Have you ever had something stolen? Was it ever recovered?

[bulletstuffer]

Crooks are out of control    My GPS was stolen out of my car a while back, my riding lawnmower was stolen out of my back yard, A friends bike was stolen, My friends house was broken into and a gun and deceased grandfathers watch was stolen, another friends car was broken into and purse and gifts were stolen, Wifes brothers car was broken into on Christmas eve right outside the house and presents were stolen    


These are just some of that come to mind.  The bike was recovered but pieces had been changed out.


Is this ridiculous or what?  I don't think people have any idea how often it happens.


Share your stories!


Bulletstuffer

[FPH]

I've had a shotgun, welder,  two chainsaws, bike, transit w/about $2,500 worth of misc.  tools ( with the $1000.00 gang box they were in).......nothing was recovered.

[Graybeard]

Short answer: yes and no.

In 1958 while living in Hanies City, FL I had my bike stolen from me. Some real bad folks lived next to us. I think they were about to be arrested so left town in a rush. The cops said they were confident that's who got the bike but wanted them gone so they said they weren't going looking for them.

In about 1995 or so my compound bow was stolen from our storage room. The only folks who had any access were the folks who installed my garage door opener so I know generally who took it but not which of them. I didn't realize it was missing for a few months as I don't often go out there. One day tho I walked out into the garage and the storage room door was open and I just happened to notice the bow was gone. Maybe if I had realized it was gone immediately I could have recovered it.

As it is neither was ever seen again.

Oh I also remember I've had two of my blueberry farm signs stolen. Either someone didn't like me or they are in the blueberry business and didn't want my signs up at the highway. No I never saw them again either.

[Sourdough]

Had a Ruger Mini-14 stolen in 1996.  It was recovered in 2010 when ATF did an audit on a gun shop in Hampton Roads, Virginia.  My brother-in-law had bought this gun as a Christmas gift from my wife and him to me in 1984, at the same gun shop.

Someone broke into my shed and stole my GPS, a Shepard scope, my son's BMX bike, and his Honda Motorcycle.  The Motorcycle was recovered.

Now for the best one.  In 1972 when assigned to Nellis AFB Nevada, I was told to make sure I registered my handgun with the Las Vegas police dept.  Being a good NCO, I did as told, and registered my Ruger Blackhawk .45.  In 1976 I was living in Glendale Arizona.  My house was broken into, and the only thing missing was my Ruger Blackhawk .45.  I reported it to the OSI.  A few months later we had a major accident on the runway, involving two F-15s.  My squadron commander just happened to be in the office when the accident happened, he and I both worked the emergency desk, dispatching emergency crews, and coordinating with the Base Command Post.  We worked from 10AM till after 10PM that evening.  The following day the Glendale Police came and arrested me on a murder charge on a warrant from Las Vegas.  A Ruger Blackhawk .45 was used in a murder and the gun was registered to me.  Las Vegas sent extridition papers to have me sent to Las Vegas.  Fortunately my Commander came to my rescue, with enough witnesses to my whereabouts that evening to stop the legal wheels from turning and swallowing me up.  They eventually found the guy, and he was convicted.  The Las Vegas Police told me as soon as the trial was over, they would return my gun.  When I contacted them after the trial, I was informed the gun had been destroyed. 

[Duke0313]

Two years ago some neighborhood thieves stole my son's bicycle out of our backyard...two weeks later they stole the doghouse....the freakin' doghouse!!!! Good thing the dog was with us or they may have stolen her, too. Neither the bike nor the doghouse was ever recovered. The police don't recover ANYTHING anymore unless it's by accident. They don't even try.

[FPH]

I've had a greater amount of misc. tools stolen from areas which required swipe access cards and were supposedly secure.  That includes the complete gang box I referenced.......and it was chained to a 6" riser.  I forgot about the trash pump I lost ,and  all the ladders and shop vacs.

[cudatruck]

Our home was burglarized in 2001 while we were camping over the 4th of July week. They took everything but our clothes and the light bulbs. anything with cord was gone, tools, food, everything. they even stole the frozen orange juice out of the freezer! nothing was ever recovered.
Three years ago my 1967 coronet was towed away by some guys in a black dodge pick up with a car trailer. Neighbors saw them do it but thought it was normal? reported it stolen and thought it was gone forever. Police did nothing. Got a phone call from a guy who does restorations on old cars he had bought it without paperwork and then found out it was a stolen car. He told me to come get my car. There are some decent people left in the world.
I try to live right, perhaps one day it will all make sense. Mike.

