Terrible.. Would it go w/o saying that you had a big puddle of oil under your car ..
It's good that you posted it here as someone in the area might have spotted something/someone.
I've seen a shade tree mechanic,or one from an auto establishment pull up,hop out and start taking a part off of a car in broad daylight

I suggest people in your neighborhood get some type of steering wheel lock and use it.

Did they break in to the vehicle or was it left unlocked? Since you didn't mention any damage to the vehicle in either case I would assume that the vehicle was left unlocked. Do yourself a favor and follow a few simple steps to prevent future "break ins." a) unless you have a pos vehicle that has nothing of value in it and you are looking for someone to take it off your hands NEVER leave your vehicle unlocked. b) NEVER leave anything visible that might indicate anything of aforementioned value is in the vehicle, better yet don't leave anything in the vehicle of value at all. c) Realize that the police in New Haven are stretched very thin, get paid next to nothing for doing a very tedious job and have much better things to do in East Rock than patrol looking for potential car thieves, realistically if there is a Cop in the neighborhood and he happens to see someone acting suspiciously, that person will be and probably already has been stopped.

It is up to us to not leave crumbs for burglars to follow, most thefts are crimes of opportunity and can be prevented when the above steps are followed. It really sucks when someone breaks into your personal property, but is would suck more if that person did so because of the negligence of the owner of that property. Be wary, be vigilant and lock your stuff up!

Sometimes even when you do the right thing you are still the victim of someone who desperately wants what you have, but at least then you know that you have done what you could to prevent it.

And watch out for your neighbor, if you see something suspicious report it! You would be very happy to have someone prevent a theft of your stuff, do the same by someone else.

I agree that if nothing was stolen, but the drain plug was removed,, it sounds like a grudge and not a thief.
I do not agree that blame should be put on the victims of crime. I know a lot of people have the attitude that it's not the criminal's fault, but the victim's fault. We should live in a society where people can control themselves and refrain from offending others. That said, I do agree that that's not the case, and that the police, by and large, don't really care and you have to look out for yourself.

I have heard the excuse many times that police can't be bothered with 'petty' stuff,, and so we see them sitting in their cars until there is a 'real' emergency, and then 4 cars going to a scene because they are bored and glad to have something exciting.

The excuse that the police are stretched very thin and get paid next to nothing, is also .... an old flimsy excuse.. "I don't get paid enough so I don't want to work hard". A lot of people in the City don't get paid enough and have tedious and even risky jobs,, and manage to be dedicated to the importance of the service instead of the common attitude of 'punch in late, punch out early, and do the minimum possible for the maximum pay.. The union reps here, as well as in many other services are not concerned with the public, or the City,, but only for the good ol boys.. but don't get me started on police corruption. Suffice it to say that,, as 'good neighbor' says,, "watch out for your neighbor" cuz the police are stretched too thin and don't get paid enough.

It's very well documented in the city of new haven that the overnight shift sleeps away the night.
Sometimes going home to Wallingford , North Haven to get some Zzz's. When the sun comes up and all the calls come in from victims, That is when they are asked to stay the day , Overtime to handle all of the complaints ..Childish officers YES , But overpaid , the big snoozers on the NHPD pull in well over $100,000 a year (and these are the over weight flatfoots)
Stealing an oil plug does sound like a personal vendetta / vandalism .
But it can still be someone who has a car like , or is working on a car like that. Yes sad as it is - Too cheap to buy the needed plug -Why buy when one can get it for free.
(Maybe the same garage and troop that dumps the tires)

If this happens it is rare. It is unfair to make false accusations.

Good Neighbor,

Thanks for being a good neigbor. I did forget to mention that the rear window was broken. Also there was nothing of value in the car, not even a radio.

As for most break ins you are probably correct. But there are a large amount of cars that are stolen for parts in chop shops. An officer told me 10 Hondas alone are stolen every week. I have had 2 cars stolen and stripped for parts off this street. A Honda Civic and an Acura Integra. They found both days later stripped of everythig: the door that was left had the electronic remote taken out. Engines gone. Sitting on donuts. The seat belts were cut out tied to the hood of the car so they could drag the car out of there shop.

Both cars were found in Fairhaven.

Now someone is looking to steel a third car.

It is unsatisfying that the police would not even send someone out the last time I saw them driving off in my car. While I understand these officers are working hard and have to prioritize, the CRIMINALS who are stealing cars have no reason to stop. A little investigating and some stings could scare people straight.

..Some banana doing an oil change and stripped the plug , no money for a new one , can't inform the owner , a purchase will cut into profits..
Oh yeah , One day I was walking home from a store in East Rock when one cop car drove past with the lights on, he was not speeding but in a hurry , a few alarm boinks - So when I got inside I turned on my police scanner ; It was about a stolen Honda from Elm St.or Edgewood, But the owner had the Lo-Jack or some locating radar device , the car was driving all over New Haven and finally they had the ping ping located and cops surrounded a downtown parking garage , right next to the hospital , The cop then sees a car fitting the description but drives away.
A blue Honda up in the garage , a blue Honda with lo-jack going off , but something like - Report of a civic but that's an Accord so they drove away.

Ah then you did what you needed to do, congratulations and I'm really sorry that you had your stuff broken in to, that really sucks.

Unfortunately so many people have come on SCF with similar stories who have not shown the proper diligence. I'd seriously consider regularly attending the monthly ERCMT meetings and subscribing to one of the neighborhood watch lists, I'm not sure who your Alder is, probably either Jessica Holmes or Anna Festa probably, you should contact either to see if there is an active watch whether you are in East Rock.

I belonged to an active watch in the East Rock area, and I talked to my alderperson, but still, nothing replaces,, they do their jobs but are not cops. No excuse, no getting around, that a cop has a certain job to do and should do it without whining.

Any concerns about auto theft should be reported to the New Haven Police at 203.946.6316 for non-emergency matter. In an emergency call 911.