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Only on Nantucket: The Curious Case of the "Stolen" Mercedes

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Re: Only on Nantucket: The Curious Case of the "Stolen" Mercedes

#41

Post by lttlrck »

miriam_catira wrote: post #27
cheese_van wrote: post #11

Happened to me in the '80's. '71 Buick Skylark. When we went to lunch, our receptionist asked us to drive her Buick as it "was making funny noises." We found it in the 5 storey carpark, took it out and it drove fine. However, we got back rather late, and the carpark was full so we had to park it on the highest level. When we returned, I asked our receptionist, "I thought it odd that you had a St Christopher statue on…

My mom once opened the wrong '89 Dodge Caravan when grocery shopping in the early nineties, and it wasn't until she got in to drive that she realized it wasn't hers. She said the seat was too far back and then she actually stopped to look around. She said she had simply assumed it was hers since the key worked.

I broke into the wrong car...

Not as bad as it initially sounds as I thought it was mine - which was 20 ft away.

My idiot much younger self.

Re: Only on Nantucket: The Curious Case of the "Stolen" Mercedes

#42

Post by UncleEntity »

nimos wrote: post #33
tough wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

wait so the same key will open any car of the same model??? lol

Depends on the manufacturer how many unique bittings would be made. I believe ~1000 was common. So pretty low chance but high enough a few people have stories here or there.

The birthday paradox probably comes into play here, somehow. Not a mathologist so...

Re: Only on Nantucket: The Curious Case of the "Stolen" Mercedes

#44

Post by fsckboy »

bee_rider wrote: post #23
neilv wrote: post #22

> especially at the downtown Stop & Shop. We're very aware of that: there's so many red Jeeps with the keys under the mat." Guess I won't need to pay for a rental car.

Ah, do you really want to deal with the hassle of stealing thing during vacation?

it's like kiting checks, so as long as somebody is always shopping and other shoppers come and go, there doesn't always need to be a Jeep in the lot.

Re: Only on Nantucket: The Curious Case of the "Stolen" Mercedes

#45

Post by matt-attack »

steveBK123 wrote: post #3

Leaving keys in expensive cars in areas where everyone drives the same 5 luxury models is oddly common in some areas like Nantucket. It’s really jarring seeing the reminders from police there when you come from somewhere like NYC. Reminder that the US is a blend of high and low trust societies existing in geographical proximity. My parents still leave the door unlocked when they are home, especially if they are expec…

I live on a popular tourist island in puget sound and leave my Lexus SUV unlocked with the key in it wherever I go on the island. Groceries, downtown getting coffee, etc.

I never lock my front door except when I go to bed, and often leave the garage door open when I’m gone.

It’s quite a nice feeling.

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