[nw_hunter]

Crooks are out of control    My GPS was stolen out of my car a while back, my riding lawnmower was stolen out of my back yard, A friends bike was stolen, My friends house was broken into and a gun and deceased grandfathers watch was stolen, another friends car was broken into and purse and gifts were stolen, Wifes brothers car was broken into on Christmas eve right outside the house and presents were stolen    


These are just some of that come to mind.  The bike was recovered but pieces had been changed out.


Is this ridiculous or what?  I don't think people have any idea how often it happens.


Share your stories!


Bulletstuffer

Yes I have and never recovered. But one story that comes to mind was a theft of my Brothers Guns and other valuables.
He carried an FFL at the time and worked from his home. He was insured and recouped some of the value of the guns and other items, but keepsakes can never be replaced. Several years later a gang of thieves were arrested, and a S&W 357 Revolver was recovered from them. Our Nephew , a LEO happened to see the gun and recognized it as one belonging to my Bro.The serial number was ground off, but they were able to bring it out and sure enough, it was the same gun.After going through some legal procedures and contacting the Ins . Company , he was able to get it back.Didn't even have to pay them for the return of the gun.The court required a new serial number issued to the gun.

[ChungDoQuan]

Years ago I had a VCR stolen. It was recovered, but Fresno PD kept it because the thief agreed to testify against someone involved in a different trial, so they had to hold it "in case the thief backed out."--- then they would need the evidence, they said.

I also had a bike stolen that WAS recovered, back in 1993.  Almost a funny story--- a Nashville Metro cop saw two fools pull into a pawn shop parking lot as he was walking back to his car (I don't know why he was at the pawn shop.) They pulled up next to him, and he looked at their old beater, and asked, sort of poking fun at the car, "How come y'all have a bicycle in the back seat?" These geniuses both pointed at each other and said, "It's his!" The LEO said, "Maybe y'all ought to get out of the car and talk to my partner until we figure out whose it is." Long story short: a neighbor had just reported two men crawling out of the back window of my shed and over our back fence with a bicycle and a bunch of boxes (mostly junk.) However, I still had the receipt for the bike, showing the serial number and a $300+ purchase price. All together that was grand theft back then. When I said I would press charges, both guys just admitted to breaking and entering and went to jail. This took a couple of weeks; I still have the bike, with the Metro PD property number still on one of the tubes! (I didn't even know it was gone until the police showed up later that day and asked if I was missing a bicycle.) It made the detective's day when I showed him the receipt! I remember him laughing out loud. "You kept the receipt!" he said, laughing so hard there were tears in his eyes, "It's got the serial number! And it's got the price on it!" I offered to buy him a couple of beers, but I think he was so happy he forgot!

[Victor3]

 In 1980 I rode my bike down to Venice (CA) beach and locked it to a public bike rack with a chain & padlock. Came back from swimming some hours later and found it and the Chain/lock gone. I figured it was bye-bye bike but flagged down an LAPD cop on a bicycle and told him what happened. He had me describe the bike & lock/chain. I even remembered the first letter of the serial number. He radioed it in.


 Cop said, "They have what appears to be your bike down at the substation. Can you go and ID it?" I could hardly believe it. The substation was ~1/2 a mile down the boardwalk so I walked over. Got there and a couple of cops behind the counter were talking about a shooting that had happened earlier. I saw my bike, told an officer it was mine and he rolled it up front so I could be sure. He brought the cut chain with the lock still on it up the the counter and had me ID it as well.


 Cop told me that one of their Explorer Scouts saw my bike being stolen, phoned it in and followed the guy on his bike. When the cops got there the guy was swinging my chain at the Explorer Scout and they shot him dead when he wouldn't stop.


 I got the bike back later but they said they would have to keep the chain/lock. Fine by me. 

[yellowtail3]

Two incidents come to mind.


A couple rifles stolen from house I lived in late 80s. Called cops, reported it.  A few weeks later police called - and started asked about my rifle (I didn't have serial number). I described it - model, scope, etc - and she kept pressing me, where there any other accessories or distinguishing marks? Or accessories? I couldn't think of any. Then later I remembered it had a nice, unique sling. I'm convinced to this day the cops recovered my rifle, just didn't really want to give it back.


Next - around 1990ish - I'd moved to a place with no garage, and my bike was stolen. It was a very nice 1983 Suzook GS1100E. That sucked... I really liked that GS. For weeks I dreamed about seeing in traffic and shooting whoever was riding it (no way I could have caught 'em, even in the Mustang). About six months later, as I was leaving for work, cops called... told me my bike was recovered, it  had been in an accident, would I like to come to the scene? Drove out... bike was crash in a front yard, puddle of blood at the curb. Guy who had it survived. Turns out he'd borrrowed it from a pal, who said he bought it when someone offered it to sale. He ended up paying me it. He may not have stolen it, but he knew damned good and well it was stolen.

