Found paint transfer and plastic bits at the scene — is that enough to prove it was them?

Don't go knock on that neighbor's door alone. Seriously. People get defensive and weird when accused of something like this and it can blow up in your face. Let the police and/or insurance handle the confrontation part. Your job right now is just to document and report.

Ugh, I'm so sorry. The fact that someone just drove away and said nothing is infuriating. You're doing the right thing by documenting everything and asking questions. Don't let it go — you deserve to have this made right.

Not legal advice, but paint transfer evidence combined with a matching damaged vehicle nearby is the kind of circumstantial case that does get taken seriously. If the police won't pursue it and your insurer is giving you trouble, a personal injury or property damage attorney can sometimes send a demand letter that moves things along — many do free consultations. The key is preserving all your evidence now before anything changes.

Almost the exact same thing happened to me in an apartment complex parking lot. Paint transfer was actually a huge deal in my case — the body shop wrote up a report confirming the colors matched and that became part of my claim file. Definitely photograph everything from multiple angles in good lighting before anything gets disturbed. And yes, file that police report even if it's late. I filed mine four days after and they still took it.

File the police report today if you haven't already. Most jurisdictions allow you to report a hit and run after the fact, and having that report number is important for your insurance claim regardless of whether charges ever go anywhere. Also, check if any neighbors have doorbell cameras or security systems pointing toward the street — that footage can disappear fast if it's on a rolling overwrite cycle. Even just asking around casually might turn something up.

Paint transfer is taken seriously — more than most people think. When I worked claims, we'd sometimes send paint chips out for analysis if a case was contested. The plastic debris is also useful because body shops can often identify what make or model a trim piece came from. If the pieces match the neighbor's vehicle, that's not nothing. Get a written estimate from a body shop that specifically notes the paint transfer color and location. That documentation matters when the file gets reviewed.