A man has been widely applauded online for executing a clever and costly act of revenge against a stranger who brazenly parked in his driveway without permission during a major public event.
The Audacious Parking Offence
The incident, which the man recounted on Reddit, dates back to his high school years around 1966 or 1967. His family lived near Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, the famed route of the annual Rose Parade every January 1st. With huge crowds descending on the area, parking became notoriously congested. On one such parade day, the family returned to find a vehicle parked and locked in their private driveway. The driver had not sought permission; they had simply abandoned the car and left.
A Classic, Costly Retaliation
Stunned by the trespasser's audacity, the homeowner's son decided to teach them a memorable lesson. Exploiting a common security flaw of the era, he used a straightened wire coat hanger to unlock the car. With access gained, he and his family then pushed the vehicle out of their driveway and into the street.
"So we unlocked the car, pushed it into the middle of the street... and relocked it, and went inside," he explained. He noted the car did not seem to have a steering wheel lock. The street had two lanes in each direction plus a central turning lane, and they left the car blocking the turning lane. The inevitable result was that the trespasser's vehicle was swiftly towed away by the authorities.
Public Reaction and Similar Tales
The story of this petty revenge resonated with many readers, who praised the ingenious payback. One commenter, familiar with the event's parking chaos, stated: "I would be so angry if someone just parked in my driveway and left. I'm so glad they came back to no car and a tow bill."
Others shared their own stories of dealing with entitled parkers. One contributor recalled a tactic from the 1970s: "Daddy would go out and remove their distributor cap." After letting the driver struggle, he would return the part with a stern warning about the consequences of blocking a driveway during a potential family emergency.
Adding technical insight, another user pointed out that many older cars remain vulnerable to simple tools like a coat hanger, noting that police often use a specialised tool called a Slim Jim for legitimate lockouts, such as rescuing children from locked vehicles.
The original poster's act of driveway justice, while arguably mischievous, struck a chord with those frustrated by the disrespect of unauthorised parking, proving that some lessons are best learned through an unexpected towing fee.
