refried
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Ever work with a tool thief?
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zmaxmotorsports
Well-known member
That's why I paint all my tools in different places,and when I used to work on big job sites I always brought my own gang box to lock stuff up
RECox286
Well-known member
Dealing with other people is near the most difficult thing we do.
Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Either learn how to lock your box, how to find your tools
when you come back from a day off, or put your tools on
your truck and show him your tail lights still work. Your choice.
Uncle Bob
Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Either learn how to lock your box, how to find your tools
when you come back from a day off, or put your tools on
your truck and show him your tail lights still work. Your choice.
Uncle Bob
firebox40dash5
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I'd definitely pack my **** and GTFO... I wouldn't work with a thief, damned if I'd work *for* one.
Actually... you guys ever go for test runs... into international waters?
Actually... you guys ever go for test runs... into international waters?
richfinn
Well-known member
I worked for a guy who had a massive Snap-On Tool Box full of all the latest gear that he had bought over many years, he never locked it and we were all free to come and go as we pleased, and use/borrow anything. When It got quiet we used to clean it out and do a bit of organisation for him (and us I suppose really). He never complained if anyone broke anything or even lost a tool he would just order a new one from the Tool Truck.
Occasionally he would have a look through our boxes if he couldn,t find one of his tools
(we had usually reorganised it for him
). If he saw something we had that wasn,t in his set and he liked using it, he would just borrow yours and always replace it after he finished, but wouldn,t buy it (he didn,t need to). This sharing between about 4 of us went on for a few years until we all moved on.
Never found this type of place again, you had to lock up and watch your gear particularly in the dealerships. Different times and different people.
Occasionally he would have a look through our boxes if he couldn,t find one of his tools
(we had usually reorganised it for him
). If he saw something we had that wasn,t in his set and he liked using it, he would just borrow yours and always replace it after he finished, but wouldn,t buy it (he didn,t need to). This sharing between about 4 of us went on for a few years until we all moved on.Never found this type of place again, you had to lock up and watch your gear particularly in the dealerships. Different times and different people.
maddawg308
Banned
I used to work in a shop when I was young in Jersey off and on, fixing up hot rods and playing with engines. The policy was, "you need to own your own tools". I didn't have many tools, so I borrowed a set from a friend and as I earned some money, I bought more. Most of us locked the tools up at night, but a few didn't . One time, the owners hired some shlub who worked alright, but always seemed to have issues with drugs or something, he'd come into work all wired. The owners didn't mind too much, as long as he did his work. One day, though, some of the tools from different mechanics boxes went missing, and as time went on, more went missing. They didn't end up in anyone else's box, they just walked. Noticed that the new guy got more and more high, the more and more tools left the shop.
Shorten the story down a little bit, the shop steward and the owners were, well, let's just say they were Italian. Belonged to a big, happy Family, if you know what I mean. Treat them right, they treat you right. Treat them wrong, well... The shop steward did some digging and found the new guy was pawning everyone's tools to support his drug habit. One day he didn't show up for work, shop steward tells us he's "taking a few days off, doesn't feel well." He never returned to work as they fired him - BTW, "taking a few days off" was code for "in the hospital". Anyways, the shop got the guys who lost some tools some brand new replacements as a gift, awful nice of them. But I often wonder what REALLY happened to the new guy.
Shorten the story down a little bit, the shop steward and the owners were, well, let's just say they were Italian. Belonged to a big, happy Family, if you know what I mean. Treat them right, they treat you right. Treat them wrong, well... The shop steward did some digging and found the new guy was pawning everyone's tools to support his drug habit. One day he didn't show up for work, shop steward tells us he's "taking a few days off, doesn't feel well." He never returned to work as they fired him - BTW, "taking a few days off" was code for "in the hospital". Anyways, the shop got the guys who lost some tools some brand new replacements as a gift, awful nice of them. But I often wonder what REALLY happened to the new guy.
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crewchief888
Well-known member
it's the old
"you toucha my tools, i breaka you face"
"you toucha my tools, i breaka you face"
richfinn
Well-known member
Thats one of the most heartwarming stories about underworld violence I have read on GJ, good for the owners and great that they looked after their guys with some replacements. Hopefully that Junkie is propping up a bridge in New York somewhere
firebox40dash5
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Thats one of the most heartwarming stories about underworld violence I have read on GJ, good for the owners and great that they looked after their guys with some replacements. Hopefully that Junkie is propping up a bridge in New York somewhere
Agreed! Though I don't think "taking a few days off" is quite code for "in the hospital".
Very generous of Mr. Dawg to give the benefit of the doubt, though!5lima30
Well-known member
Encourage the thief to take a job in the Middle East! They will cut the thiefs hands off!