[freetrapper]

 In 1969 had my motorcycle stolen and stripped for parts on it. When I went to the police they told me if I found out who did it  to bring them to the police station and they would take care of it. Well I found out who one of them was thru a friend who brought the guy to me in his car. After dragging the guy out of the car thru the window and a friendly talk with him, he told me the other guy,s name. Went to the other guy,s house and had a talk with him. Soon had the parts returned. The second guy went on to be a drug dealer in Flint ,Mich.

[Anna]

Do you guys remember the S&W 10mm semi auto pistols ? I had one stolen from my car in a mall
parking lot in broad daylight ! They didn't even bother to jiggle the doors they just smashed out
the windshield and of course no one saw anything . Good thing I had the ser# about two months
later I got a call from an ATF agent who insisted on returning it to me .

I told him my insurance company had already paid me for it so I guess it now belonged to them .
He said they had to return it to its owner or destroy it with my ok . It was found in a drug raid and
they had sawed off the trigger guard ? I told him to destroy it I thought it was illegal to do that so
I wondered why he insisted on handing it back to me . See if I would take the bait I guess who
knows but he was very friendly and told me that if you give the police a ser# they have a 70%
chanch of recovering the gun in most cases .

Crooks will steal anything anymore just for the thrill of doing it . My brother had his old sweaty hard
hat stolen out of the back of his truck . Meth heads are very bolden they don't look at the consequences of their actions . They believe they are invincible and extremely clever .
We had a 10 ton stand by generator stolen from our own police station in full view during the day .
The theves dressed up like a construction crew and took the machine with a stolen winch truck !
The cops just walked by waveing and even directed traffic for them to take it !

A lot of the times the theives are even on welfair , so when you are at work paying taxes so they
can get that welfair they are robbing your house ! Watch your neighbors anymore some of them
could be in on it or related to them . With section 8 houseing out of control there is no telling who
or what your neighbor could be . These crooks always will case your house , watching your habits
with your coming and going . If you have kids they most likely have a relative in the same school you
do . So they will know when you have a sports or school event to attended with your kids .

And like I have told you guys many times over if they are caught in your yard or property even if you are not there .All they have to say is I was getting a drink of water and they always knock first to
make sure no one is home . We get these guys all the time and they tell us how they go about it .
Your lawn mowers ? You told them they could borrow it or you are going to pay them to mow your
yard ! They didn't break out your windows or kick in your doors they are your good neighbor and
heard something going on and rushed over to help ! Be very careful of anyone being overly frendly
to you or your kids or calling you their friend when you hardly know them .

And do not give out any personal info even if you think it is about the simplest of things . They are
not your friend and they tell us how stupid the ones they robbed were by just trying to get along .
Trick : Act like a pack or family of bikers , for some reason they are scared stiff of bikers .
Ive seen where bikers lived in the middle of the worse neighborhoods and no one touched or came
near them .

[Old Fart]

In a moment of stupidity plus being exhausted I had a little pocket pistol stolen, figured I'd never see it again.
About a year later I got a call from the Seminole Co sheriffs office letting me know they found it.
Whoever stole just tossed it in a ditch down there and it sat for about a year.
Road crew who was mowing the ditches found it & turned it in.

[Dee]

A few weeks before my grandpa died he gave me his very old marlin lever action 22. A few weeks after he died someone stole it. The one I always figured stole it is also dead. The rifle is gone for good.

[magooch]

Yeah, a few days ago someone stole the license plate off my utility trailer.  They also tried to jerk the front plate off my pickup, but failed on that one.  I guess I should be grateful that they didn't do any damage to the pickup, or trailer.  They tried to steal the trailer, but I had it secured with a great big chain.


I asked the sheriff deputy why anyone would steal a license plate.  He said you'd be amazed at how many vehicles they stop that have stolen plates.  I'll give you one guess at the ethnicity of who most of the perps are.


Anyway, I think it should be legal to put holes in anyone you catch stealing stuff.

[powderman]

Unfortunately most of what we've had stolen and not recovered has been relatives and folks we've helped out. POWDERMAN. 

[magooch]

Yeah, that shouldn't have been too difficult to figure out, since they didn't blow anything up.

[mechanic]

I've  been hit three times in the last three months.  First time they took guns and jewelry.  Jewelry is untraceable, one of my guns showed up in another robbery.  The rest are likely gone.
 
The cops don't actually look for stuff.  If they happen up on it, they will let you know I guess.
 
I told them if they found my stuff they could keep it if I could have the thief.  They laughed and said they would like to do it that way if they could....
 
