BmwTechZiggy
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 31, 2021
- Messages
- 127
Old coworker stole some ratchets from another coworker. ******* proceded to sell them to the pawn shop right down the street from our work. we found em and kid disappeared last i heard.
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Has anyone ever had their tools stolen?
- Thread starter mowersplus84
- Start date
First question is who held your tools?My tools were held for several months at my recent job for several months for a truck that was not even mine. After finally releasing my tools, i found over $7,000 missing. Filed a police report. Doing the small claims thing. Mediation did not go well. I have court on Monday for this. Are there any laws that protect our tools? what can I do in this situation? Any tips would be fantastic! what a nightmare!
oldwino
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I’ve been lucky and have only had a few tools stolen over the years. The one thatpissed me off the most was a 6’ level I had spent hours adjusting so it ws **** on in every direction. Disappeared the next day out of the back of the truck.
ArcReactorKC
Well-known member
weird double post
jives
Well-known member
In grad school I had my personal tool box in our lab as we were building testing equipment. Stolen out of my toolbox was my grandfather's 3/8" SnapOn ratchet -- the only tool stolen and the only tool from my grandfather. I was more saddened than angry.
Motown
Well-known member
Had an ex brother in law that would steal from me. He'd come over to help me with something, and at least on tool would be gone. The guy was a sociopath.
RedneckWelder
Well-known member
Not a mass theft (I have insurance for that) but somebody at my work is stealing tools at a very slow rate that is making catching them extremely difficult. They’ve gotten about a grand worth so far from me and several others.
GaryM909
Well-known member
Back in the 70's I was working as an apprentice welder in a machine shop.I had a 6 drawer Beach tool box sitting on a 45 gal drum. Most of the tools I had were basic department store tools along with typical fabrication tools. One day there was a break in and all the welders tools were stolen. None of the machinist tools were taken. WTF. Anyways there was no insurance so I had to start over which was probably a good thing.
The company had an account with one of the bigger industrial supply stores plus I knew a guy at the same store.
I started loading up on Proto, Challenger, and Gray. The Snap on truck showed up every week so I bought the cheapest cabinet which I still have and am using it as a welding cart. I bought a couple more tools off that truck before I quit the job. I haven't set foot in a Snap on truck since.
The company had an account with one of the bigger industrial supply stores plus I knew a guy at the same store.
I started loading up on Proto, Challenger, and Gray. The Snap on truck showed up every week so I bought the cheapest cabinet which I still have and am using it as a welding cart. I bought a couple more tools off that truck before I quit the job. I haven't set foot in a Snap on truck since.
redwrench60
Well-known member
Not a mass theft (I have insurance for that) but somebody at my work is stealing tools at a very slow rate that is making catching them extremely difficult. They’ve gotten about a grand worth so far from me and several others.
May every single hair on their *** turn to sawgrass.
RedneckWelder
Well-known member
My tools were held for several months at my recent job for several months for a truck that was not even mine. After finally releasing my tools, i found over $7,000 missing. Filed a police report. Doing the small claims thing. Mediation did not go well. I have court on Monday for this. Are there any laws that protect our tools? what can I do in this situation? Any tips would be fantastic! what a nightmare!
How the hell did they “hold your tools” tell the story
jmarkwolf
Well-known member
If it hasn't been said yet, the remote garage door opener is an easy way for thieves to get into garages. If you don't lock your cars in the driveway (even when there's no valuables inside), it's a simple matter to open the car door (or break the window for that matter) grab the remote, then the thieves have the "keys to the kingdom".
Happened to a buddy of mine. He had an old unused truck sitting next to his shop with a remote for the shop door still inside. They got into the truck, got the remote, opened the shop door, presumably waited to see if there was an alarm (there wasn't), then cleaned him out.
He had large sets of mostly Snap-on in multiple toolboxes. His homeowners' insurance company balked at why a homeowner possessed and needed such expensive tools but they eventually relented and made good.
Happened to a buddy of mine. He had an old unused truck sitting next to his shop with a remote for the shop door still inside. They got into the truck, got the remote, opened the shop door, presumably waited to see if there was an alarm (there wasn't), then cleaned him out.
He had large sets of mostly Snap-on in multiple toolboxes. His homeowners' insurance company balked at why a homeowner possessed and needed such expensive tools but they eventually relented and made good.
