Team-BHP > Shifting gears


Reply
  Search this Thread
7,261 views
Old 18th August 2009, 12:38   #1
BHPian
 
fast_elegance's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Mangalore/Bangalore
Posts: 437
Thanked: 247 Times
Please Advise - Menace in my apartment building

I have been facing a real menace in my apartment building. We own a Hyundai Santro & a Yamaha RX135. We have a designated parking area in the building and we have been maintaining our car and bike in mint condition and also crystal clean. Previously once it happened that some kid in the building put some scratches near the bonnet of my car . My dad did complain to the association regarding the same however we did not demand for any compensation as the scratches were taken off by rubbing and polishing.

Yesterday some miscreant has drawn lines all over the body of my santro and my bike. He has used a sharp object to do the same and this time the damage is huge and will cost a bomb to have the damages repaired . All the other cars which are parked next to ours do not have any scratches which means that the miscreant was jealous of my car's and bike's condition . My dad has again complained to the management of the building's association and has demanded to pay for the damages or else he said that we would stop paying for the building maintenance until the bills are settled. We are paying about 1000 Rs as maintenance charges which includes security and other stuffs. The association has called the owners of all the flats for a meeting today evening to discuss the same.

I would like to know the following from my fellow BHPians :

Is there anyways that we can held the building association management responsible for the security lapse and have them pay for the damages legally?
Is it wise to claim for insurance and get the damages repaired? If we claim for insurance do we have to pay a higher premium the next time we renew the insurance?
Please give me your suggestions and advise. Thanks in Advance.

P.S. :Moderators, please move the thread to the appropriate section if you feel that this does not fit in here.

Last edited by Technocrat : 18th August 2009 at 15:38. Reason: Only 2 smilies per post allowed, please read our board rules before proceeding further, thanks
fast_elegance is offline  
Old 18th August 2009, 12:41   #2
Team-BHP Support
 
Rudra Sen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 11,553
Thanked: 6,477 Times

Mods note: Thread moved to shifting gears.
Rudra Sen is offline  
Old 18th August 2009, 13:15   #3
BHPian
 
Vivek.Martin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Garden (Garbage?) City
Posts: 109
Thanked: 0 Times

Eeesh! That's cruel!
Sorry about what happened. Some fellows need to be sent to torture chambers for doing these things.
Anyways, how are you going to identify who did it? The association may say that there's no substantiation that the incident happened in the premises. I feel it may be kinda tough to get money out of these guys.
Good luck though.
Regarding insurance, it is better to claim it if you have comprehensive coverage. You will also lose the No Claim Bonus when you renew your policy next term.
Vivek.Martin is offline  
Old 18th August 2009, 13:34   #4
BANNED
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 11,368
Thanked: 23,090 Times
Infractions: 0/3 (12)

This thread should move to the Vandalism section.

I wholeheartedly sympathise with you my friend. I went through the same pain recently when some s*d vandalised my car.

But the trouble is that one can never catch the perpetrators of such evil crimes.

Apartment associations are generally toothless tigers and Im not sure you can get a rise out of them either.

No harm in trying though but please dont lose your cool because that could be detrimental to your interests.
shankar.balan is offline  
Old 18th August 2009, 13:39   #5
BHPian
 
fast_elegance's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Mangalore/Bangalore
Posts: 437
Thanked: 247 Times

Thanks Vivek.Martin for the good luck. I need those good luck badly. Even I am concerned of the same thing that they might just rubbish this as something that happened outside the premises . My dad brought this to the notice of the president of the association in the morning as soon as he noticed the scratches when he was taking the car out. Even i want these fellows to be put in a torture chamber and be treated in the same way as they treated my car and bike . Its really hard to find the miscreant as there are lot of kids around who play during the evenings and i do not whether this was done by a kid or an adult jealous of my possessions. Can i make the association pay for the damages legally as they are responsible for the security of the resident's property?
fast_elegance is offline  
Old 18th August 2009, 13:40   #6
Senior - BHPian
 
gd1418's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Gurgaon
Posts: 3,578
Thanked: 728 Times

My sympathies first. This reminds of something of school days. In every class or so there used to be a guy/gal or a couple of them who turned out everyday spick & span and were complimented by the teachers. This used to get the goat of some like us. So innovative ways were found to step on their "cherry blossom" shoes or ink the shirts. Madness, if you think about it now but loads of fun then.

Your's seems a case similar to above. Pure jealousy if I must say. IMO, calling a meeting of all the residents would serve no purpose. No one is brave & honest enough to admit.

I too stay in a condominium where security is present at every nook & corner. But inspite of that the special metal valve caps that I get for my ride are found missing very often. Complaints when registered initially didn't bring results. Security can't be monitoring closely each & every vehicle parked inside the building as they have other chores to attend as well. Secondly, this is totally an inside job. A resident or his/her's relatives staying in the condo are the culprits. If a resident is found loitering near a car that doesn't belong to him/her, it shall not raise the suspicion of the guards.

Quote:
Originally Posted by fast_elegance View Post
The association has called the owners of all the flats for a meeting today evening to discuss the same.
gd1418 is offline  
Old 18th August 2009, 13:40   #7
Senior - BHPian
 
rkbharat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Gurgaon/New Delhi
Posts: 1,601
Thanked: 724 Times

get an impact sensor for your car, and keep it at high sensitivity. I could have suggested for car cover, but if its intentional attempt, cover will not help
rkbharat is offline  
Old 18th August 2009, 13:57   #8
Senior - BHPian
 
ashthedivx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Delhi
Posts: 1,356
Thanked: 24 Times

Talking with association might not help as they might wash their hands and ask for inability to help you out. Best solution can shifting of parking place to a place which can be viewed at directly from your flat so as you can keep an eye on the car, you might need to approach association for the same.