Ben

[Ranger99]

i've too much stuff stolen to list


the only thing i ever got back was a firearm,
and only because i found it myself, when i
happened to be looking around in the pawnshop
where it was hocked at. the police had assured
me (they always do) that there was personnel
on "pawn shop detail" that went daily to pawn
shops and checked for stolen merchandise.
i would have thought being a firearm, that it
would have been the highest priority being
a federal thing too. i've never gotten anything
else back. i can't begin to tell how many times
i've heard the standard reaction for this region
" well. . .we'll try, but it's probably in mexico by now. . ."


i do, however, keep a photographic and
written record of all valuables and serial numbers.
(for all the good that does)

[Doublebass73]

I grew up in Mass and had so many things stolen from me that I can't remember them all. To this day I joke with friends and family about Massachusetts mentality - if something is stolen from you then you actually blame yourself for not hiding it or locking it up better rather than blame the criminal who stole it from you.

[Sourdough]

I posted this last night but "Forbidden" got it.

My neighbor came home one night to find the door to his conex open.  He quitely walked up to the conex and heard someone inside.  He slammed the door shut and threw the locking handle to the side to lock it up tight.  The person inside started beating on the doors and yelling to get out.  He called his buddy before calling the State Troopers.  His buddy had a better idea.  They got some rubber mallets and started beating on the metal sides of the conex.  They kept it up for several hours.  Beating on the metal sides was like beating on a drum with someone inside.  When they finally opened the door the guy was lying on the floor, and would not get up.  They went in and drug him out.  He was known, and had been seen around town several times.  He was almost totally unresponsive, till a couple of the women took his arm, and started leading him back inside.  He broke free and ran off down the street.  He must have left the area, no one has seen him since.  Doubt he will ever break into a conex again.

[streak]

Back in January of this year, just before daybreak, my son was going out to start up his truck and saw a guy running and could not get to him fast enough before the runaway got into a jeep waggoneer and spun away in the ice and snow! He had stolen the spare tire off of my son`s truck and also my spare off of my truck! never saw those tires again! luckily mine was dry rotted an probably flat! Then about 3 weeks later my son had gone out right at day break to start his truck to get ready to go to work! he had forgotten a small tool bag and came back in the house to get it! When he went back to get in his truck it was gone! he called the police right away and gave a description and I hopped in my unit and went looking on the main streets and side streets to no avail! well he had just started a great new job and needed wheels so we spent the day buying him a F250 Diesel 4x4 with Lariat styling! We were going to buy him another truck anyway and this just sped up the process. Also I was leaving town the next day and so it was a rush to get everything done before I left! Anyway four days later the police called my son and told him they found his truck! The perps were felons and they had trashed the truck! The police caught them in a La Quinta motel parking lot. The perps would not get out of the truck so the police secured the parking lot and had to use flashbang grenades
to extract the people from the truck! They are in jail now it was two women and one guy!

[DDZ]

I once had a Yamaha 250 quad that was stolen. They pushed it up the hill so as not to alert anyone from starting it.
They tried to get it started a quarter mile up the road, when they couldn't get it running they just left it along the road. I guess they got tired pushing it.

All Good advice Anna. A lady that used to live near me was going to Florida to see her daughter for a couple of weeks. She told the postal service to not deliver her mail because she wouldn't be home. When she returned home her house was empty. She did get her belongings back. It ended up being a couple of people that worked for the postal service. So never tell your friendly postal deliverer to hold your mail, because you are going to be away. Always have someone get it for you.   

[yellowtail3]

Yes, for anyone who's wondering, they were of a certain enthnicity.

clearly, you want to communicate something. Unburden your soul?

Modified
If you and Ultramag want to Hi-Jack a thread, start a PM about what ever subject you want to P&M about and have a go at it.Leave this one, or keep it on topic and civil. "Good Grief! Give the rest a break!

[Shu]

When I was in the Navy, it was customary if someone left something valuable out you would pick it up and leave them a note that you had it. Well there was a guy that had a habit of picking stuff up and not returning it. When he was finally caught and drug to the Master at Arms the chief told us we did not have the right guy, he said he heard it from a reliable source the thief fell down a ladder. The thief was brought back in a few minutes with some new bruises. The chief said that looks like the thief. Then he asked the guy to return everything he stold. The guy was happy to return it. Unfortunately the guy fell down another ladder on his way to Captains Mast.

[jhm]

     When in the Pawn business there was hardly a week go by when someone would come in looking for a stolen item, guns were high on the list, however there was an extremely large amout of them who didnt have the Ser. #  of the gun!   And there was a large amt. of them who didnt want to make a police report as they thought it might have been a family member who stole it, and like I would tell them it isnt stolen if you dont make a police report stating it was, and alot of the recovered guns that finely got to the police dept as stolen were actually their family members and they would not press charges, so we alowed them to recover there item in front of the police for what we had in it, but the police would tell them that all they were doing was condoning their theft.  Jim