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This is the sad story of the criminal damage to our 2010 Insight. On the morning after Halloween, I was about to leave for work when I saw that my daughter's Spectrum Pearl White Insight II was covered with shaving cream accented with red glitter. In addition there were a pair of panties on the antenna and obscenities written in shaving cream on the hood and rear. Since it was 4:30a.m. I texted my wife and daughter and asked them to spray it off before church and the sun came up and cooked the shaving cream on the car. I attributed it to Halloween pranks and didn't worry about it since Halloween was officially over.
On Monday, several students told my daughter who the five Halloween pranksters were.

Monday night my daughter called to say that she had stopped at the gas station to fill the Insight up with fuel. When she pulled the nozzle out, it was coated with red glitter. At that point, I felt my blood pressure rising.

I reported this to the police along with the names of the involved individuals and my concerns of a plugged fuel filter causing the car to stall when the detective came by to take the information. He interviewed a couple of the girls and they lied about their involvement. I captured and printed screenshots of their individual Facebook pages where they made snide remarks. One girl even gave her status as: Officer ******** is my BFF. Another girl even had the gall to reprimand my daughter (by voicemail) for mentioning that she was involved. The girl said she was there but didn't do anything except put the panties on the antenna. Technology made it easy to save the audio file on my Blackberry and give it to the officer.

I drove the car to work one day to see if it ran o.k. but I decided to take it to the local Honda dealer to have the tank dropped and cleaned. The service manager called the next day to say that a lot of glitter was on the sock fuel filter in the tank. They ordered one and would take a few days to receive it since it wasn't stocked in the district warehouse.
In the following few days, the girls continued to harass my daughter with snide remarks. Another girl posted her Facebook status as "I'm a smooth criminal." What makes this whole episode more hurtful is the fact that two of the girls had been very good friends of my daughter since early grade school. They have both stayed many nights in our home and have went on trips with us before. One of them even attended Hybridfest and Mall of America with us three years ago.

The service manager called Monday and said the car would be done near closing time. He then explained that the $53 sock filter was not available separately. All they received were some plastic parts. The filter was included in the fuel pump assembly. The fuel pump assembly was overnighted since we had been without the car for a week. They were kind to give us the fuel pump for cost and we didn't have to pay the retail price of $289.50. The final cost for a few cents worth of glitter to be removed was $411.43. Gas was pumped out with a filtered pump so only about 2 gallons seemed to be lost. I dropped the statement off at HPD for the detective and will follow up tomorrow to see if the charges have been filed yet. We are filing for restitution of $411.43, criminal damage to property over $300, and possibly trespassing.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/506/pump.jpg
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/506/sock.jpg

My summary:
I am extremely disappointed in the youth. They have shown absolutely no remorse so they have left us without an alternative other than the harsh path we have taken. I did call the principal at the high school to inform her of the danger, inconvenience, and expense that this Halloween prank has caused.

I am disappointed in Honda's design of the fuel door and the available parts. The fuel door does not have an inside release. You press on it and it pops open. The gas cap is not locking so it was easy to enter foreign matter in the fuel tank.

I am disappointed that Honda does not make the filter available separately.

Honda did not have a locking gas cap available for the 2010 Insight. I Googled and found that a Honda Fit would work. Someone had posted on another site that their Insight’s standard cap was stolen. I highly recommend that anyone with an Insight purchase a locking gas cap. I purchased a CST Locking Fuel Cap #5791 from Autozone for $12.99 + tax.
I chalk the fuel door up to a design deficiency by American Honda.


I sent the following email (in jest) to a salesman at the Honda dealer after I drove the car home the night I picked it up. The picture explains what I am talking about.

Joe:
Please let your shop know that they caused me to have a nervous breakdown. The attached pic shows the mpg on the Insight when we picked it up this evening! The car is RUINED! I will file a claim under the state lemon law when I get out of Choate Mental Health Center! My 4.0L 4x4 has never seen mileage that low.

Gotta go. Time for my bedtime meds.

Mike

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/506/mpg_gauge.jpg

WOW, words cannot express my thoughts on this.

That's terrible. :( I'm sorry you and your daughter have had to go through this. I hope the "pranksters" (euphamism for criminals?) learn something.

