#1 – This was in College, in Nacogdoches, back when I had my ’85 Bronco.  I was parked in the back yard of my fraternity house.  One rainy Sunday morning, more like afternoon, I walked out to my Bronco to get my books, only to find the driver side corner vent window was busted out.  They stole my backpack that had  most of my books in it, a pair of nice sunglasses, the CD player (with a Brian Setzer CD in it), and both my CD cases ( mostly old school country….Jerry Jeff walker, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, etc.).

#2 – The next incident was in September 2001, after going to an Astros game, where Barry Bonds was about to pass Mark McGuire’s HR record.   I met up with a few friends at Richmond Arms, a great pub down the street from where I lived at the time.  When we walked out at 2a.m. (I had to work in the morning), I found that my driver side window had been busted by a screwdriver that was left behind in the Bronco. The stereo was stolen; I think that was about it this time.  There was a security tape of the parking lot that we gave the police officer, but all you could see was a black blur.  The cameras were only b/w and really grainy.  So, I was up a nice wooden handled flat head screwdriver.

#3 – December 2003, after a company White Elephant party, I drove down to Adair’s in Deep Ellum to catch a band (Macon Greyson, I think) with some friends.  After the show, I walked out to my car to find the rear passenger side window busted.  This time I lost the CD player and a bottle of scotch, which was the white elephant gift that I ended up with.  I’ve never parked on the street in Deep Ellum since.  I think this was also in the middle of the Deep Ellum crime wave.  The drive home was especially miserable.  Adair’s is an all highway twenty minute drive, and it made for a chilly ride home since it was about 20 degrees out that night.   Oh, and the guy who replaced my window did a shoddy job.  I still can’t roll that window down without something getting out of whack.

#4 – December 2003, the very next weekend:  After a REK concert downtown with friends, we decided to go for a night cap at Kay’s Lounge.  I’ve parked there a hundred times and never had a problem.  I think there were two things that really attracted the punks.  A friend of mine broke her phone at the concert, and she left it in the front console.  The other was a bag with all of my dirty dry cleaning.   I had it in my car because I was home for 2 weeks at Christmas, and I needed to drop it off at the dry cleaner the next day.  This time they jimmied the driver door, stole her broken phone, went through a purse inside the center console (they did not take anything), and stole my bag of dirty laundry.  I think this break-in cost me the most because my clothes were about $900-$1,000.  On the bright side, I was able to use the broken handle to break in once when I locked my keys inside my car at a gas station.  It’s really easy to do on my car.

#5 – May 26^th 2009, Went to lunch at Tin Star in Allen.  They had to be brave because I was parked right out front.  My car was blocked by another car, but it was facing a major street.  The busted my rear door’s lock and stole the Jack, and that was it!  I almost feel sad for whoever this was because they were desperate.

So, that’s it. I’m glad it hasn’t been worse, like a carjacking or a house break-in.  I know a few folks who have had a lot more car break in’s.  I think one friend of mine had 4-5 in about a 12 month span.  It’s just been a little demoralizing after I went about 5 ½ years without a break-in, but oh well.

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