Fockers

On Friday night, or maybe in the wee small hours of Saturday morning, someone helped themselves to the number plates of my car.  I didn't discover them missing until we went to the markets on Saturday morning and I was opening the boot of the car (trunk, y'all) to get something out.  I walked around the front to check if they were gone as well, and they weren't.  No, Ella, they didn't fall off when we went over the speedhump. 

I spent 45 minutes and $30 at the motor registry this morning to get my new plates, and then this afternoon I went to a couple of different places to find some new screws.  Of course the Multi Pack of Theft-Resistant Screws only contain the kind to fit the front plate.  The rear plate uses different screws and - for added joy - the holes are in the middle and not at the corners so I'm going to have to figure out how to punch two holes in the new numberplate AND THEN find the right size screws.  I'm thinking this is a weekend job for PJ.

Funny thing happened on the way to Bunnings (hardware store).  I missed the turn-off so did a u-turn inside a driveway.  As I was leaving the driveway another car was coming in, and he stopped right in front of me.  What is he doing?  What's that sound?  Is that a siren?  Oh... the driveway happened to be the entrance to the Australian Federal Police depot or something.  The policeman got out and pointed at my naked numberplate plates and I laughed and said ha ha, funny story, I'm on my way to Bunnings right now... ha ha ha.  My mother in law, visiting from the Gold Coast, was sitting in the front seat, killing herself laughing.  What are the odds, after driving around since Friday night with no plates, that I'd finally get caught by the coppers, IN THEIR OWN DRIVEWAY, less than 50m from the hardware store?  (And yes, I'd reported the theft on Saturday, so I was covered).

Anyway, the moral of this story is GO TO YOUR LOCAL HARDWARE STORE RIGHT NOW and get yourself some theft-proof screws (they were in the screws aisle at Bunnings) and swap the regular screws that your car probably has now with these new screws that can't be unscrewed by fockers with screwdrivers. 

Comments

[Jennifer]

The same sort of thing happened to me. Somebody stole ONE of my plates when I lived in Washington DC. I reported it stolen then had to get new plates. In order to get new plates I had to turn in the remaining plate. While I was doing that I got a $100 ticket for not have plates on my (parked!!) car. I had to appeal the ticket in person, (meaning I lost *another* half day of work) but I did finally get out of paying it.

[daysgoby]

People suck sometimes.
That is all.

[red dirt mummy]

OMG - I have never heard of that happening. And I worked in a prison for a bunch of years! I guess that was one they considered to boring to tell me about LOL.

[Alyson Hill]

Were they unusual plates? Did you have a blue top on at the markets? I was driving my ute out of the carpark and I think you and your girls and another couple of women walked past us because I had one of those moments that drive you crazy where you recognise someone but you don't know how you know them. I am not stalking you. I wish you well. And I am very envious that you are going to the Emerging Writers Festival. Hope you have a great time. I am NOT stalking you.

[Trish]

No, they weren't unusual plates. Yes, I had a blue polarfleece jacket on, and the kids were with me, and my mother in law was there, too. I'll keep my eyes peeled for a stalker-ish looking woman in a ute next time I'm there and I'll probably say "Hey! Um, lady with the Sunny Laughter Blog!" Because I'll recognise your face but will have forgotten your name :-)

Yep, really looking forward to this weekend. I'll report back on Monday night, unless I stumble across an internet cafe while I'm there. What am i saying? Of course I'm going to stumble across an internet cafe while I'm there.

[Alyson Hill]

Of course you are! You have to do internet cafe stumbling cause we'll be hanging out to hear about it.
BTW, I do look a bit stalker-ish in the early hours of most Saturdays but that is because I wear sunglasses to hide my collection of 'I sleep on my face' wrinkles. Do NOT be frightened.