While I assume my city has police that technically deal with such cases... I would also assume that they would not have time for such cases without video or witnesses. Without that, the police report will be needed for the insurance company.
I would have assume that before all of the security cameras existed, that these cases rarely were closed. But I really do not know. We are a giant city right next to Detroit. We have real crime, some very publicized. I would assume that the bigger crimes get the lions share of their time.
I would have assume that before all of the security cameras existed, that these cases rarely were closed. But I really do not know. We are a giant city right next to Detroit. We have real crime, some very publicized. I would assume that the bigger crimes get the lions share of their time.
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RedneckWelder
Well-known member
While I assume my city has police that technically deal with such cases... I would also assume that they would not have time for such cases.
The police quite simply don’t give a **** beyond giving you a report.
Iridium rand
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2021
- Messages
- 218
Depending on circumstances it’s pretty much inevitable you’ll have something stolen, haven’t had much of my own stuff disappear but saw it many many times working for my fathers landscaping company, first went the leaf loader, someone came at night unbolted it from the trailer and took off. Next we were doing a job in broad daylight at a dunkin donuts and a car pulls up, grabs the leaf blower and flies off.
Last one a few years ago, someone cuts the locks off the trailer and grabs anything powered that’s worth more than a used weedwhacker or too heavy like the mowers, so chainsaws, edge definer etc. all gone. Caught on camera, but as few realize camera footage is mostly worthless other than confirming the obvious. Police are nothing more than for show in these cases, to them thefts are too much work for too little value and mostly covered by insurance anyways. Only way to safeguard yourself is with insurance or to plan out how you would steal the stuff and take measures to make it impossible or impractical. Easy targets get hit the most so don’t be one
Last one a few years ago, someone cuts the locks off the trailer and grabs anything powered that’s worth more than a used weedwhacker or too heavy like the mowers, so chainsaws, edge definer etc. all gone. Caught on camera, but as few realize camera footage is mostly worthless other than confirming the obvious. Police are nothing more than for show in these cases, to them thefts are too much work for too little value and mostly covered by insurance anyways. Only way to safeguard yourself is with insurance or to plan out how you would steal the stuff and take measures to make it impossible or impractical. Easy targets get hit the most so don’t be one
RedneckWelder
Well-known member
Depending on circumstances it’s pretty much inevitable you’ll have something stolen, haven’t had much of my own stuff disappear but saw it many many times working for my fathers landscaping company, first went the leaf loader, someone came at night unbolted it from the trailer and took off. Next we were doing a job in broad daylight at a dunkin donuts and a car pulls up, grabs the leaf blower and flies off.
Last one a few years ago, someone cuts the locks off the trailer and grabs anything powered that’s worth more than a used weedwhacker or too heavy like the mowers, so chainsaws, edge definer etc. all gone. Caught on camera, but as few realize camera footage is mostly worthless other than confirming the obvious. Police are nothing more than for show in these cases, to them thefts are too much work for too little value and mostly covered by insurance anyways. Only way to safeguard yourself is with insurance or to plan out how you would steal the stuff and take measures to make it impossible or impractical. Easy targets get hit the most so don’t be one
And if you think you are going to get hit for a high value item, GPS and handle your business.
Ton ton
Well-known member
If you are on extended trip , I would padlock the garage door. And turn off the automatic garage door opener.
WWheeler
Well-known member
Video surveillance alarm systems are cheap these days and easy to install yourself. There's even wireless toolbox alarms. If you have thousands invested in tools it makes sense to spend ~$100 on something that might well be the only thing that helps you get them back if they do get stolen.
When my neighbor behind me's tractor and implements were stolen while he was out of town the idiots who stole it parked their truck on the edge of my property giving my cameras a clear view of their license plate and pretty good shots of their faces. As soon as I found out he'd been hit I went through the recordings and got copies to the police who had them arrested and all of his equipment back within days.
When my neighbor behind me's tractor and implements were stolen while he was out of town the idiots who stole it parked their truck on the edge of my property giving my cameras a clear view of their license plate and pretty good shots of their faces. As soon as I found out he'd been hit I went through the recordings and got copies to the police who had them arrested and all of his equipment back within days.
ZRX61
Well-known member
Visegrips clamped in the channel just above the rollers...If you are on extended trip , I would padlock the garage door. And turn off the automatic garage door opener.
dutchgray
Well-known member
I haven't but Dad had his garage broken into when I was about 12,
Sunday, early afternoon when we were in the house, lost his Chainsaws (a couple of 100cc Partners) and some hand tools.
