The Dangers of Puffing: A Repo Man’s Insights

Insights from a reformed (legal) car thief…

Years ago, in what feels like another lifetime, I found myself navigating the treacherous waters of being a Repo Man. The job was unique—like being a legal car thief. It came with its own thrills but wasn’t exactly fun. Still, it paid the bills, and for a while, that was enough.

There were moments when the job felt rewarding. Some repossession cases involved people who had manipulated the system, filling out fraudulent applications to acquire vehicles they never planned to pay for. Repossessing those vehicles felt like justice. However, there was a darker side to the work. Many times, I encountered honest individuals who were just struggling to stay afloat. Taking their car felt punishing, regardless of the legality involved.

The job was often unpredictable and sometimes dangerous. You never knew who might confront you, ready to fight to keep a vehicle. Over the years, I became proficient in my work, though not immune to the occasional mishap. I was occasionally caught during a repo. The people were usually peaceful and understanding. Some were ready to attack. I learned to stay alert, work quickly and, whenever possible, avoid direct contact with subjects as I worked. 

The Dangers of Puffing –

Over time, I came to love working in cold weather because many people would leave their vehicles warming up in a driveway or on the street while getting ready for work, a practice that has become known as Puffing. Those repos were usually pretty easy. Even if they locked the doors, I usually had a spare key to get right in. If not I carried tools to quickly pop the lock and drive away. One memorable case I worked had me looking for a car at an address with a garage. There were never any vehicles parked in the driveway as I checked the address for several weeks. Garaged cars = difficult repossessions. Early one cold winter morning, fortune turned my way. I was parked up the block in my car when I saw the garage door open as the man left for work. I followed him to a convenience store several blocks away and watched as he parked in a space just feet from the entry door. I quickly parked my car on a nearby street and ran up to his car, spare key in hand. To my astonishment, he’d left his vehicle running, keys in the ignition, as he entered the store. I guess he wanted it to continue warming while he was inside. Our eyes met briefly as I backed out and drove away, leaving him standing at the counter, holding a cup of coffee, frozen in shocked disbelief.

The experience underscored a crucial lesson: never leave an unattended vehicle running on frigid days, even in your own driveway, parking lot, or on the street in front of your home. Puffing is illegal in many jurisdictions and can result in a ticket. Even if you’re watching from a nearby window, a thief can get in and  drive off quickly. While remote start features offer some security against vehicle theft, they aren’t foolproof against determined criminals. There are some online reports of thieves using devices to defeat remote start anti-theft protection. A Reddit user also recently shared  shared a tale of remote start/window-smashing, proving that stupid criminals aren’t deterred by technology.

While it mat be tempting to stay warm inside as your vehicle warms up on a brisk day, the convenience may not be worth the risk.