Stealing ..*rant*

I HATE THIEVES!!

We had a 2003 Stehl tow dolly that we bought a couple years ago from my dad's friend for $600. Got a lot of use out of it. Last weekend we bought a 38 ft gooseneck car trailer to tow cars to and from the drag strip and then when our cars are finished, tow them around. Rob listed the dolly for sale on craigslist for $600 since they are still going for around that much. One person was interested in seeing it, but the day he was supposed to come, he started to flake, and Rob told him he already sold it (since he changed his mind and wanted to keep it after all, in case we only need to tow 1 car). We never gave out our address, and you cant see the dolly from a main road, just our tiny little back road.

The dolly had been sitting in the same place in our yard by a rock pile for about a month now. We subconsciously knew it was there. Yesterday morning I went to back up but didn't see it in the mirror - just figured Rob put it behind the house somewhere since it took him a few minutes to come in on Wednesday night when he got home with our big trailer. Didn't think anything of it. Last night we went to pre-bowl so we could go to the drag strip tonight, and Rob asked me where the dolly was --- he didn't move it. Great.

Called the county sheriff's office and they sent an officer out to make a report. We had the title, so he could jot down the VIN# off of it, and all the distinguishing markers (dent in the fender, 2 different wheels, differently painted hubs because one is new, etc). They said they'd put it in their NCIC system and get their detective who specializes in trailer and equipment recovery on it in 48 hours. We also reported our suspicious neighbors that moved their trailer down the street last summer. Ever since they've been around, there's been random strange traffic of different cars going back there at all hours of the day and night for a few minutes, then leaving. We live on a street that now has 5 houses including ours that dead ends to woods. The officer told us they had a narcotics investigation against them that they will be reopening, and that drugs brings theft and it could be related - one of their clients could have eyed it.

Rob posted it stolen on craigslist offering a reward. Someone emailed him saying a white truck came to pick up one of his cars yesterday with a tow dolly that sounds like ours and they were going to get the number of the people for us. I remembered following a white truck down my street the other day that I had never seen before on my way home from work. And I know all the vehicles on the street and who they belong to. It was carrying a ragged trailer carrying dirt that was falling apart. My next door neighbor talked to Rob today and told him she too saw a white truck go by a few times with a ragged trailer, and a sign on the door that said "We haul junk cars".... could it be the same person who picked up this other person's car ... with a "new" dolly??? Hubby called the officer who took the report and told him about the truck. Hope the guy who had his car picked up finds a number for us. It would be nice to recover it. It almost makes sense about the white truck too, because they saw me come home in my Acura, and the last two days there's been no cars at home since hubby and I didn't carpool while he was hauling cars with the truck.

They're lucky I wasn't home / saw it ... Miss XD (9mm) and the Shotties (12 & 20ga) would have been making a debut.

Oh man!! That's a shame!

Bad neighbors bring bad people to their houses. I once had the chrome bumper stollen off a car I had parked for sale at the road. In the night, some idiot took the chance and un bolted it. Made the cars value go right down the tubes.

I hope they get your thieves.

I really don't like the implications of this. That you saw the suspected truck more than once means they were watching your house, they could have a good idea of not only when both of you are gone.. but when you're home alone, too.

Good thing the neighborhood otherwise seems kinda "tight." Hopefully that'll help the police - and I hope they get these people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well if they have the phone number perhaps the police can get the persons name and address and check it our for you. My trailer is parked on a part of our property not visible from the house. Its by the dead end road that borders our property and luckily there is no traffic.

Good luck on the recovery efforts!

Originally Posted by strange_wings

I really don't like the implications of this. That you saw the suspected truck more than once means they were watching your house, they could have a good idea of not only when both of you are gone.. but when you're home alone, too.

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They won't know who is home sometimes, because I also drive the truck and Rob drives the Acura. It's a gamble they would have to make on who is home/if we are home. We've even left our truck at the shop and have driven 1 car home before.

