Thieves

[Uncle_Charlie]

I have some land about an hour from where I live. For almost 3 years now, I've used a shipping container on the property as a workshop and storage. I also put a camper on the property to have a place to stay when I go there. Yesterday I was up there for the first time in several weeks. Thieves broke in and stole all my hand tools, power tools, a generator, welding equipment, a tractor battery, ham radio equipment, and tractor and motorcycle parts. The trailer got cleaned out as well, even taking a bottle of Listerine. At least they will have good breath after eating the canned goods they stole.

These are just things that can be replaced, or at least that's what I'm trying to tell myself. To a point that is true. I can go to HF or WalMart and replace the hand tools, though the new tools won't be US made SK Tools or US made channellock. The welder was an expensive multi process machine that is now out of production. If I replace those tools with equivalents to what was taken, it'll cost me 3 times today what the tools cost originally.

A sheriff's deputy was dispatched and a report filed. But I expect little to come of it as they can only track stolen items by serial number. So, here is my new project-Document everything with a serial number on it that I own. Those numbers will be saved both as a hard copy on paper stored away hidden and as a text file on a thumb drive. I don't know why I'm posting this. It's been a long time since I have been this angry. If you made it this far, thank you for your time.

 

[RTM]

Sorry to hear this. Thieves are scum!

I keep all my power tools model and serial numbers in on online spreadsheet, helps when I need to order parts or consumables, I know the sizes. Easy access from phone, work or home computer.

 

[micromind]

I keep a list of serial numbers, actually more than one, both in different places.

I've had a few tools stolen over the years, never gotten anything back.

 

[whateg01]

Sorry for your loss. I don't know why, in this day and age, people still store stuff at remote locations thinking it's safe. As much as I would like to think people would leave stuff that's not theirs alone, I know that isn't the case.

 

[LXCam]

I don’t blame you at all for venting UC, you have every right!

I’ve been hit a couple of times and spent the next several weekends going to every damn swap meet for miles around looking to kick someone’s ***.

Hopefully something turns up in your favor.

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

Damn, sorry to hear that.

These are just things that can be replaced

When my grandfather's workshop was burgled to a medium extent decades ago, we were still realising things that were missing for months later when they were needed for an infrequent task. It didn't help that the place was quite a mess beforehand, things had been lent out to neighbours and friends, and of course no email receipts.

replace the hand tools, though the new tools won't be US made SK Tools or US made channellock

I'm sure we can help you a bit here with replacement recommendations that suit your preferences and price point.

Maybe pick out some items that you'd particularly appreciate having high quality and native tools. It could be a bit sour for years opening those drawers, seeing and picking out those straight outta china tools, regardless of how adequate they may be.

 

[Steel_Rain]

I'm sorry that happened to you. Do you have mains power at the location? If so, and even if your not into Tech, get someone to help you purchase and install 5G cellular camera's that you can check on your desktop or mobile phone. Many of these cameras are movement activated, have 4k along with night vision (IR flood available) and provide an instant video feed of the area, along with notification via the app.

They also offer solar only cameras that have LTE access:

https://www.vosker.com/v150/

These are more limited in scope, but are great for areas without easy access to mains power.

 

[N_Jay]

Sorry to hear.

Years ago when I had a tool box stolen form my car, insurance gave me 50% for anything I didn't have any documentation for.
I used the Craftsman catalog for prices and listed everything I remembered. (The catalog was also a great memory jog).
Probably still ended up ahead since a lot of my tools back then were junk, but still sad I lost a few of my Grandfather's tools.

 

[Uncle_Charlie]

Sorry for your loss. I don't know why, in this day and age, people still store stuff at remote locations thinking it's safe.

I have amish neighbors. Even the deputy indicated that the immediate area is safe, but tweakers from areas north and south of my location have started venturing further from where they live in search of loot.

As far as replacing the tools, I'll check with some local pawn shops to see if any of the tools ring a bell. If not, I'll start over.

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

Sorry to hear that, venting is healthy! Hope you get it sorted/ replaced and can continue on your projects!

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[Jeff Ivers]

I am really sorry to hear you were victimized in this way. Years ago, I had my car broken into and stereo, etc stolen. Not nearly as significant as your loss, but I definitely know how it feels. I later figured out a fraternity brother was the thief and another fraternity brother the recipient of the stolen items. Could not prove a thing, so had to eat the loss. Anyone been on the property when you were there and had things open that might have found out about what was available?

 

[CoogarXR]

Check Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist too. That's where a lot of stolen stuff ends up.

Don't forget all of those Cashland/Check-cashing-type places too. Many of them now pawn too.

 

[milkovich]

Sorry to hear about your luck. FWIW, I'm not as preoccupied with the return of the old tools, but it's a also pretty good idea to document everything for insurance purposes.