Turbo_Prop
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I do it backwards. I like to engrave the initials of the tech at work on stuff I clean out of my garage and then slip them into other boxes at work. It is hilarious when someone finds one of 'their' tools in another guys box. Eventually I will get caught and they will take my desk apart, again.
itsvegas
Well-known member
well played sir.
crewchief888
Well-known member
NathanC
Well-known member
I always lock my box now because I got tired of my tools going missing....like sockets getting left to roll under the work bench when I wasn't around and tools getting put in someone else's box or broken. so I just got in the habit of locking everything up
Posted from Garagejournal.com App for Android
Posted from Garagejournal.com App for Android
2mJps
Well-known member
I saw a guy geting into a buddys box when he was at lunch and we had a talk he told me lie after lie i got in his face and screamed at him called him every name in the book after i figuard i would be called to the office or some thing. But the next day he talked to me like notheing had happen.
clueless
Well-known member
work in a shop with 5 guys,1 is a princess,others are workers, we figure 1 is swiping some tools left out, we all figure it is princess,since his box is always locked up and most of the drawers are empty or have harbor freight tools in them!!!
one day we will; get into it to see if the missing tools are there!!
one day we will; get into it to see if the missing tools are there!!
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LennyTheLizard
Well-known member
At our plant, the company buys the tools. But most people have their own tool bag or roll around box. I never minded someone using tools out of my box as long as they were there when I needed them.
I swore I was going to put a remote door lock on my box, so that it would automatically lock as soon as the drawer closes. Then you could just hit the button every time you needed something out. It gets that bad sometimes.
I swore I was going to put a remote door lock on my box, so that it would automatically lock as soon as the drawer closes. Then you could just hit the button every time you needed something out. It gets that bad sometimes.
Trash Mech
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- Jan 27, 2013
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- 86
In my experience its always the guy that doesn't invest in quality tools himself, but finds your snap on socket that doesn't match anything in his Taiwan filled box and finds a home for it. Just gotta know whose who I guess
At a buddy's shop last year, tools and loose change and whatever began to be missing from tool boxes. This place, with a half-dozen guys, has always been pretty open, no locked boxes, tools shared if necessary.
Finally, my friend installed some sort of computer-connected camera and on the first day they caught him. Actually, it was early a.m. when the guy came in before anyone else. They fired him immediately. No one got their stuff back, but no one's lost anything since.
Some people are simply lowlife jerks.
Finally, my friend installed some sort of computer-connected camera and on the first day they caught him. Actually, it was early a.m. when the guy came in before anyone else. They fired him immediately. No one got their stuff back, but no one's lost anything since.
Some people are simply lowlife jerks.
petty4243
Well-known member
I worked for a guy who had a massive Snap-On Tool Box full of all the latest gear that he had bought over many years, he never locked it and we were all free to come and go as we pleased, and use/borrow anything. When It got quiet we used to clean it out and do a bit of organisation for him (and us I suppose really). He never complained if anyone broke anything or even lost a tool he would just order a new one from the Tool Truck.
Occasionally he would have a look through our boxes if he couldn,t find one of his tools
(we had usually reorganised it for him
Never found this type of place again, you had to lock up and watch your gear particularly in the dealerships. Different times and different people.
I am lucky to be in a similar shoe.... very small ford dealership in north iowa... usually 2 or 3 techs.... anyway, usually other guy and myself... have not locked my box in 5 years..... never lost anything.... he only locks his if going on extended vacation... who could blame him.... but kind of same thing... I have a few he does not and vise versa.... we just ask and borrow when that comes around.... same token.. recently bought and gave him a triton spark plug tool kit(found at pawn shop for 20 bucks) just call it cheap appreciation.... and good to have in event shops or mine fails(known to do that).... have actually passed a few job opportunities just cause I like the environment I am in....
per OPs original post, if owner has your stuff, I would call a spade a spade... and be gone.... call local workforce office and file for unemployment and state reason for leaving job as employer theft
greasemonkey44
Well-known member
ive never dealt with theft
but borrowing and misplacing.......
a guy that used to work with us would get distracted and just leave things laying out
one time he left the floor jack out side, he didnt notice when we left
i threw it in the back of my truck, and waited til he noticed; took three days and we had to ask him where he had it last
he fixed a nail in the tire of his truck a week ago after being gone for a month or two; left every tool out, from the impact to the diacs
but borrowing and misplacing.......
a guy that used to work with us would get distracted and just leave things laying out
one time he left the floor jack out side, he didnt notice when we left
i threw it in the back of my truck, and waited til he noticed; took three days and we had to ask him where he had it last
he fixed a nail in the tire of his truck a week ago after being gone for a month or two; left every tool out, from the impact to the diacs
petty4243
Well-known member
can see it now, a tool box fob with 10 key numbers and open/close feature....
metaldad
Well-known member
No. The fitter crew(s) I work with is very good with the tools. (Except for the apprentices) We don't lock them up over the weekend, when on site.
Now, when the other trades waltz in..........
Now, when the other trades waltz in..........
chris142
Well-known member
My boss has an idiot kid. Often when hes not in jail he will come in on weekends and work on his car. He puts the wrong tools back into the wrong box. Or he takes stuff home and does not tell anybody. I got tired if this and bought a new krl2418 that locks! Now he has to ask to borrow a tool so I know where it went. If he asks I'll leave something out. If he don't ask he's sol.
ianguilly
Well-known member
I work with 3 other techs, and I know none of them would ever take any of my tools on purpose. I do lock my box when I leave at night (we all do at the shop) and when I go to lunch, just because my work is in a ****** neighborhood.
