This Break-In Wasn’t Difficult to Detect, Looking Back On It

The discussion of unusual courtroom comments that appeared here reminded retired L.A. Police Officer Ron Oliver of a case that grew out of a car break-in -- one he witnessed through his rearview mirror.

At the suspect’s trial, Oliver said, “his lawyer asked me how far I could actually see through my rearview mirror. I thought for a while and answered, ‘Well, one time I saw the moon.’ ”

The suspect was convicted.

Language! Joseph Herman also had a flashback after seeing an oddly worded nail salon sign in this column (see photo). After all these years Herman hasn’t forgotten a temporary notice posted by a South Gate barber after the 1933 Long Beach earthquake. It said that the entrance to the shop was closed during repairs but added, “We’ll shave you in the rear.”

Hay! Lew Weiss of Winnetka said his reaction to one restaurant’s typo-marred ad was: “They Serve Horses, Don’t They?” (see accompanying).

Unclear on the concept: Dayton Turner of Westwood was struck by the incongruity of a parking area for drive-through customers (see photo). Yes, it’s for drive-through orders that aren’t ready when the driver reaches the window. But the sign says something about the rush-rush confusion of today’s world. I’m surprised that no one has thought of offering valet parking to drive-through customers.

Always alert to making a buck: “I think only Disney could pull this off,” wrote Richard Dore of Lomita.

“We were on the recent Disney Magic cruise through the Panama Canal, and the ship bumped the side of the Gatun Locks. Some of the concrete was knocked off and was caught in a third-deck porthole of the sports bar.”

An art auction was held later and a late entry was “a piece of the concrete mounted on a wood plaque with some engravings describing the concrete, the ship, the date, etc. The captain signed the back attesting to the authenticity of the concrete from the Panama Canal.”

“The furious bidding ended at $5,000. It probably more than covered the paint job they gave to the scrape while we were in Acapulco.”

Why TV anchors get the big bucks: The media website www.ronfineman.com caught this exchange on KCAL-TV Channel 9 after anchor Mia Lee read a story about Volkswagen’s 100-millionth car rolling off the assembly line:

Co-anchor David Gonzales to Lee: “Does that include the Bug?” Lee: “Apparently. That is a Volkswagen. One would think that it would include all Volkswagens.” Gonzales: “One would think.” Lee: “One would think it would be clear.” Gonzales: “One would think we’d have these details for you folks.” Lee: “One would think.”

Somebody turn off their mikes!

miscelLAny: Ron Anderson found a Santa Ana home where you’d have no worries about noisy neighbors on one side. (see accompanying). One would think.

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Steve Harvey can be reached at (800) LATIMES, Ext. 77083; by fax at (213) 237-4712; by mail at Metro, L.A. Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A. 90012; and by e-mail at steve.harvey@latimes.com.