If they want to pay me a visit, and break in, they will ... but one of us isn't walking out again. Miss XD is my 9mm with hollow-point rounds, and there is a 20ga Mossberg 500 shotgun with 00 buckshot and a 12ga Mossberg 500 shotgun with a factory shortened barrel and 00 buckshot in our bedroom next to the bed. If I ever feel worried or paranoid, Miss XD is next to me (when I was alone with 2 cable guys in the house, I hid the shot guns in the closet, but my 9mm was in the purse next to me on the couch. They were A LOT bigger than I was and I didnt trust two strange men in the house with me).

I was starting to figure they may have been scoping, when I saw the truck go down the street that day. At the time, I thought nothing of it since we're always seeing strange vehicles go by nowadays. But because my neighbor next door on one side saw them numerous times the other day, its very fishy. My other neighbor on the opposite side also said that he saw a white vehicle that looked like a Chevy stopped in the street the other day before he went out of town, then it drove off. I believe the truck was a Chevy (I'm great with cars, even recognizing wrecked ones!) but I wasn't paying 100% attention that day - I was paying more attention to the ratty trailer it was pulling and hoping it didn't fall apart in front of me! It reminded me of my dad's white 1980 Chevy truck though.

My FIL imagines we'll be seeing it around again. We'll probably get something to lock our gooseneck so no one can take it, even though they'd need the special hitch. I called some pawn shops this afternoon - no one has a tow dolly. But because it said "We haul junk cars" on the side, I feel that they wouldn't pawn it. Except maybe to get another one with a different VIN#.

The neighbors around us are pretty "close" ... the neighbors on both sides have been there at least 20 years. The property we live on was my FIL's before he gave us 1.56 acres to build our house on. My in-laws have lived in their house 20 years this year, and so the neighbors know my hubby well and hubby was good friends with one of their kids growing up, still is. We don't hear much from the lady on the end of the street, but she waves sometimes, and we don't hear much from the widow 2 houses down, but her husband used to wave and stop in the yard to talk if we were out.

Hubby just called the officer again to report the vehicle to add to their report. My dad is wanting to give us a video security system he got from his neighbor, who upgraded his after his son was killed in Charlotte (drug-related).

Originally Posted by Tara & Rob

They won't know who is home sometimes, because I also drive the truck and Rob drives the Acura. It's a gamble they would have to make on who is home/if we are home. We've even left our truck at the shop and have driven 1 car home before.

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It all depends on how closely you get watched. And yes, I know you're armed, but I truly hope you never have to use your guns to protect yourself. It would be very frightening and despite any talk, you're not unfeeling so it would be a pretty traumatic experience. I hope that never happens. Stay safe.

I'd take the video security system. Maybe you'll never need it, but it won't hurt to have it.

Originally Posted by Tara & Rob

They're lucky I wasn't home / saw it ... Miss XD (9mm) and the Shotties (12 & 20ga) would have been making a debut.

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I hate thieves as much as you, but I don't know if I would be posting comments like this on the internet........Someone else may hate these thieves as much or more then you and you don't need to implicate yourself for the "thieves" demise.......

Originally Posted by cheylink

I hate thieves as much as you, but I don't know if I would be posting comments like this on the internet........Someone else may hate these thieves as much or more then you and you don't need to implicate yourself for the "thieves" demise.......

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If they were still outside, I wouldn't actually shoot THEM, just a few maybe nearby or some warnings. They gotta be in my house to warrant self-defense I'm sure.

And I may be slightly unfeeling. There's a lot of people/things in this world I don't care much about. Thieves automatically end up on that list. My SIL is on it as well. I can honestly say I wont be upset if anything happened to her, and neither would my hubby, because she's a crappy person. And anyone who steals things from other people right from their yard is crappy too. I'm not a very big people-person because so many of them do stupid/criminal/thoughtless things.

But I do hope I never have to deal with shooting anyone, yet will if I have to because it's me and my hubby/kitties, or them. It's a big pain in the butt when you do because of all the investigating that has to be done. Luckily around here it seems that people defending themselves are getting a pat on the back and commended instead of getting in trouble, as long as it's truly warranted. Hubby and I are interested in the video system if it will record during the day, too. We also want to change the lights on our house corners to motion sensor ones.

