Dear Car Thief,

Because my surgery was rescheduled I was able to meet you in court today.

I couldn’t get my camera through the security so darn it all if we couldn’t get some great pics.

I was last in court at the Daley Center when I divorced in 1996.

The 4th District Court House is a bif dif - a tad seedier. No remarkable mahogony panelling.  Lots of people swearing on their cell phones

I expected the arresting officer to be there, but maybe because he overlooked the detail of the gun  in the car he was afraid the judge might yell at him.

I also expected the detective to be there, he’s been rather nice via email.

Neither showed up.

Good thing I was there.

I was told you were incarcerated…that means “put in jail” in Criminal 101 Talk.

I was also told that you had a 20,000 bond out on you.  Seems like a lot. Don’t you think?

The case was defined as criminal

I expected you to be escorted in — you know all shackled just like on TV.

I was told to come up when your name was called, and the nice Assistant Chief Deputy Clerk even guided me as to which line to stand in. 

When it was our turn lo and behold you stepped forward and you were not shackled at all.  As a matter of fact you were in the “other” line and you were only 18 Years Old!! 

Excuse me  — the thug who stole my car is as old as my daughter?

You had paid 10% of your bond money.   EVER so glad you had a spare $2000. 

It was your very first offense .

You were told to show up in court with proof that you had enrolled in school. 

Apparently in addition to not wearing your seat belt and driving MY car without a license you were not attending school.

The letter said you were now going to a private career academy.

Where are your parents? Why are you in this courtroom all by yourself ?

I met the states attorney and they explained that it could go one way or another – he pleads guilty – he gets court supervision

He came back after conferring with his public defender requesting a trial!!

Excuse me??

The states attorney said they are buying time so he can sit for awhile and think about what he’s done.

How convenient.

No thug has been brought in – even though the young man specifically named one especially well known for carrying arms.

They call that “cooperating”. More Criminal 101 Talk

Man oh man young sir, what are you doing hanging out with these thugs? 

The continuance was set for 2 months from today and I was excused from all proceedings.

No need for me to miss another day of work.

Why Thank You.

So my car is stolen, a gun was found in it by me – not by the police – but by me - MAJOR mistake.

We still have no idea who REALLY took the car.

If the gun was actually involved in a crime – ballistics takes months to manage the details of that. 

This theft has been very violating. 

It has cost me money in tow yard fees – hundreds of dollars. 

Plus fees for car washing as the thugs joy riding left a very specific smell and mess in my car.  

I had to replace my umbrella and snow brush

not to mention the other things taken. 

AND I lost 2 days of work.

The boy was waiting for me outside the courtroom.  Oh my goodness he wanted to talk to me.  Almost in tears he said he was sorry.  He said his friend gave him the key and he didn’t know that it wasn’t his friends car. He said all he wanted was to go home. He said he was very sorry.

The thing is.  I completely believed him.  This was NOT a gun slinging hoodlum/thief.

As I drove out of the parking lot he was walking to the train. My maternal heart wanted to give him a ride.  It was cold out and he wasn’t wearing the greatest coat. 

I kept driving.

This all feels rather unresolved.

P.S. Folks in court today got away with alot,  isn’t cannibus marijuana ??  and illegal ? So how do you get a fine for possession of cannibus and driving without a license.  Oh – first time offense.   Too many just like you at the county jail ?

I really am not particularly impressed.

The lady next to me was threatened in a McDonalds.

Pointing the finger at…flickr image credit

Karen Hanrahan | wellness educator and consultant | writer
nutrition ~ green clean ~ inch loss  ~ anti-aging

Contact me:  708.482.0678