When I got my first car some friends on the cul-de-sac TP'ed it. They admitted to it the next day, and cleaned it up themselves. I see no problem in that kind of prank, but putting things in the gas tank? That is crossing the line. Everyone should realize that putting anything other than gas in the tank (including ethanol) can cause all kinds of damage.

On a side note, if they keep posting comments on your daughter's page like that you may look at threatening them with harassment.

Mike, this is a terrible story!! What is the matter with people today that they have no regard for someone else's property or even well-being?? :confused:

I'm glad you were able to get the vehicle repaired before any significant damage was done but like you I'm saddened by the flagrant disregard and disdain for the legal system. I hope these young women learn a lasting lesson and consider ramifications more carefully before deciding on some bone-headed action in the future. :(

How is your daughter taking all of this? I know from experience how hard it is to discover that people you trusted were not what you had thought. :ccry:

And here, we always tend to think it's the youth male of the species that tends to behave the worst. I don't suppose you were also able to gather the names of the students that helped identify (eg heard the vandals brag about their exploits) to give to the officers as well? Without it, and it doesn't sound like the facebook stuff is incriminating enough, ya'll are likely going to get boned on this one.

I'd also expect to have a fight on your hands from all the parents of the vandals as well... "Not MY sweet little xxxx, they'd NEEEEEEEEVER do thaaaaaaaaat". We see a lot of that now, with our kids being under 7 just in our cul de sac. On the other hand, we (my wife and I) tend to go with the more plausible story, over blind faith in our youngins on what actually happened. Were it my daughter, she'd be washing that car every weekend for a month or two whilst I sat there in a nice comfy chair reading a book.... but then, those that don't take responsibility for their actions really twist my knickers (see "why I hate people, part II").

My 1996 and 2004 hondas have inside-the-car fuel door releases. They went backwards on that design for the insight?!!

I hope you get what you need from those kids. I'm sorry you had to hassle with this.

Thanks all! Yes, it's been tough. I am one that would prefer to have handled it personally, but with their demeanor, I knew that would be a lost cause.

When I got my first car some friends on the cul-de-sac TP'ed it.

On a side note, if they keep posting comments on your daughter's page like that you may look at threatening them with harassment.

Our house is the pivot house at the end of a cul-de-sac. Hmmmm.
My daughter "unfriended them. We have "other means" of reading/printing their pages.

I'm glad you were able to get the vehicle repaired before any significant damage was done but like you I'm saddened by the flagrant disregard and disdain for the legal system. I hope these young women learn a lasting lesson and consider ramifications more carefully before deciding on some bone-headed action in the future.

How is your daughter taking all of this? I know from experience how hard it is to discover that people you trusted were not what you had thought.

My daughter is getting an early taste of what to expect from people. It's too bad that it had to be like this. She is doing fine. She has other friends that are supportive.


And here, we always tend to think it's the youth male of the species that tends to behave the worst. I don't suppose you were also able to gather the names of the students that helped identify (eg heard the vandals brag about their exploits) to give to the officers as well?
There were 3 girls and 3 guys involved. I have the names of all of them. The officer has ALL the information he needs. The main obstacle that we have to overcome is "small town politics." Remember: We live in Illinois!

They went backwards on that design for the insight?!!

They definitely went backwards on that design. It has a cabinet style latch that releases when the door is pressed.

My 1996 and 2004 hondas have inside-the-car fuel door releases. They went backwards on that design for the insight?!!


Probably a cost cutting measure (remember, the Insight II is the cheapest hybrid), I'm sure they save $5 in parts and 20 minutes in assembly time by not installing an inside release.

Curious though what was the reasoning behind this?
Why did they vandalize the car?

Curious though what was the reasoning behind this?
Why did they vandalize the car?

Oh, that's easy. Because teenagers do truly stupid #@$@#$ for no real apparent reason ;). Hmm... I miss Austin at times like this, where he would rail against us old folks. It likely just was a function of, "dude, I dare you to do xxxxxx", and things went TOO FAR(tm). Why do kids corn cars, or egg them at halloween? I'd venture the same guess, because teenagers just do truly stupid @#$#@$ that happens pop into their heads.

Supposedly, our brains end their growth development in the early twenties, and sporadic behavior is just function of growing up until that point.