I guess it IS true we dont know who all is watching our house during the day (besides our neighbors and my in-laws). That truck had been by a few times that day. Our house is the nicest on the street, without being big-headed. It's the only brick ranch house, the others are old shack homes from the 1940s that are about 600sq ft, and a few trailers/half trailers. My SIL said people would be watching our stuff because we have nice things inside/outside. Stinks that no one has had problems in this area for 20 years, but now the crime is stretching out to Summerville from the "Neck" area of Charleston, and there's been murders/attempted murders in town, etc. Robberies during the day have gotten to the point of being daily in some of the subdivisions. The cops have busted rings of people stealing trailers/equipment for scrap money.

People will do some pretty rotten things for drug money... I lived in a little town of ~1500 up until December 2002, and one night DH and I came upon some people who were trying to steal two ammonia tanks. The people were complete idiots trying to use a mid-sized type SUV to do it (sort of looked like a late 90s explorer). Despite the town being small, there was a drug problem there and it's known in the area for that.

And I think you'd seriously regret it if you shot someone. While that person may be scum, they're still someone's child/brother or sister/ or even grandchild. I'm pretty unempathic towards people - you could be bawling your eyes out next to me and all I'd feel is uncomfortable because I wouldn't know what to say or do, but even I'd still feel terrible at causing a death (though I would defend loved ones).

Of course your other big worry is that given the area and what the person could be into is that they'll be armed... A scary situation all around and why I am concerned for you and your husband.
Good luck getting the lights and video security system set up soon.

I'm right there with you on thieves being at the top of my intolerant list. I've had my house broken into before and it's a horrible feeling. It enrages me that someone just comes and takes things that you worked so hard for. You didn't steal it, you worked for it....why can't they work and earn things for themselves makes no sense to me. How do they live with themselves? You would think somewhere it would be bugging them in their heads, maybe feeling bad...but maybe not. That's what makes them lowlife thugs.

We have a hitch lock on our RV trailer. Sad that we have to do that...but i don't trust any one out here. We live in the sticks close to a highway. No neighbors but lots of people stopping in the parking lot (of an empty diner next door) Lots of people that stop to pee, let their dogs pee, argue, and drink.

I sure hope you get a good lead on the scum that took your trailer. Sorry this was so long, but I'm a real hater on thieves!

Originally Posted by strange_wings

And I think you'd seriously regret it if you shot someone. While that person may be scum, they're still someone's child/brother or sister/ or even grandchild. I'm pretty unempathic towards people - you could be bawling your eyes out next to me and all I'd feel is uncomfortable because I wouldn't know what to say or do, but even I'd still feel terrible at causing a death (though I would defend loved ones).

Of course your other big worry is that given the area and what the person could be into is that they'll be armed... A scary situation all around and why I am concerned for you and your husband.

Good luck getting the lights and video security system set up soon.

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The last thing I would be concerned about if an intruder was threatening my or another loved ones life is the intruder's family.............However, if someone is attempting to steal something off your property, outside your home, the most you have is trespassing. If you shoot them, there is very little legal defense for you, especially if you kill them. Never forget that if you are carrying to protect your self, chances are they are as well.........

I hate that we have to protect our stuff so much now, this area has been a decent place for awhile. Our neighbor has a yard full of stuff that's never been touched. Granted a lot of it is crap that hasn't worked well in 10 years But if they want scrap money, he'd be one to hit for sure. And he'd come out with his shotgun too. My FIL has a few rifles in his house but its because he used to hunt. Very rarely has he ever felt he'd need to defend his family in this area...especially after growing up around here for years, and then living here for the past 20 again. The worst we saw in the last 5 years was someone a few streets over was fleeing from the police after a domestic violence charge, and actually ran right where our house is now (when it was still just a field). My in-laws locked the doors, and FIL was ready. Heard someone rattle the doorknob at one point that evening. My neighbor said the cops warned her about him and she told them straight up she had her 12ga in her lap and her husband was out of town and she wasn't afraid to use it and/or let her dogs attack.