 

[rust in the eye]

I have amish neighbors. Even the deputy indicated that the immediate area is safe, but tweakers from areas north and south of my location have started venturing further from where they live in search of loot.

As far as replacing the tools, I'll check with some local pawn shops to see if any of the tools ring a bell. If not, I'll start over.

Best to visit those pawnshops(not much better than the thieves) in person. Calling and asking if any of their inventory matches your stolen goods isn't likely to get a positive response.
Good luck to you and bad juju to the thieves.

 

[bluedog225]

Assholes. Sorry to hear it.

A couple of thoughts. First, you can use your phone to take pictures of serial numbers and stuff. A lot easier than writing that **** down.

Also, you can mark your stuff with spray paint on the handle or somewhere. Makes it distinctive in the photo. For example spray orange paint somewhere on the generator. Easy spot.

You can also get those apple AirTags. And with a little work remove the speaker. That way, even if it tells them that they are being tracked. They have to find a damn thing. Taped in an out of the way spot of a generator or table saw would be hard to find.

Also for not any money at all, you could have a bunch of business cards printed with your email and phone number and name. Fold them up and stick them in the cracks and crevices your equipment. Also makes it easier to prove they’re yours.

It’s not difficult at all to take a trailer breakaway switch, a 12 V battery, one of those big 12 V loudspeakers, and make a pretty good alarm. Loud enough they’ll think twice about sticking around inside of shipping container.

Use a big magnet with an eye bolt on it from Harbor freight for the breakaway switch so you can open the door far enough to reach it around and unhook it. But if you open the door further it goes off. If you don’t want to use a car battery, you can get little AA battery packs off eBay that will give you 12 V. Stick some lithium AA batteries to last 10 years.

And finally, they make 12 V adapters for Reolink cameras. If you put Wi-Fi out there with Starlink, you’ve got a pretty good live security system. Starlink has a low data appointment that it’s pretty affordable. Not sure what the current deals are.

OK, and really finally, you may be able to find some powder called purple rain. Get a little magnetic keyholder and put it on the outside of your conex. Someplace low, but where they will see it. Wrap an old useless key in a piece of paper. Put some of that purple powder in there. “Do not open” on it and tape it shut. When they opened it, it will stain everything they have. That stuff does not come off.

 

[mm08822]

I'm sorry that happened to you. Do you have mains power at the location? If so, and even if your not into Tech, get someone to help you purchase and install 5G cellular camera's that you can check on your desktop or mobile phone. Many of these cameras are movement activated, have 4k along with night vision (IR flood available) and provide an instant video feed of the area, along with notification via the app.

They also offer solar only cameras that have LTE access:

https://www.vosker.com/v150/

These are more limited in scope, but are great for areas without easy access to mains power.

I had this happen years ago with my car being broken into. They got the entire street. It's really a ****** feeling.

If you happen to store more tools in the container, I would set up a few cameras:
1 or 2 in the container (get their faces)
1 or 2 in the road/driveway leading to the container (license plate/vehicle description)
1 in the area most likely they would park while thieving ( faces/plate/vehicle)

While they might see the cameras in the container and destroy it, at least you have a chance to gather info on them before discovery.

 

[bluedog225]

They also make some pretty nice, fake solar powered cameras with a blinking red light. Put them up high where they can’t get to them easily.

 

[bluedog225]

And these. For noise only, of course.

 

[3baygarage]

Sorry to hear.

If you're not there every week or every couple weeks then the locals know no one's there.

Happened to us when I was younger. They broke into our trailer at camp. Tools, fishing, etc.. I don't remember if they took the old Coleman lantern we used forever

Happened to my uncle's cabin too. Electronics once, Atv's another time years later.

I have an elderly customer who has a country home/shop. Mainly shop. He thwarted two attempted break ins at his shop. One they threatened to fight him and the other he warned he had a gun right on them.

Not much you can do if you aren't there.

 

[bluedog225]

I’d like to have some leave behinds you can leave outside and know if they’ve been through your camp. I’ve been trying to figure out what to put in a 2 gallon plastic gas tank that will ruin up their engines. I’ve heard sugar and as an urban legend. Don’t know if that’s true or not Maybe molasses?

 

[tarmy]

I hate thieves.

 

[RoninB4]

-I hate thieves, have also been burgled a time or two. I'm from that area and find that it's changed a great deal since what I recall it to have been. A bit late now but security/game camera that sends an alert to my phone is what I use. Putting something else out would only result in a return visit from the thieves and we wouldn't want that now would we?

 

[woody 73]

Sorry for your loss, it *****. Too tell you the honest truth it scares me sometimes buying used tools from anywhere, and in the back of my mind I am thinking ok woody is this legit or were these stolen because when I am at a pawn shop or garage type sale or flea market, I have no idea just how honest these people are.

So far, my back neck hairs have not stood on end, telling me to run away and I hope it never happens to me.