Quote:
Originally Posted by rkbharat View Post
get an impact sensor for your car, and keep it at high sensitivity. I could have suggested for car cover, but if its intentional attempt, cover will not help
Can also be considered as a solution, but make sure you don't have wandering pets in your society and a healthy battery
ashthedivx is offline  
Old 18th August 2009, 13:59   #9
Senior - BHPian
 
n_aditya's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Namma Bengaluru
Posts: 5,344
Thanked: 3,666 Times

Get a motion sensing camera. Connect it to your laptop and place the cam strategically such that it can capture outside movements without being discovered (between the roof and sun visor maybe?).

Review the video and thrash the bugger. I'd say break his fingers too. That ought to teach him a lesson.
n_aditya is offline  
Old 18th August 2009, 14:07   #10
BHPian
 
The_Warrior's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Travelling Most of the time!!!
Posts: 128
Thanked: 23 Times

Do you know the culprit who put the scrathes near the bonnet earlier?? if yes then it might be the job of the same kid just trying to take revenge for you got him punished earlier...
The_Warrior is offline  
Old 18th August 2009, 14:49   #11
BHPian
 
fast_elegance's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Mangalore/Bangalore
Posts: 437
Thanked: 247 Times

@ shankar.balan & @gd1418 : Thank you for the sympathies. I am just trying to keep my cool. I will be taking an estimate of the repair cost from the respective service centre to produce them during the meeting.

Quote:
Originally Posted by rkbharat View Post
get an impact sensor for your car, and keep it at high sensitivity. I could have suggested for car cover, but if its intentional attempt, cover will not help
@rkbharat : Even i thought of the impact sensor but i have seen these sensors act weirdly and scream senselessly even when there is no real impact.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ashthedivx View Post
Talking with association might not help as they might wash their hands and ask for inability to help you out. Best solution can shifting of parking place to a place which can be viewed at directly from your flat so as you can keep an eye on the car, you might need to approach association for the same.
@ashthedivx : Even i am thinking of shifting my parking space to near the gate where the security person will be standing, but I am not sure of the feasibility.

Quote:
Originally Posted by n_aditya View Post
Get a motion sensing camera. Connect it to your laptop and place the cam strategically such that it can capture outside movements without being discovered (between the roof and sun visor maybe?).

Review the video and thrash the bugger. I'd say break his fingers too. That ought to teach him a lesson.
@n_aditya : How much will a motion sensor camera cost? I am thinking of this as well. God help me

Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Warrior View Post
Do you know the culprit who put the scrathes near the bonnet earlier?? if yes then it might be the job of the same kid just trying to take revenge for you got him punished earlier...
@The_Warrior : I know the culprit kid who did this the 1st time. My dad had complained it directly to his parents. But this time we dont have a clue on who did it? I am suspecting the same kid but it is pointless to blame without evidence.

The owner's association meeting has been post poned for tomorrow evening as some of the owner's have problems to make it to the meeting today.
fast_elegance is offline  
Old 18th August 2009, 15:19   #12
BANNED
 
Spitfire's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Panaji - Goa/Bangalore - Karnataka
Posts: 3,312
Thanked: 771 Times

First get the association to stop kids from playing/entering in the allocated parking area. The security guy should be sternly advised not to let any kids inside the garage area.

Second, click pictures of the damage, enlarge and post them on the main notice board with a firm warning that any similar act will be registered as a police complaint as this needs to go under vandalism and to get insurance.

The society cannot stop you from doing the above.

I have done this with fairly good results in the place i stay in Goa.
Spitfire is offline  
Old 18th August 2009, 15:35   #13
BHPian
 
fast_elegance's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Mangalore/Bangalore
Posts: 437
Thanked: 247 Times

Quote:
Originally Posted by Spitfire View Post
First get the association to stop kids from playing/entering in the allocated parking area. The security guy should be sternly advised not to let any kids inside the garage area.

Second, click pictures of the damage, enlarge and post them on the main notice board with a firm warning that any similar act will be registered as a police complaint as this needs to go under vandalism and to get insurance.

The society cannot stop you from doing the above.

I have done this with fairly good results in the place i stay in Goa.
@ Spitfire : It has already been notified that the kids are not supposed to be playing in the parking area. But kids are kids , They just dont care to listen. Stops for a day or two and then its the same again.

I have taken pictures of the damage already and now they will go on the notice board as you suggested. Thats a great idea .

I would like to know whether its a good idea to claim the insurance for this and what are the steps that i need to take to claim insurance? Please advice
fast_elegance is offline  
Old 18th August 2009, 15:36   #14
BHPian
 
debugged's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 42
Thanked: 6 Times

Sorry to hear that. There are always a sadist in most apartment blocks and its big headache.

Quote:
Originally Posted by fast_elegance View Post
@rkbharat : Even i thought of the impact sensor but i have seen these sensors act weirdly and scream senselessly even when there is no real impact.
With sensors set to high, my car used to go crazy even when some bikes (REs or yezdi etc) crossed or sometimes when aircrafts are flying low. And I doubt it is of any use when someone is keying on the paint or the like.

I liked the using webcam + laptop idea. Here is an article explaining one way to put this to work. How to Use a Webcam to Spy on People: 5 steps - wikiHow. But since you mentioned this happens only to your car/bike, and since it is already damaged, I doubt the culprit will be back until you get the car/bike back to pristine condition.
debugged is offline  
Old 18th August 2009, 16:30   #15
Senior - BHPian
 
AbhiJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Kolkata
Posts: 1,475
Thanked: 1,201 Times

Just a thought: Most new Dell laptops have webcams and motion detection software built in.....
AbhiJ is offline  
Reply

Most Viewed
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Team-BHP.com
Proudly powered by E2E Networks