My in-laws leave all the doors in their house unlocked all the time otherwise and have for years. When we built our house, hubby complained about me locking the doors all the time, but we bought almost everything in our house new - I dont trust people. This morning when we left the house, HE made sure to lock both the knob and the deadbolt - first time since we moved in. I always have locked my doors because in Jersey when I was younger, my family got robbed one night and they stole over $35,000 worth of my mom's jewelry and coats after breaking in the back window. When I lived in NC, someone tried to break in both the laundry room door in the basement (I was the only one who stayed downstairs), and the sliding door off the porch a month or so after we moved in. My dad has a Browning rifle and a .22 semi-auto in the house.

I've worked darn hard for all the things I have and so do not appreciate someone just waltzing up and taking it. I hate that you cant prevent people from moving into an area, because our street was nice and quiet and safe before those last people moved in. Sure, down the street on the main road, some stupid family has tried to rob the bank 3 times and failed. The murders in the apartments down the road a mile away was over drugs. Last week someone shot at a group of cops serving a warrant over there. *Sigh* Is anywhere safe to have things or be anymore... I do hope that they will be able to recover the dolly. It'll make me and hubby so happy to have it back. Hate that we'll have to chain it to our project cars or something though to keep it from getting stolen again.

Originally Posted by cheylink

The last thing I would be concerned about if an intruder was threatening my or another loved ones life is the intruder's family.............However, if someone is attempting to steal something off your property, outside your home, the most you have is trespassing. If you shoot them, there is very little legal defense for you, especially if you kill them. Never forget that if you are carrying to protect your self, chances are they are as well.........

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Oh yeah, definitely cant shoot them for trespassing outside. Once they cross that doorway though, its on. There's a lot of people in this area are armed now. Both criminals and your everyday nice people to protect themselves from those armed criminals. Hubby and I are planning on getting our CWPs soon.

And as stupid as this is, if you shoot someone and DON'T kill them, chances are they're going to be suing you for injuries sustained on your property

Originally Posted by cheylink

The last thing I would be concerned about if an intruder was threatening my or another loved ones life is the intruder's family.

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Not at that moment, no. All mental function would be strictly focused on survival unless one has had training to allow otherwise. My point it that if you're human and not a sociopath, it will bother you later.

Good news!! Last night at the drag strip Rob got a phone call and the officer who took the report told us that they recovered the tow dolly at Money Man pawn! The VIN got a hit in the system on Sunday night. It had been pawned Friday some time. I actually called all the Money Man pawn shops in the area Friday afternoon and all of them told me they didn't have a tow dolly. Either it got pawned after I called (around 3pm), or they didn't log their inventory until Sunday night, since that's when the VIN popped up. The officer said he'd meet Rob there at noon today, but the shop opened at 9:30.

My BIL sat in the parking lot from 9:30am-1pm making sure it didn't get sold The cop was late showing up, and hubby met him there just after 1pm. The pawn shop wasn't amused. They had it listed for $499. (We were actually going to sell it for $600 when we listed it for the couple days before deciding to keep it). The cops are now going to look for the guy (pawn shop gave us the name of the person and his street name.) and charge him. I went out and bought a trailer lock today on my way home and put it on.

My dad told me I need to buy a lotto ticket, since it's pretty lucky we got it back, and so quickly

Originally Posted by cheylink

The last thing I would be concerned about if an intruder was threatening my or another loved ones life is the intruder's family.............However, if someone is attempting to steal something off your property, outside your home, the most you have is trespassing. If you shoot them, there is very little legal defense for you, especially if you kill them.

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Not in Texas. Due to our "Castle Law," anyone even threatening your property is fair game. And that includes your car and everything in it, no matter where you are. Shoot a thief on your property and Texas, and the most you're likely to get from the police (after an investigation) is a pat on the back and your ammunition replaced.

You were very lucky to get it back. One of our friends was gone from his house about thirty minutes one day last week. He and his wife left together in the car. When he got back home, he got in his truck to move it when he was mowing. Somebody had stolen the battery out of the truck in the thirty minutes he was gone. Good thing for them he was gone because he is the type who would hurt you and think later.

I'm so glad you got it back! I hope they're able to catch the theif through the pawn shop.