The theft of Margie Love’s 1996 Corvette Grand Sport from the driveway of her North Miami Beach, Florida home has transformed her from a “very private person” into an anti-crime leader in her community. She and her neighbors have decided to take action and make the neighborhood a safer place to live.
Frightening Experience
Margie Love had a nightmare on June 10, 2010. It was particularly terrifying because she was not asleep—her nightmare happened in real time!
On that night her Grand Sport 947 (GS#947) that she bought brand new in 1996 was, as usual, parked in her driveway behind an older car the Margie intentionally parked in front the GS to act as a deterrent to car theft. She was returning home about 10:00 pm when, as she backed her car into the driveway, she suddenly noticed the headlights of the GS come on as it rammed into the older car. The older car crashed into the car Margie was driving and the Grand Sport headed for her at high speed. The GS swerved at the last moment and sped off down the road.
Unfortunately for Margie, the nightmare was not over. When she entered her home, she discovered it had been burglarized—her jewelry and other valuables were gone.
Lingering Fear
For several days following the incident, Margie lived in continuing fear. After reporting the crime to the police and her insurance company, she wrote to John “Hutch” Hutchinson, the leader of the Grand Sport Registry (GSR) that, “Now I have flashbacks of the scene. I am afraid to go out and I am afraid to stay in the house. I fear that they will come back. No one has been caught! The GS was my life...I am devastated! I know you understand.”
Margie gave Hutch permission to put her story and her e-mails on the GSR web site. Going public with her story seemed to have an energizing effect on her. In an e-mail to Hutch on June 14, 2010, Margie wrote, “While mourning the loss of my beloved car and personal effects, as well as reliving the traumatizing events of that night, I have chosen to take a stand and fight to take back my neighborhood of 25 years. It was really scary to leave my home today for the first time since the incident.”
Taking Action
Margie met with her neighbors and, as a first step, they had signs made offering a reward to anyone providing information about any thefts in the community and posting the signs in front of all of the houses. With the support of the police, Margie and her neighbors appeared before the city council that approved of the signs. They now have meetings scheduled with the police to map out a plan of action to increase neighborhood security.
Local television stations covered the event, interviewing Margie, the police chief and city council members. Says Margie, “We did make the 11:00pm Channel 4 NEWS! Our neighborhood is lined with signs. In my interview I said that it is a message to the criminals to stay out of our neighborhood!!! We have formed a committee to meet with the police chief and come up with a formal plan to take back our neighborhood!!! It's the criminals who will have to move.”
Finding Grand Sport #947
Although Margie’s story involves a Grand Sport, anyone in the Corvette community would be similarly devastated if their Corvette were stolen under such potentially violent circumstances. Margie and the Grand Sport Registry are asking all Corvette enthusiasts everywhere to keep their eyes and ears open for any information that may lead to recovery of GS#947.
The good news is that 1996 Grand Sports have a unique vehicle identification number (VIN) sequence that is readily identifiable. There were one thousand Grand Sports made in 1996 and the last four digits of the VIN range from 0001 to 1000. Grand Sport VINs also have a T immediately preceding the last six digits. Thus, the VIN of Margie’s car is: 1G1YY2253T5600947. All one has to look at are the last four digits to see if they are 0947. If they are not, it is not Margie’s car. If they are 0947, check for the T.
All Grand Sports were painted Admiral Blue with a wide Arctic White stripe down the center. They were all painted exactly the same—if you happen to see one on the road somewhere please do not call the police without first checking the VIN. The standard paint scheme is shown in our slide show. Other features particular to the GS are the two red hashmarks only on the drivers side front fender, the emblems on the sides of both front fenders and the flares over the rear wheel openings. Close ups of all are shown in our slide show.
Margie’s car probably suffered some front end damage when it rammed into the older car in her driveway. The GS décor is pretty high profile, so it is possible that the car could have been repaired and repainted to make it a little less conspicuous. The only sure way to identify the car is to check the VIN.
When stolen, Margie’s car had Florida license plate “96GS”. Of course by now it could be wearing plates from anywhere.
If You Find GS#947
If you happen to find Margie’s car, DON’T TRY TO BE A HERO! Write down the license plate number and the color of the car if it has been changed. Walk a discreet distance from the car and then call the police. Let the police do their job. If the car is still in Florida near North Miami Beach, call their police department at 305-948-2911. If the car is not near North Miami Beach, call your local police department and report that you have found a stolen vehicle.
Remember the rule above: Don’t try to be a hero. Don’t attempt to restrain the vehicle’s driver or passenger; don’t try to stop the vehicle if it is moving; and don’t try to chase the car if it makes a quick getaway. Jot down as much vehicle info as you can and note the road on which the vehicle was seen and direction in which it was headed. Then pull over and call the closest police department.
For those in the Corvette community who frequent E-bay, or other Corvette sales sites, please keep the above VIN near your computer. Should you find any pertinent information, please immediately notify Hutch at the GSR by e-mail.
Keeping a Positive Outlook
There are thousands of sets of eyes in the Corvette community and just maybe Margie will get lucky and get her car back – let’s hope so. Until then, we’ll let Margie have the last word:
I know this sounds completely crazy ... but ... tonight I got this vibe that GS947 was scared and wanted to come home. If the car could think and talk ... imagine the story it would tell! Could it be ... that we are this attached to these cars? It was my only baby ... for 14 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Some might say... It's just a car. I would beg to differ.
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Copyright June 2010 by Bruce H. Troxell
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