AZ_Catskinner
Well-known member
We used to have a helper we called "Hothands". He did a little too much mething around and saved us all a fortune when he got hit by a random U/A.
lennoxlennox
Banned
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i have lost a few tools at work to some thief, never really sure who
but
if my boss took my tools and I saw visible evidence like you did, and that was the lame excuse he gave
my box couldn't get out of there fast enough, as they say, there is a reason your toolbox has wheels on it.
but
if my boss took my tools and I saw visible evidence like you did, and that was the lame excuse he gave
my box couldn't get out of there fast enough, as they say, there is a reason your toolbox has wheels on it.
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robe5000
Well-known member
Thankfully I'm a mobile tech, so my tools are "safely" locked away in my van away from any thieves in the shop, makes it easy to steal them all in one clean shot, but way she's goes I guess
billymade
Well-known member
Well, it seems I do or someone got in; just had a ton of my snapon ratchets... grew legs... bleah! Had to have some sort of "insider" aspect to it; just took the long ratchets, swivel heads and long breaker bars... quick cash tools.
George in Rancho Cordova
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- Mar 15, 2011
- Messages
- 741
Had a neighbor with an extensive SO collection.
He had changed jobs, so they were all at home, in his garage.
Another neighbor was bringing over a 12 pack several evenings a week for enjoyment in the garage.
Ater a few rounds of this, he realized that some tools were missing.
Turns out that sticky-fingers was drinking little and raiding the tools when "Bill" went to the can.
About then, "sticky" moved away quickly.
He had changed jobs, so they were all at home, in his garage.
Another neighbor was bringing over a 12 pack several evenings a week for enjoyment in the garage.
Ater a few rounds of this, he realized that some tools were missing.
Turns out that sticky-fingers was drinking little and raiding the tools when "Bill" went to the can.
About then, "sticky" moved away quickly.
kiatech
Well-known member
Sometimes she goes, sometimes she doesn't.
1971gsfan
Well-known member
when I got out of the Air Force I started college and worked part time for my step dad. He is a man with great ethics and morals. He calls the shop from the local parts house and ask his new hire about a core charge on some parts he (The new hire ) had purchased earlier. When Dad got back to the shop He confronted the kid and gave him ample chances to come clean. Dad goes out to the truck brings in the cores and loudly tells the kid to roll his box out very quickly. He said He would have given the kid cheap cores to exchange for the race parts. But the parts the kid used were the sought after rebuildables from Dads own stash. Dad built race engines and transmissions rear end etc. 20 years ago I remember it like yesterday.
Tim
Tim
cruzzer
Well-known member
I had issues in a few shops I worked at in the past. I learned from an old tech when I was young to engrave my initials on ALL my tools. Its much easier to figure out if your tools walk to another box with your name on it. One of my coworkers at my current shop had the habit of using tools from who evers box he was near. He would eventually put them all back. Issue was he got canned and the shop yard man just locked his cart up and box up and took them to his house and dropped them off.. Several others were mad that they did not get to check if any of their tools were mixed in. We were all missing odds and ends. I now work almost 100% on the road. I carry craftsmen mostly so if I loose or leave them at a job its not crushing as missing a snap on tool. But I still engrave and paint a small green stripe on the tools so they dont match a job site techs tools..
PowerGenGuy
Well-known member
One solution for avoiding losing tools to other techs is too use different brands. Popular brands in the shop and with the road techs is craftsmen and mastercraft. So I use different brands so everyone knows whose is whose. We had one tech many years ago that would take shop supplies home all the time. He would take drill bits, fill one index at a time. Finally the shop stored the drill bits in floor managers office, so you had to ask. A frames would go missing, drills, batteries and parts. We alll knew who it was, but the managers did not have the nards to confront him. He finally was canned when things got slow and all the guys were getting upset with all the missing shop stufff.
I worked at this audio shop way back when, after being there a while and becoming one of the top guys the owner wanted me to buy this exspensive set of wire strippers he sold. I kept telling him no I didn't want them, I was happy with my el cheepo set that worked great. One day he put a set in my box and said try them out for a little while... Week or so later he comes by and asks how I like them, told him I hadn't used them, go to give them back and they arn't there. He quickly says thats ok, he will just charge them to my paycheck anyway. I blew up, hrs of drama were had, Was about to quite n walk out the door when he finally fessed up it was him that took them out of the box and hid them somewhere, but couldn't remember where. :/ That guy was a true D-BAG!!!
dragonballz
Well-known member
I work with a guy who is a "known thief." I put it in quotes because I never had any issues with him. One of the guys was sitting in a vehicle and saw the "thief" walk up to a tool box, look around him to see if anybody was watching, and opened a draw. He did not see the "thief" take anything. The owner of the box said he was missing a ratchet and a couple sockets. The "thief" was confronted later on and he said he was looking for a special tool.