 

[Gangly]

Not many things worse than a thief, the list is definitely short. A cellular trail camera is your best option if its not a location you will be seen traveling to and from often. ***** that it happened to you, hopefully you find a way to get some of it back.

 

[kbeefy]

That *****, I hate thieves.

My folks live in Bella Vista, just north of Rogers. NWA always seemed nice compared to alot of the shitholes I've traveled thru. Guess theres assholes everywhere.

 

[Old tool guy]

I’ve been trying to figure out what to put in a 2 gallon plastic gas tank that will ruin up their engines.

A quart of gas floating on a gallon of water.

 

[whateg01]

... NWA always seemed nice

Never really cared for their music

 

[GaryM909]

I’d like to have some leave behinds you can leave outside and know if they’ve been through your camp. I’ve been trying to figure out what to put in a 2 gallon plastic gas tank that will ruin up their engines. I’ve heard sugar and as an urban legend. Don’t know if that’s true or not Maybe molasses?

I heard bleach does the trick

 

[bluedog225]

I heard bleach does the trick

Bleach in gas? Wonder what that does?

 

[ecotec]

Sometimes at estate sales there are crazy amounts of consumables that seem to have been stolen from their job over a very long time. I call people who do this magpies.

 

[RichWolfson]

Sorry for your loss. I don't know why, in this day and age, people still store stuff at remote locations thinking it's safe. As much as I would like to think people would leave stuff that's not theirs alone, I know that isn't the case.

I'd like to think that people respect other peoples stuff. What's mine is not yours.

Sorry for your loss and you should monitor FB Marketplace and eBay.

///Rich

 

[DGersic]

A friend’s shop got burgled one night. Cops weren’t especially interested in the crime until the list of stolen items included a revolver. Then they got real interested in finding the thieves.

A small cheap pistol you don’t care about may work to get more police interest if your place gets hit.

 

[DGersic]

I’ve been trying to figure out what to put in a 2 gallon plastic gas tank that will ruin up their engines.

Nitromethane.

 

[cannuck]

My long deceased mentor/friend/business partner built a plant a few miles north of town on a 10 acre plot. He had made it a point to be known to be maybe a little on the hair trigger side (WWII vet who actually slept with a 38 in night table). We all helped spread that word. He rigged to doorways at the plant to fire salt loads out of a 12 ga. straight up on a curled over piece of sheet metal so it would land on the person in the doorway that hit the trip cord. He also had trip wires to release ammonia deeper inside. The scarey reputation actually worked and nobody ever dared to break in to the plant. One day a cop was in the plant and had to take my buddy aside and point out that if his traps had actually injured or killed someone he would have been charged criminally. We had to talk him down from the rage, but nobody ever tried to get into that place even though wide open and remote.

I am involved in a company in WY where we have assets spread all around in middle of nowhere. We have had 3 minor incidents of theft over the last 30 years - because in rural WY every pickup has a long gun in a rack and most of the people carry concealed. Almost like a TV drama about Montana in rural WY you really don't want to break in or steal anything, because if you get caught it won't be a scary story, it will be in the evening news.

I not only hate thieves, I have zero remorse for what might happen to them if they are caught.

 

[kbeefy]

Never really cared for their music

Growing up in the 80-90's I know what your talking about.

NWA is North West Arkansas. I doubt people from the region are happy about the association.

I could be wrong.

 

[rharman]

@Uncle_Charlie - Sorry you have to go through this.

Thanks for the reminder/tip about serial numbers. Some time back, I took pictures of every drawer in my tool box and every shelf full of power tools, hardware, etc. Don't think I took specifics of serial numbers though. I'll have to update that.

 

[rust in the eye]

'Jesus! Cat piss!' - The Ref

Gus: Jesus! Cat piss!

clip.cafe

 

[bluedog225]

Got to be careful with unmanned stuff. If you hurt a first responder, you are sol in front of a jury. And they will probably make an example of you.

 

[i84x]

These days with the aid of cheap battery powertools thieves can get in anywhere quickly and easily.
Cameras generally wont deter them and alarms tend to come on after they've already broke in so unless you live within range that you can go straight there as soon as the alarm comes on or a camera motion alert notifies you they will have gone already.
I think the best thing to do is to not have anything there to steal when they break in. Unfortunately they most likely will come back in the future so just replacing everything may be putting you at risk again.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I have considered installing a truck or train strength horn pointing straight down right above the shop walk door on the inside, either electric or powered from the air compressor. A steady blast right down on top of your head from two feet away while adrenalin from crashing the door is up would likely put feet in motion. In my case at that point there would also be the fact that they are now inside a 5 foot high fenced back yard with a fresh woke 70 pound territorial dog coming through a dog door at full blast near the escape gate. if he hears an outside noise he goes through the door so fast it sounds like an explosion.