Out of the two Safeway's (the other on California). This location is a total armpit, so I'm not surprised that a little scuffle broke out.

This was an adorable fight to watch. Imagine little boys slapping each other while looking away. Except it was two allegedly grown men. Anyway, very cute.

What's the point of publishing an article that does not name the perps that were involved? If the incident is not important enough to name names, then it is not important enough to publish.

Even though it escalated out of hand, I applaud the man who confronted someone for willfully damaging another person’s property. How often in our society does anyone look out for anybody’s interest but their own? How many people watched what was happening and just walked away saying, “it’s not my car, why should I get involved”. Yet any of these same people who would not get involved would be grateful if someone stopped a person from damaging their car.

DJBahl: I agree with your comments. But don't you think it is dangerous to confront someone? People carry guns, knives and I won't do that. What I would do is, note down the car plate # and call the police or inform the driver of the car whose car was damaged and give him the license plate.

I have been in kinda similar situation (near the post office) where someone parked so closely behind me and it was fire lane and I was completely furious but I waited till the driver came back. It was a young white lady who was so stupid and arrogant to park like that and I didn't confront her.

People are really crazy these days, both men and women.

In response to "so what", why does it matter what their names are? It is news worthy.

I bet you sit on your porch and watch and see EVERYTHING! Just nosey! Get a life!

As I read this article I internally applauded the 'witness' who didn't walk away and forget about it. I agree that this proactive behavior can be risky but I personally cannot walk away either.

That pattern of urban disregard based on blind eyes and deaf ears is a worse hazard for all of us. Imagine a world where a group of people woudl confront the sleazebags on each occasion.

Holding one another accountable is one of the hallmarks of civilized society. I'm for that.

This is silly.

Damage to a person's car is a civil matter. Unless a police officer sees it there is no chance of a criminal charge (ie: vandalism) happening.

So if you happen to see someone damaging another person's car, with their own car door, just write down the license plate. It will be handled by each car's insurance company.

It's not something you get into a physical fight with someone about. That's just silly.

Happy to see that no-one was hurt and no damage was done.

The problem is half of these idiots do not have a licence or car insurance. So if your car has damage you need to pay out of pocket and your rates go up.

"I applaud the man who confronted someone for willfully damaging another person’s property"

Except that there was no damage.

"Damage to a person's car is a civil matter."

Right. But how the damage got there is not. Vandalism is a crime.

For the sake of awareness, I'm glad that incidents like this are reported and published, even without personal information. It lets us know the kinds of things that are going on, and helps us to be aware (and if necessary, be on our guard).

Here's a bit of bad behaviour that likely would never be reported, even though police were contacted and the license plate was taken down and called in:

Sunday evening, 4/7/2013 at about 5:15pm a dark gray PT cruiser was parked in the parking lot of St. Joseph Parish at the corner of Castro and Church street. It was taking up two spots, double-parked. The driver was sitting in it. No one paid it much mind.

A bunch of teens (minors) were convening for a church-related event.

The driver at some point got out of the vehicle, crossed to the passenger side (which, being doubleparked was facing the church not Castro street). He opened the passenger door, braced himself on the car, dropped his bottoms to his ankles (with all on display)... and defecated. And then took off.

So, the vehicle was noted, the license plate reported... but what else could one do? Except for heard the minors into the building and try to keep them from running out and gawking, that is.

Very sad.

Cell phones have cameras and many people have them. Use them (from a safe and discrete distance) to gather as much information about suspicious behavior you witness. Then turn that info over to the police. I admire people who do step up and confront people, like the man who was trying to protect someone else's car, but also think they are taking a huge risk. There are some really disturbed people out there. Who knows if they are armed or on drugs or are on the verge of a total mental meltdown. Stay safe folks.

@Steve: "Right. But how the damage got there is not. Vandalism is a crime."

Yes, that is a crime. However it is a misdemeanor. You can't perform a citizen's arrest for something like that.

I'm not saying you can't call the police. I'm just saying don't expect much to come of it.

Insurance companies handle this kind of thing all the time.

@citizenl

I agree with you. But I think we also need to try to ensure that information is published and available, so that people who want to be apprised as to "what to look out for" will know what's up. If the populace snaps photos of bad behaviour, that's great. But that bad behaviour should be trended and published.

I'm not advocating living in fear. I'm advocating being aware of trends.

To Jose in North Whisman,

Please be kinder to your fellow Mountain View neighbors, I resent this location being called an armpit. It is in a working class neighborhood where homes sell for $750K and up. I shop at this Safeway often and have never had any problems.

I think other readers comments were more helpful in case any of us are confronted with a similar situation in the future.

The problem was the driver who did not park properly to upset the other driver. If you cross over the lines you block the other cars door from operations and not everyone can "squeeze in" or use the passenger side.

Parking lots there days are constantly setting up these kind of encounters, because for most people it seems to take 5 minutes to park in a spot straight in, so they pull in and park at an angle sometimes making it impossible for their neighbors to get in or out.

There seems to be a lot of tough guys waiting for a chance to use their muscles to pretend to be a hero. In this case there was no damage just one angry parker venting on a neighboring car. I think the so-called concerned citizen was just being a justifiable bully and since there was no damage he should be cited for assault and battery whether he called the police or not.