Probably a cost cutting measure (remember, the Insight II is the cheapest hybrid), I'm sure they save $5 in parts and 20 minutes in assembly time by not installing an inside release.

I just don't get it. With all the cost-cutting measures they employed, why is it still so expensive?

Mike,

I feel for both you and your daughter.

At pet forums, I've known females behaving this hateful, but assumed vandalism was something still left to the boys. :(

I hope you find a good attorney that will throw the book at them...even if they are morally bankrupt not to feel remorse at least have them facing consequences they never touch your family again. One would think their parents, once they see the bill, etc are going to jump on them.

Have not clue as to why they did this but this was not a eye for an eye, but ten eyes for one! :mad: Actually, your daughter may have done nothing except have the misfortune to be in the same school with them.

Another thing Honda must've went backwards on was the access to the fuel pump & sock. Every Honda I've ever worked on had a top mount fuel pump assy that was easily accessed from inside the vehicle.

OP: I gotta admit your temper is much lower than mine.

There is an unwritten rule about messing with someone's car. That's something you just don't do. That's your property and your hard earned dollars/investment.

I cannot believe they deposited foreign objects in the gas tank...Criminal mischief and community service at the very minimum. They all should have a criminal record. I'm not too far away from my teen years and was never compelled to commit such dastardly acts.

The opening sequence of Pulp Fiction comes to mind. You don't **** with a man's car.

Again, I'm curious as to why these mean girls (ironically had an Insight in the film) attacked, but it's not any of my business.

My gut feeling is the motive would seem trivial when it's revealed in a courtroom. :o :mad:

The main reason is: Because they wanted to. I think one of the guys may have put the glitter in the tank. My guess is the girls were cheering the guys on and the guys wanted to impress.

A random act of vandalism? :rolleyes:

All or part of the resolution might be like in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament: have them to pay for ALL the damages.

And hope they think long and hard about it.

The good point, I hope, was the sock kept the glitter from going further through the fuel system and screw up the engine.

That's just horrible, definitely had to do with jealousy of some sort. It saddens me that people can do this to another person's car, especially since they were friends. I hope that they fully regret this in the future, and that you don't have to pay for the damages. Geez oh pete...

Any updates on this Mike?

No updates. The detective called Monday and said the investigation is still ongoing.

May be related, couple of nights a ago, a couple of teens rang my door bell at midnight. The 2nd time I saw them run into a house two doors down. I slammed my door then calmly inquired about kids ringing bells.

It stopped.

Most likely the local police won't do anything unless you act crazy in a way that makes them think you will breach the peace. Probably not worth it. I'm not sure that small claims court would be worth the trouble. Your best option is to worry their parents to the point where they discipline their children and pay you back.

I would contact the parents of the children via polite letters sent registered mail requesting repayment of costs involved. Say that you "hope to avoid civil action in this matter." I would mention that you have copies of facebook postings indicating culpability -- don't provide the screenshots. You want the parents to confront their kids with the phrase "do we need to hire an attorney here."

With the lack of respect they have shown to our daughter and to us, I am putting it in the hands of the police. I have been assured that charges will be filed. If something does fall through, civil action WILL be taken.

The point I want driven into the minds of the youth is the danger aspect of their actions as well as the damage ($$$$) factor of foreign material in the fuel.

We live within 1 mile of a 4-lane highway that my daughter pulls onto. If her car died while pulling across a 65mph(+++) road, the consequences could prove VERY harmful.

Hi Mike,

Do you think it was done because it was a hybrid? (hybrid hate crime?)

Hope it all gets resolved soon. I feel bad for your daughter too.



Donna

(white Prius 2 from HF)

Mike,
You can file civil charges in addition to criminal charges. The civil will recover the expenses much quicker and the criminal charges will torment them longer.

Congratulations to your daughter for being observant, noticing the glitter in the tank and telling you about it. It could have been worse if not discovered. - Dale

Any new developments, Mike?

Just saw this story, and if anyone did that to any of my cars, I sure as hell wouldn't have been so lenient and all hell would have broke loose. Even if I see kids loitering around my cars I get the gun.

Cars cost enough money as it is without people screwing around with them. It's a shame.

I talked with the investigator a few weeks ago. All of them except one guy have taken a lie detector test and passed. The guy became belligerent and refused to take the test. They were taking the case to the states attorney to see if he would file charges.