Alleged violators of the long-standing, though unofficial, tradition of “dibs” are finding their vehicles are paying the price, as Boston police are reporting at least seven instances of damage to cars that have parked in shoveled-out spaces.
The incidents have taken place between February 11-13 and have occurred in different locations around the city.
“Dibs” is the act of shoveling out a parking spot, generally in front of a home or apartment building, following a snowstorm and using items to save the space. The recent historic blizzard has seen traffic cones, lawn furniture, tables, milk crates and other items placed in the street by residents to designate a space
While the practice is not officially sanctioned by the city, it is has been a part of Boston life for decades and is an act that many residents acknowledge.
But this past week saw tires slashed and doors dented in apparent acts of retaliation for violators of the unofficial “law”. The incidents include:
- A man in Dorchester alerting police on Wednesday, Feb. 13 that his front tires had been slashed after he parked on 7 Mayfield Street at 5 p.m. the previous day and remained there overnight.
- A woman in Brighton whose car tires were slashed after she parked in a shoved out space near 10 Litchefield Street on Tuesday, Feb. 12. The woman said items were placed in the empty spot but that she had moved them before parking her car there.
- A man in Brighton who told police that his passenger side door had been damaged by someone throwing a hard plastic sawhorse into it after he parked in a shoveled out space. The damage was believed to have occurred between 9 p.m. on Feb. 11 and 7:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 12.
- A woman in Brighton who said her tires were flattened after she parked her car in a shoveled out spot near 91 Union Street on Tuesday, Feb. 12. The damage occurred sometime after 10 p.m.
- A man who parked his car near 163 Byron Street in East Boston on Monday, Feb. 11 after moving a chair from a parking spot and returned the next morning to discover that two of his tires has been slashed.
- A woman in Charlestown who parked at a shoveled-out location near 83 Cambridge Street on Tuesday, Feb. 12 and later discovered a nail in her tire, which was flat.
- A man who parked his vehicle at a location near 36 Elm Hill Park in Roxbury at approximately 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 12 and when he returned a few hours later fond that his passenger side window had been shattered. He stated that his vehicle has been partially blocking a neighbor’s parking space.
Police are asking anyone with information on any of the incidents to contact the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1-800-494-TIPS. Information can also be sent by text to CRIME (27463) with the subject line “TIP”. Information can be sent anonymously.
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