Stupid things left in cars

[KaeZoo]

Much of my job involves running wiring through vehicles. This means I'm often taking apart interior panels, working in or behind the glove box, under seats, in the trunk, and so on. It's surprising how many people don't seem to realize that I usually have to remove the back seat if I'm running a power wire from the trunk to the battery. I often have to clean all kinds off junk out of the seats, or empty the glove box, or take everything out of a storage compartment.

If I'm taking my car in for service, I usually try to clean it up a bit, and remove anything I don't want the service techs to see. It's amazing how many people will leave very valuable, private, or illegal things where I can find them. It's not like I'm getting cars towed to me; the jobs I'm doing are usually installations that the customers planned ahead, so they have no excuse not to clean the car out before it gets to me.

If you're bringing me a car for an installation, here are some examples of things you should consider removing (all of which I've found):

--Bags of marijuana left in the glovebox or storage compartment. I really don't care if you're a pot smoker, but at least have the brains to remove it before you turn your car over to a total stranger.
--A "stripper" outfit, complete with sequined thong, high heels, and pasties. When you come to pick up the car, it will be completely impossible for me to avoid a mental image of you in that outfit. That might be good. That might be bad.
--Revealing photographs of you, your significant other, or you AND your significant other.
--Half-empty containers of alcoholic beverages


Last night's entry: A CO2-powered air pistol, with the orange circle at the end re-painted so that it looked like a real handgun. Found under the driver's seat. This is an item guaranteed to make any trouble you happen to get into much, much worse.

[SteeleDragon78]

curiosity meet cat

im curious to know if you are required to report any illicit items such as drugs or obviously illegal guns.

[KaeZoo]

im curious to know if you are required to report any illicit items such as drugs or obviously illegal guns.

To the best of my knowledge, we have no set policy on that; and I've never reported anyone yet. The worst I've found (as far as illegal substances go) is the bags of weed. I've run into that two or three times. The smell of marijuana (or customers who are obviously high) is much more common.

[Dave1982]

Setting aside for the moment the fact that it could quite easily get you in a world of trouble, I think it'd be enormously funny if you just took the weed and then threw it out or whatever.

They'd be SUPER pissed, but there'd be NOTHING they could do about it.

"Yes officer, that installer stole my stash of weed!"

*snaps the cuffs on* "HEY MAN! What did I do!? I said he stole my weed!"

[DGoddessChardonnay]

Setting aside for the moment the fact that it could quite easily get you in a world of trouble, I think it'd be enormously funny if you just took the weed and then threw it out or whatever.

They'd be SUPER pissed, but there'd be NOTHING they could do about it.

"Yes officer, that installer stole my stash of weed!"

*snaps the cuffs on* "HEY MAN! What did I do!? I said he stole my weed!"

And the reason they get caught is that they're so out of it they can't think of their next step.

Better yet, they should have planned it out further but as we all know, criminals aren't necessarily noted for their brains.

[powerboy]

When I take my car in, I tend to clean it out.

[AdminAssistant]

I just don't let it get junked up in the first place. I see my beloved Golden Granny as a mode of transport, not a storage device.

[mattm04]

I just don't let it get junked up in the first place. I see my beloved Golden Granny as a mode of transport, not a storage device.

Same with me. If I need it is is stowed in storage compartments or if a large item, the back. My dad, has like 6 different hats throw on his back seat, tissues, etc and golf clubs i th trunk. It is kinda funny when he forgets to take out the clubs before getting large item and ends up putting, say a big bag of soil on the leather interior.

[edible_hat]

I just don't let it get junked up in the first place. I see my beloved Golden Granny as a mode of transport, not a storage device.

I carry around essentials like a first aid kit, emergency light, car service record, etc. but yeah, I don't see the point of carrying around a bunch of crap. Especially because the more weight you're driving around with, the more fuel you use.

[HawaiianShirts]

If you're bringing me a car for an installation, here are some examples of things you should consider removing (all of which I've found):

--Revealing photographs of you, your significant other, or you AND your significant other.

And if you're bringing your computer in for repair work, please make sure your desktop wallpaper is something you don't mind the rest of the world seeing. I was watching the store techs boot up a system only to find that the desktop image was the male customer, a woman we suspected to be his wife, and... well, I'll call the third guy Player 3. Too avoid TMI, let's just say that this picture of these three people, if it belonged anywhere at all, should have been on an age-restricted website.

Techs were nice and still did the work, but they changed the desktop picture to a generic Windows image first.

[edible_hat]

And if you're bringing your computer in for repair work, please make sure your desktop wallpaper is something you don't mind the rest of the world seeing.

This happened to a friend of mine who runs a computer shop, back when he was working for somebody else:

-computer wouldn't turn on.
-my friend fixes it, it turns on to reveal child porn wallpaper
-he calls the cops
-the day the customer's meant to pick up the computer, the cops run the shop (while the real staff hang out in the back, doing tech stuff)
-"Is this your computer sir?" "Yes" "You're under arrest"

Two months later there was a news report about a local pedophile ring getting busted, 30-something people arrested. I don't know if they're related or not but I kind of hope so.

[Automan Empire]

I think it'd be enormously funny if you just took the weed and then threw it out or whatever.

NO!!!!

Of course they wouldn't go to the police! They'll just go back to the shop and shoot everyone, including the innocents who had no idea about the drugs. Really dumb idea.

I once found a dozen bags of weed measured for sale and a loaded gun in a trunk. I discreetly told a cop client, no word on if they did anything. The serious dealers of the world, you don't want to mess with.

OTOH, there are the casual stoners who leave their pipe on the seat still smoking, and roaches in the ashtray. They tend to be very casual about it- oh, I won't get busted. If one of my employees was pulled over on a test drive... imagine.

Other stupid stuff left in cars. A lady brought a car saying there was a wheel bearing hum. I went on a test drive and slalomed the car, which is how you test that. Didn't hear a bearing noise, but wondered what that funny ammonia smell was. Got back to the shop, found a gallon can of paint that was loose in the back had rolled around, popped the lid, and totally coated the back of the car!

Then there was the pumpkin on the back seat... not any pumpkin but one of the GIANT ones that they have about 10 of at the whole patch... going around a freeway ramp, the thing suddenly rolled across the seat and went CRACK on the door panel... broke some plastic inside! I almost crashed the car!

[Sonoma]

I have a cousin on the 'side of the family no one talks about', who was arrested on child porn charges several years back. Turns out he had some images on his computer, and when the housesitter used the computer, she found the images, called the cops, and he was arrested. Last I knew he was still in jail, which is a very good place for him to be.

[Dave1982]

NO!!!!

Of course they wouldn't go to the police! They'll just go back to the shop and shoot everyone, including the innocents who had no idea about the drugs. Really dumb idea.

Hence "Setting aside for the moment the fact that it could quite easily get you in a world of trouble"

[nomorecarts]

depends on how big the bag is. I doubt anyone's going to start shooting over a nickel bag, but if you find a pound, don't mess with it. and don't mess with white stuff