on the street in Oslo, and it’s usually parked there for at least 4 days, sometimes more. It’s a pretty nice neighborhood, but there are some hostels within easy walking range. So… there’s a risk of car theft and car break ins.
My car has been broken into three or four times. All times it’s been ransacked, but this last time they went further.
I could see the headlights were on way before I reached the car, and there was some kind of panel on the ice beside the driver side door. I assumed it was mine and threw it into the car, and got the lights off. I checked the car a bit more, and noticed they’d really ransacked it, including throwing stuff around.
So I tried to start the car, and realize my key won’t go into the ignition! So I assume they’ve broken a key off in the lock and given up.
Coming home, a long phone marathon starts. Because if I can’t get the car started, I’ll have to tow it or transport it on a hanger. I arrange for transport, but the guy can’t do it until the next day and I want to go to the country TODAY. So I tell him I’ll try fishing out whatever’s in the lock and get back to him.
I think to myself that maybe I can use a few paper clips, and find two to take with me. As I’m about to turn the computer off and head out again, I hear a voice saying: “Don’t you usually go on the net?”
It’s my own voice, inside my head. Which usually means God is reminding me of something. Sort of dry humor, in my opinion.
But it’s correct, I usually go on the web if I’ve got a problem. I go on Google, refine my search terms until I’ve got the right ones, and find out if others have had the same problem I do before me, and find out how they’ve solved the problem.
This time I find that pliers and forceps are useful, along with glue and a long piece of metal to glue the errant piece onto. Some have even used magnets.
But I bring out all my different pliers and forceps and throw them in a bag along with a camera.
Coming to the car I photograph everything. And find out that they ripped the covering off the top of the steering wheel, exposing the bolt that fastens the wheel to the car. Don’t know what for. I also discover that they’ve left keys somewhere they’re easy to spot, and somewhere I knew there were no keys before. I photograph and bag them. They might be possible to identify. Imagine that… A thief leaving an identifying key at the scene of the crime. Shakes head…
So, time to see if I can get home today. I bring out my tools, and discover that one of them is thin enough to fit deeply into the ignition. And I fish out the outermost piece of a really long needle nose pliers! They must have tried to start my car using that thing!
Really wild stuff!
But you know, even though it’s second nature to go on the web to research stuff, when something dramatic happens, it’s way too easy to stop thinking and just fall back on calling for help.
The damsel in distress…
Ugh, not my scene. I impressed the mechanic by fixing that ignition, I can tell you. He told me straight out he didn’t think I could do it. Same with another mechanic friend. He also wouldn’t have thought I could do it. And he knows me, knows what I’m capable of.
I probably wouldn’t have made it without the net, though. THANK YOU!