Theft insurance?

[dowmace]

Back story...

I work for a generator service company as the heavy diesel and large genset technician, so I have a very high dollar broad spectrum set of tools on the truck. All of my tooling stays on the truck when not in use because usually I'm working in the field. Recently we hired a new shop helper young kid about 17 works 3 hours a day. I have done a couple of engine rebuild in the shop and each time something high dollar has gone missing at the shop. I hate to call the kid a thief but things didn't ever go missing before we hired him.
We have theft insurance on our commercial policy but our owner refuses to file any of my tools as theft and just leaves me on my own to replace these tools some cost more than my weekly pay.


Anybody have personal theft insurance on their stuff? I can't afford to replace these things and am about to start filing police reports but I know that will get me no where honestly. I hate having to be a **** but I can no longer let my tools out of sight for any amount of time because I can't trust our employees and the owner of the company doesn't believe there is a problem.

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[BDT/NWMN]

That is not being a **** at all... Tools are a major investment; bought to do a job efficiently.. Time wasted searching for your tools will disrupt your thoughts and take your mind off the task that you should be concentrating on......Bad enough when people "borrow", but stolen is far worse.... Me; I would arrange for a visit from a uniformed law officer during the kid's working hours... Definitely file a theft report... hopefully, your missing tools will """"""reappear where you misplaced them""""" Best of Luck...



The best "insurance" is to have a reputation for not putting up with that ****....

 

[trpearcy]

That is not being a **** at all... Tools are a major investment; bought to do a job efficiently.. Time wasted searching for your tools will disrupt your thoughts and take your mind off the task that you should be concentrating on......Bad enough when people "borrow", but stolen is far worse.... Me; I would arrange for a visit from a uniformed law officer during the kid's working hours... Definitely file a theft report... hopefully, your missing tools will """"""reappear where you misplaced them""""" Best of Luck...



The best "insurance" is to have a reputation for not putting up with that ****....

I second that. At my shop there was a guy that was stealing tools that other would leave out during projects, and management called the cops. State cops came and they ordered him to open his box, he opened it, and they found all the missing tools in one single drawer.


I'm guessing that just the sight of a cop would scare your thief into either stopping what he's doing, or stopping and returning the items.

 

[HaroRider]

Set him up. See if he takes the bait.

 

[91bronc300]

The owner sounds stupid, is he connected to the kid in anyway? See if you can figure out where the kid has these tools at and then steal them back if you can. Then make enough noise about it until one of you gets fired. Hopefully the kid. I wouldn't call the cops unless you can't figure out where your tools are at and how to steal them back.

 

[drewzfoster]

Call the kid out on it....his reaction will tell you if it is him or not... if he is shocked then he is proabably innocent then apologize tohim. If he mumbles or looks away like he wants to run then say give them back or I am calling the cops.... His body language will tell you right off.

 

[dowmace]

Funny enough I had to call in sick today (something I almost never do but I just don't have strength to get out of bed so sick day it is) yesterday my power probe went missing case and all. A good friend of mine that works with me said that when he walked out to his truck from the office to leave to his jobs for the day it was sitting on his tail gate.

I'm guessing because I almost lost my composure yesterday when I found it missing.

The kid was hired from church, 2/3 of employees are family or hired from church sometimes it's good sometimes it's bad.

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[zakmartin]

Since the tools stay on the truck, buy a couple cheap cameras (i.e., the kind that looks like a clock or bottled water) and secretly hook them up to cover all angles. You'll find out who is "borrowing" your tools soon enough. Cameras like these aren't expensive and you can get them on Amazon or specialty stores online. If you have to let the kid use your tools, then tell him you're putting up a sign-out sheet because some of your tools are missing and you don't know who has them. Plaster colored print-outs reading "YOU MUST SIGN OUT TOOLS BEFORE USING THEM" all over your truck. If you catch him on camera taking tools without signing them out and the tools don't come back, then show the boss. If the boss does nothing, then show the cops. The police can do a lot more with video evidence than they can do with simple accusations. Hell, you might find out it was someone else stealing your tools whom you never have suspected. Based on what you're estimating in lost value, you can probably get the thief charged with felony larceny.

 

[dankicksass]

I'm sure you've noticed the wheels on your toolbox by now.

 

[greasemonkey44]

Hahaha^ nice
My "helpers" put stuff back in strange places
Nothing leaves the shop but appears in different drawers and on shelves in wierd spots

 

[dowmace]

I'm sure you've noticed the wheels on your toolbox by now.

I have 6 of them in fact all 17" in diameter and they say Michelin on them. Haha

But seriously the thought has occurred because of other lets say dramatics.

Everything is getting etched with my insignia when I can honestly feel like facing the light of day. So there won't be any "but that one is mine"

Cameras aren't a bad idea either. Thanks for the advice fellas

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[JTH]

The sad part is there is only one kind of insurance that will cover your tools regardless of where they are. "Inland Marine Insurance" it was so expensive that I could start buying my tools over again off the Snap on truck for the monthly price. Church goers sometimes need forgiveness more than folks that never set foot in one. Morality has little to do with religion in my experience. Doctors lawyers and preachers have given me more trouble paying for work done than any other groups. I hate to generalize as a rule, just had things play out this way more than once. This is one area I'd like to adopt the Arabian way, cut off from pinky to your whole arm depending on what was stolen.

 

[woody 73]

Put in place the cameras.
Review the tape in private.
When you catch the person/persons involved confront them with the tape.
Two choices (A) Return your tools asap. or (B) Give the tape to the law for legal action.

For my two cents if that was my employer I would getting in his face for not replacing stolen tools, of course watching a tape should shut his mouth.

 

[Tarheelgarage]

Funny enough I had to call in sick today (something I almost never do but I just don't have strength to get out of bed so sick day it is) yesterday my power probe went missing case and all. A good friend of mine that works with me said that when he walked out to his truck from the office to leave to his jobs for the day it was sitting on his tail gate.

I'm guessing because I almost lost my composure yesterday when I found it missing.

The kid was hired from church, 2/3 of employees are family or hired from church sometimes it's good sometimes it's bad.

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From church, huh? Guess their good preacherman never got around to teaching them what the good book says about stealing yet... If I were you, you could expedite his learning about the good book by taking him out back of the shop and having a good stern talk with him about thief. You might have him babbling in tongues when you get through with him...

 

[nicksnothereman]

No one (sane) would ever attempt to steal from me.

In your case...the best (passive aggressive) way to deal with theft is to mark your tools; lots of people do this. If it goes missing then just take it back from his box or wherever he stores his tools. He don't care for your personal space or property so do the same to him.