Yesterday was one of those perfect Southern California days, when the birds are chirping to let you know that spring has finally sprung, when the temperature is neither too warm nor too cool – just the way Goldilocks would like it. So, my roommate and I decided that we would go hiking rather than the gym. It was a great day to be outside among the humans. Of course, I should know by now that nothing in my life ever goes quite as expected.

We headed to Mission Trails for our hike and parked in the little lot down by the Old Mission Dam. We were fortunate enough to get the last parking spot – it seemed as though everyone had the same idea that we did. After getting out of the car, we noticed an older man, probably in his early to mid-50s, standing at the rear of the lot. He didn’t look out of place – he had on dark shorts, a black t-shirt, a black ball cap, and sunglasses, and he looked as though he might be waiting for someone. Still, something about him set my Spider Sense to tingling (this is something I should really pay attention to more often if I plan to get my super powers some day).

Anyway, Erin and I started walking down the trail, and when we were no more than fifty yards away, we heard a car alarm go off. I know that most people today ignore those alarms, but we figured we should go check the lot to make sure everything was okay. It took us less than a minute or so to get back, and when we got there, the strange man was gone and the vehicle next to ours had the passenger side window smashed in, chunks of glass still spilling onto the concrete.

Erin called the police to report it, while I went to see if I could find the guy – we figured he couldn’t have gotten very far. I didn’t see him anywhere near the lot. The police dispatch was less than helpful, and didn’t even care to get a description of the guy. They said that there was no way to prove that he did it – although he was the only human within 50 yards of that vehicle, and he obviously had whatever he had stolen on his person.  They also said they would notify a patrol car, but didn’t even ask us to wait for the patrol to get there so we could give a description. I know that the police probably have things to deal with that are more important than some douchebag that hangs out in parking lots and break into cars, but I doubt this was the first time this guy had done that kind of thing. Who knows what other dastardly deeds he gets up to in his spare time?

Erin and I looked around for the guy some more before leaving. We drove down one of the access roads to see if he were walking up that way. I wanted to get a picture of the guy at least, although in retrospect I don’t know how much good that would have done.

I feel horrible for those people whose car was broken into while they were on their Sunday hike. It was only a car window, but no one deserves to have his or her peace of mind shattered (pun intended) like that.