My car was stolen right out of my work parking lot...

[Kris Horton]

Yup...great way to wrap up my day. It had already been the longest day of my life and I was just about to leave for the day when someone from the front office came to see if I was there. He said he didn't see my car outside and thought that maybe I had left. I figured he didn't recognize my 84 El Camino (which I've been driving off and on while the Mustang gets finished for SEMA) and was just looking for my Mustang. Well, 5 minutes later, I stepped out the front door and sure enough...my car was gone.

I had a moment where I thought "wait, where did I park it?" It wasn't me being forgetful, but more of a knee-jerk reaction. So I kind of stood there for a moment in complete shock and then picked up my cell and called my dad, who normally drives the car, but has been kind enough to loan it back to me for the past month.

After breaking the bad news to him, I called the cops and waited on them. The officer who came was really cool and understanding. He was a car guy as well, so that made the situation a bit more bearable. So after I filed the report, my boss gave me a ride home. He felt really bad about it and gave me tomorrow off. Hopefully the find the car, in tact. I don't give a damn if the radio's missing, I just want my car back.

I drove it all through high school and part of college and have a lot of memories in it. Recently it got a fresh paint job, a new set of wheels, and some new speakers.

For the record, the car was locked and in the parking lot...but I guess that didn't mean much to them. If there's any consolation, it's fully insured and had about 3 gallons of gas left in it and a locking gas cap...and I have the key.

It's a crappy feeling I tell ya. And before you go saying "It's just an 80's El Camino, ask anyone who's seen it. It was a fine example of one...

Here are some pics of it (bed had been Rhino lined since)

http://img54.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf01353yp.jpg

http://img54.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf01327hl.jpg

Kris

[LVCamaro]

That blows! Sorry to hear, Kris.

SS

[awr68]

Man Kris, that is bad news and a very bad way to end the day/week!! Hopefully they only took it for a short joy ride and left it on a side road or parking lot...that's what they did to my wife's uncle's truck...I beleive they drove it a wopping 5 miles and stole the ask tray of all things!!

Keep us up to date with the details!! Oh, and it is a fine example of that body style...I've always liked them! Probably because I was in high school when they used to do the IROC treatment to them...I still like that look!!

[Kris Horton]

Thanks guys. The things that bum me out about this situation the most are the memories I have with that car and the plans my dad had for it.

I had pretty much given it to him after I bought my Mustang and he loved it to death. He was planning on fixing up some rough spots on it like the carpet, seats, and then eventually installing the Baer brakes I got for it a while back.

Kris

[camcojb]

Sucks Kris. I've had a car stolen myself, while we were at the hospital having my first child! Hopefully there'll be a happy ending.


Jody

[evilzee28]

Thats' really crap news. Coulda been worse though, it might have been your Chevelle!!!!! Hopefully they'll run outta gas & just dump it, lets hope they don't strip the wheels etc from it.

[Blown353]

Ouch, that sucks! I know the feeling. While none of my cars have been stolen, my mom had her 86 Cutlass stolen twice; once from work and once from our driveway. My Dad also had his mint and somewhat modded '87 Elky stolen out of our same driveway.

You can thank GM for their POS 80's steering columns; once in the car I can bust one and start the car and be gone in less than 10 seconds. All I need is a slotted screwdriver and a ball peen hammer-- no joke. A friend who works undercover car theft on the local PD showed me the technique. It's really sad just how poorly GM vehicles of that vintage deter theft, they almost steal themselves.

Hopefully they recover it intact and unmolested. My mom's car was recovered both times, each time the only damage being the steering column, a busted window, and an empty tank of gas. My Dad's elky wasn't so fortunate, it actually turned up in a body shop 4 years later; a guy took it in to be painted then never paid the bill. Shop put a mechanic's lien on it and that's when it was found... complete with metal flake green paint, gold wire wheels and whitewalls.

Originally Posted by camcojb

Sucks Kris. I've had a car stolen myself, while we were at the hospital having my first child! Hopefully there'll be a happy ending.


Jody

OMG... how bad is that?

[rockdogz]

Sorry to hear that Kris. .. I hope they find it (and the pieces of #^$%^# who did it too!)

[Rick Dorion]

Sorry for the loss. It sure is a feeling of being violated. Hope it turns out well. I remember going to my garage one saturday and finding it empty .

[Derek69SS]

That sucks Kris. There's nothing worse than a theif.