Howdy! I’m still here, just doing some improvements behind the scenes and have been focusing on some non-web related things. I’m looking forward to getting back in my regular M-F writing schedule here and posting rich, new posts (which I invite you to comment on)

How was everyone’s weekend?

, G

It’s not that I never thought it would happen to me, but I was not expecting it being that I am very cautious with my vehicle and follow pretty much every proactive measure one can to not have… your car stolen.

I had been hard at work all day Thursday, not taking a lunch trip or anything of the sort. My car, I thought, was locked up and safe in my work parking lot. I would soon discover at 6 in the evening that my false sense of security was just that… a false one. Disappointment and feelings of violation washed over me when it became clear that I had not forgotten my parking spot, but that some lowlife sack of crap had made off with my ‘94 Acura Integra.

This was no beauty queen of a car and certainly needed some maintenance. I assume it was stolen for the engine/trans, etc. as they are hot items on the black market across the country, but I’ll never know the true reason, unless the thief is caught (I can hope, right?). In any case, there were much nicer Integras in the same parking lot that day, which makes me wonder if I was being cased or perhaps it was somewhat of inside job. Am I being too paranoid(?), perhaps - but I am considering and pursuing all avenues.

What really gets me is that they made off with irreplaceable personal possessions. These things are what I really want back. I would gladly trade the car to get back my keepsakes and belongings.

I have filed police reports, but nothing has come up yet.

To my readers, please keep your eyes peeled for this car:

1994 Acura Integra, white body with black front bumper, five spoke Acura rims, terrible tires, scratches on the rear bumper passenger side, black trim. License plate: (Texas) 819-HJN

It was stolen from the economy 20 parking lot at the University of Houston between 9am and 6pm on Thursday May 24th of 2007.

I have a donation account open for anyone who wishes to help me out in re-buying what I can. http://www.clutchcitydaily.com/?page_id=5 Every penny helps.

This might trigger memories of a popular post I created a while back about the top 10 stolen cars in Houston.

Hi friends, be careful out there on the roads. Not only will running red lights severely increase the risk of a crash, the driver will get ticketed 100% of the time at the following spots…

added May 14, 2007

* (Northbound) South Wayside Drive at Gulf Freeway, West Service Road
* (Northbound) Woodridge Drive at Gulf Freeway, West Service Road
* (Westbound) West Bellfort Street at Southwest Freeway, East Service Road
* (Northbound) Fairbanks North Houston Road at Northwest Freeway, West Service Road
* (Northbound) West Sam Houston Parkway South, East Service Road at Westpark Drive
* (Eastbound) F.M. 2351 at Gulf Freeway, West Service Road
* (Easbound) South Post Oak Boulevard at West Loop South, West Service Road
* (Northbound) Northwest Freeway, East Service Road at Mangum Road
* (Westbound) South Sam Houston Parkway East, North Service Road at Telephone Road
* (Southbound) Stella Link Road at South Loop West, North Service Road

added March 19, 2007:

* (Westbound) Greens Road at North Freeway, East Service Road
* (Northbound) North Shepherd Drive at North Loop West, South Service Road
* (Westbound) East Freeway at Normandy, North Service Road
* (Eastbound) Antoine at the Northwest Freeway, North Service Road
* (Southbound) North Freeway at Rankin Road, West Service Road
* (Southbound) West Sam Houston Parkway at Bellaire Boulevard, West Service Road
* (Southbound) Southwest Freeway at Wilcrest, West Service Road
* (Northbound) Main Street at South Loop West, North Service Road
* (Westbound) Monroe at Gulf Freeway, East Service Road
* (Southbound) Scott Street at South Loop East, North Service Road

added Jan. 25, 2006:

* West Loop South, East Service Road at San Felipe Street
* Southwest Freeway, West Service Road at Bellaire Boulevard
* Southwest Freeway, East Service Road at Beechnut Street
* Southwest Freeway, East Service Road at Fondren Road
* Northbound Chartres Street at St. Joseph’s Parkway
* Westbound Bissonnet Street at Southwest Freeway East Service Road
* Eastbound El Dorado Boulevard at Gulf Freeway
* Northbound Hollister Street at Northwest Freeway West Service Road
* Eastbound West Road at North Freeway West Service Road
* Southbound North Wayside Drive at East Freeway, North Service Road

added November 2006:

* Southwest Freeway feeder road at Fountainview Street
* Southwest Freeway feeder road at Chimney Rock Road
* Southwest Freeway feeder road at Westpark Drive
* Southwest Freeway feeder road at Hillcroft Street
* Gessner Road at Beechnut Street
* Bissonnet Street at Sam Houston Parkway
* 610 West Loop at Westheimer Road
* FM 1960 at Tomball Parkway
* East Freeway at Uvalde Road
* West Sam Houston Parkway at Beechnut Street

added Sept. 1, 2006:

* Harwin Street at Hillcroft Avenue
* La Branch at Pease
* Brazos Street at Elgin Street
* Milam Street at Elgin Street
* Travis Street at Webster Street
* Richmond Avenue at Dunvale Drive
* Bellaire Boulevard at Wilcrest Drive
* Hillcroft Avenue at Richmond Avenue
* Hillcroft Street at Harwin Drive
* John F. Kennedy Boulevard at Greens Road
* Bay Area Boulevard at El Camino Real