Then some years later when I just started working for him someone stole a 3.5 ton rated trailer (which was overloaded with building sand), was uncles trailer so we had to replace it. from one of his sites and also an old portable table saw.
Dad was not insured for either (actually never even had home contents insurance ever)
He had a Landrover 110 stolen off the drive in about 1993 as well, insurance took months to pay out on that.
Back in that era he also bought a used mini excavator from a hire firm that turned out to be stolen, which was also a total loss financially.
Sunday, early afternoon when we were in the house, lost his Chainsaws (a couple of 100cc Partners) and some hand tools.
Then some years later when I just started working for him someone stole a 3.5 ton rated trailer (which was overloaded with building sand), was uncles trailer so we had to replace it. from one of his sites and also an old portable table saw.
Dad was not insured for either (actually never even had home contents insurance ever)
He had a Landrover 110 stolen off the drive in about 1993 as well, insurance took months to pay out on that.
Back in that era he also bought a used mini excavator from a hire firm that turned out to be stolen, which was also a total loss financially.
Ton ton
Well-known member
Good idea.Visegrips clamped in the channel just above the rollers...
ZRX61
Well-known member
My paternal grandparents were living in Ipswich & some ******* chavs broke into his shed & stole everything that wasn't bolted down shortly before he died. All three of his sons & four grandsons work with tools & would have cherished his stuff, nothing was ever recovered.
ZRX61
Well-known member
Several of them, at least two or three each side.Good idea.
I don’t live in a sleepy bedroom town. We have crimes that would turn your stomach daily.The police quite simply don’t give a **** beyond giving you a report.
The Bean
Well-known member
Over 15 years ago, I lost a 24 " crowbar that I really loved. I was having work done to renovate my third floor and made it available while the contractor and I worked on the job. After the job was complete, I never saw the crowbar again. I feel bad about blaming the contractor crew for theft, or maybe they thought it was one of theirs, or maybe it's buried in the insulation in my attic. Still stings.
On the other hand, I once found a large loppers in the public park with the initials for the local horticultural society. They had been pruning in the azalea gardens and mislaid it. I never turned it in.
Even Steven? You tell me. My conscience says no.
On the other hand, I once found a large loppers in the public park with the initials for the local horticultural society. They had been pruning in the azalea gardens and mislaid it. I never turned it in.
Even Steven? You tell me. My conscience says no.
ZRX61
Well-known member
Tool thieves are the lowest of the low. They not only steal your stuff, they steal you ability to put food on your table & pay your bills etc. The broken knuckle incident in post #33 happened 40 years ago in South London. I'm not sure I would merely watch these days.
crewchief888
Well-known member
ive had a few things "grow legs" over the years working at various const eq dealers. i had a pretty good idea who took the stuff, but could never prove anything.
i'm a field mechanic and my "work" boxes were stored at the shop.
i finally loaded them up and brought them home.
i'm a field mechanic and my "work" boxes were stored at the shop.
i finally loaded them up and brought them home.
Typically garage doors have a lock button on the home button. Mine are programmed to the vehicle. With that said, if I have to park outside. I hit the lock button on the garage door which means no openers, etc. will open the door unless it's hardwired.
I had my Snap-On/Craftsman tools stolen out of my garage in 1978. All sockets and wrenches were Snap-On. Screwdrivers and pliers were Craftsman. Insurance paid some, I think $1400 on a $2200 claim. Original claim was for $1600, but insurance wanted receipts. I dug them up (yeah, my great uncle Enzo told me to save them for tax deductions, but I never did that) and the total was $2200, so I revised my claim upwards. They stalled paying me (my parents, I was still living at home). I told the insurance agent that Snap-On was raising their prices 7% Jan 1st and I would be taking them to small claims court for the 7%. They paid me just in time to get the order in before the price increase. They took 10% annual depreciation off the tools when they were increasing in price 7, 8 even 10% one year. I started buying in 1972, so I lost 60% on some tools that increased by 20%! I got a basic set with the check.
I would love to find out who stole them, two "friends" or a neighborhood thief who lived near. If anyone has a Snap-On tool with the initials ER on them, please contact me here. I don't care about the tool, but I'd love to try to trace them back to the thief out of curiosity. I did sell a bunch of stuff to a mechanic of my replacement tools, so Cape Coral, FL items don't count, LOL. Theft occurred in Hudson county, Northern NJ. One "friend" relocated to PA, the other moved around NJ and is now in FL. I can be reached at edrannou with @gmail.com attached. Thanks in advance.
