MattK
12-08-1998, 10:32 PM
For anyone who has been victimized and suffered a broken mirror this may make you feel a little better. This summer I was visiting my sister in Wahington DC near Georgetown. We were out late talking on her porch around midnight when I heard a loud snapping sound down down the street. Five seconds later I heard laughter and another snap. Through a nearby intersection I saw three guys on bikes ride by. They were riding past the hundreds of parked cars shoehorned into the curbside parking places and kicking as many of the drivers side mirrors that protruded out into the street as possible. I saw the mirror they had just snapped off hanging limply at the side of the car. <br> I knew how these owners were going to feel (I knew how I would feel) namely pissed off, so I took off running after them down the street. I run several times a week so I was more than ready for this chase. Yes, they could ride fast than I could run but they didn't know I was following them. I chased them for 20 (long) blocks down the street and around corners. Pedestrians on the street gladly told me which direction they headed. Conveniently, around one of the corners I ran across a police unit. I told them who I was chasing and why then they immediately radioed other units in the area. <br>I don't know if they ever finally caught the jerks (to put it mildly) but they were the only cyclists in the area and they stuck out like sore thumbs. They were loud and probably drunk. Later, I wrote a note and put it on the car that I saw vandalized describing the situation and telling them that I had contacted the police. If those three guys were caught then hopefully that owner could then press vandalism charges. (or break their legs...)<p>If you must park on the street, a simple car cover will prevent this from happening!<br>