Theft and crime is a reality wherever you live. It is always critical to stay alert and on guard for any suspicious behavior.
On Friday, November 16, 2012 a car theft occurred in San Diego. This is not unusual news. Unfortunately. The personal aspect of this for me is that the thieves also stole my parking spaces for several hours. When you live in downtown San Diego parking is scared. You just do not screw around with someone's parking.
One space is worth approximately $30,000 per year in some of the luxury buildings. People in the suburbs have their landscaped yards, proximity to highways and big garages to show off. Downtown people brag about our personal strips of concrete where our cars rest comfortably. Downtown residents trust me to find them parking and then find them a home.
Although the non-stop construction and remodeling at City Walk is annoying, hats off to the construction crew. They noticed the guys that parked in the wrong space and seemed to be disoriented. They called the cops. They were alert and on their game.
Like most of my downtown neighbors I searched for a building with convenient parking and then I searched for a condo. It is important to my family that we have two side by side spaces, by an elevator, by a stairwell and as close as possible to our actual unit. This is exactly what we have at City Walk. The only thing that would be better is a private garage like at La Vita. Our parking is primo. Unfortunately the thieves also thought so.
Recently our parking garage door has been on the fritz. While it was stuck open the thieves drove inside in a stolen car and guess what - stole my parking too. As an urban dweller I'm not certain which is worse - the stolen car or the parking. I've had a car stolen in Washington, D.C., my home town. It is scary, creepy and invasive. So. yes. I feel for the owner. But to be selfish guess who had to park both cars on the street? We were displaced onto the street for hours. And to add insult to injury my husband had to pay the parking meters.
The San Diego Police always impress me. They caught one of the thieves right away. The other fellow was at large the afternoon that I came home from work. I don't know if he was caught or not. The police knocked on doors and told everyone to keep their homes, windows and patios locked up.
People always ask me as a Realtor if downtown San Diego is safe. I explain to them that I can't comment on safety. That is a personal judgment meter. I do direct them to the San Diego Police, the crime stats and the child predator sites. I also suggest to them that they visit the neighborhoods that they are considering moving to at various times of the day and also at night.
Downtown San Diego is comfortable to me. I feel at ease walking to a 24 hour grocery at random hours of the night, throwing out my trash early in the morning, and hearing people that have had a bit too much to drink some evenings walking to the trolley outside of my window.
The theft of my parking is an inconvenience. Downtown San Diego still feels good to me. I hope the woman that had the car stolen gets the justice she deserves. Watch your backs car thieves. The San Diego Police are exceptional and there must be a super hero for urban parking patrolling the parking lots of our cities.
Colleen K. Cotter @ 619.804.6840
Broker Associate
www.mySanDiegoAgent.com
Keller Williams Realty
DRE #01325265
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