I would love to find out who stole them, two "friends" or a neighborhood thief who lived near. If anyone has a Snap-On tool with the initials ER on them, please contact me here. I don't care about the tool, but I'd love to try to trace them back to the thief out of curiosity. I did sell a bunch of stuff to a mechanic of my replacement tools, so Cape Coral, FL items don't count, LOL. Theft occurred in Hudson county, Northern NJ. One "friend" relocated to PA, the other moved around NJ and is now in FL. I can be reached at edrannou with @gmail.com attached. Thanks in advance.
SILVERPLATE
Well-known member
1972, I had been working at gas stations as a mechanic and got my first real job as a mechanic at a Ford dealership. Frank White Ford, Brunswick, Ohio. As I moved in a couple of seasoned mechanics snicker as I chain my upper and lower boxes to a heavy steel work bench at the end of day. Yes, I have to unlock in order to move around each day. About three weeks later, the dealership is victim of a break in. As if my tool boxes were smiling at me that morning, two of my fellow co workers had nothing, stolen gone. And the looks on their faces when the owner Frank said his insurance did not cover their tools. They did end up getting some type of reimbursement by ordering from a Rotunda brand catalog. There still chained today.
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I've had tools stolen here and there when I worked with other techs. People would "borrow" stuff and "forget" to return it, or break it and toss it and hope I don't notice.
But the only time I had my whole box stolen was in vocational school. We kept our tools in a wooden locker. Seniors had the top locker and juniors had the bottom. The seniors figured out that they could remove the shelf and get into the lower lockers. And we all had the same craftsman boxes that you could push out the hinge pin and open the box when it's locked. But what the dumbasses didn't realize, is everyone with a locker above a theft was automatically implicated, lol. So we got most of our stuff back, and cash for the stuff that was missing.
I was glad to get that out of the way when I was young, so I could develop a healthy paranoia in my later years lol.
I think if I have to go back to a job that requires leaving a tool box on-site, I'll build a bracket to hold an old iphone in the lid so I can run the Alfred Camera app on it.
But the only time I had my whole box stolen was in vocational school. We kept our tools in a wooden locker. Seniors had the top locker and juniors had the bottom. The seniors figured out that they could remove the shelf and get into the lower lockers. And we all had the same craftsman boxes that you could push out the hinge pin and open the box when it's locked. But what the dumbasses didn't realize, is everyone with a locker above a theft was automatically implicated, lol. So we got most of our stuff back, and cash for the stuff that was missing.
I was glad to get that out of the way when I was young, so I could develop a healthy paranoia in my later years lol.
I think if I have to go back to a job that requires leaving a tool box on-site, I'll build a bracket to hold an old iphone in the lid so I can run the Alfred Camera app on it.
If you want some fun with the thieves, take an old toolbox and put it out in your front yard so it's visible from the street. Take a long spike, and drive it down through the bottom so that box is anchored solid. Sit back with a cold one and watch the fun. They will yank their arm off trying to do a dash and grab. It took all of 15 minutes for the first attempt.
finn
Well-known member
Had my grandfather’s SK 3/8” ratchet and some sockets stolen at work. In those days part of your rite of passage as an Engine development engineer was to spend a few years designing and running your own dynamometer test programs. Hot programs would have a second and maybe third shift technician assigned to acquire more data.
I was pretty sure the second shift tech stole the tools but had no proof.
A couple months later I was promoted and became the guy’s boss.
Not long afterward we noticed irregularities in the engine test data, and one of the prototype engines had a runaway, which we dertemined was due to an improperly adjusted injection pump.
Ends up the tech was fired.
Not sure who was punished on that deal, since he shortly thereafter moved to Hawaii.
The data irregularities ceased after he was given the boot, and the rash of missing tools ended.
I was pretty sure the second shift tech stole the tools but had no proof.
A couple months later I was promoted and became the guy’s boss.
Not long afterward we noticed irregularities in the engine test data, and one of the prototype engines had a runaway, which we dertemined was due to an improperly adjusted injection pump.
Ends up the tech was fired.
Not sure who was punished on that deal, since he shortly thereafter moved to Hawaii.
The data irregularities ceased after he was given the boot, and the rash of missing tools ended.