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Post by TexJohn on Mar 31, 2009 12:49:18 GMT -6
While we were skiing in Big Sky over spring break, we had a break-in at our house. There is nothing like the helpless feeling of being on the far side of the mountain with poor to non-existent cell coverage and have to deal with this sort of thing. I managed to get back to front side of the mountain and to the bottom to start to deal with it. The deputy from Harris County (we live outside of Houston) told me the door was open and all he could see missing was our son's Wii game system.
This was Thursday afternoon. When we returned home on Sunday afternoon, we found that he was correct. The only thing taken from the house was the game system, but a lot of stuff was taken from the garage - compressor, nail gun, circular saws, sanders, chain saw, hedge trimmer, wrenches, etc. As it worked out the total would just barely reach my $2,500 deductible, so not worth an insurance claim.
Now the good news. The officer dusted for fingerprints and got a good thumb print off the car door in the garage. He ran the print and got a match from a guy on probation for aggravated assault with a machete. He lives a few miles away. The office did a search of the pawn shops for anything pawned by this guy and got a match again. I recovered about 1/2 of my stuff at that pawn shop. An arrest warrant was issued and he was arrested and interrogated. He admitted to the theft, listed the items stolen, (including the Wii system from the house). There was no proof he was in the house until he admitted it and told the officer who he sold the system to. The office recovered the Wii system. the compressor, and my nail gun. This was the more expensive of the items stolen. I think I may even get back a couple more items this week that were pawned at a different pawn shop, but if not I'm already very happy with the stuff returned to me, and the fact that the asshole is in jail for parole violation and facing new charges.
I have learned not to expect much help from police when you are a victim of a crime - either because they are too busy or just don't care to work at their job - I don't know which. But the officer handling this case was outstanding. He went through the effort and solved the crime. He tells me he is about to take a month off as soon as his wife delivers any day now. I must find a way to thank him for his dedication.
TexJohn
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Post by Chicago Jake on Mar 31, 2009 12:54:47 GMT -6
A box of donuts should take care of it.
Glad you had a good resolution to the issue, TJ. When I've had break-ins around here (to my car, years ago) the police just take down your report and tell you to call your insurance company. They don't even pretend that they are going to look for your stuff......Jake
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Post by wareagle on Mar 31, 2009 13:02:07 GMT -6
Any chance you'd get an opportunity to turn your nail gun on the thief?
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Post by New Mama on Mar 31, 2009 13:07:09 GMT -6
How refreshing. The police doing their jobs on a breakin. So many of them are lazy bastards; it is really nice to hear a story like this. Thanks.
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Post by Tex on Mar 31, 2009 13:20:31 GMT -6
It's good it worked out. Still sucks though.
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Post by Merlot Joe on Mar 31, 2009 16:31:25 GMT -6
Glad they caught the bastard. Hope all your items are returned to you TexJohn.
Joe
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Apr 1, 2009 4:59:17 GMT -6
TJ
Good to hear that you had a positive resolution. The others are right about this being a low priority item to most police.
We've been broken into twice, both times about 30 years ago. Back then we didnt have a lot of valuable items, but they stuff we did have got taken. While we were still living in Pennsylvania, the farm house we were in was broken into while away at work, they knocked out our German Shepherd and stole a shot gun that was my father-in-laws and a gold pocket watch that my grandfather gave me. Called the PA State Police, they came, took our statement and we never heard from them again. Lazy bastards never even came out to dust for prints.
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Post by wareagle on Apr 1, 2009 7:21:46 GMT -6
TJ Good to hear that you had a positive resolution. The others are right about this being a low priority item to most police. We've been broken into twice, both times about 30 years ago. Back then we didnt have a lot of valuable items, but they stuff we did have got taken. While we were still living in Pennsylvania, the farm house we were in was broken into while away at work, they knocked out our German Shepherd and stole a shot gun that was my father-in-laws and a gold pocket watch that my grandfather gave me. Called the PA State Police, they came, took our statement and we never heard from them again. Lazy bastards never even came out to dust for prints. This sounds an awful lot like the cops we have down here, are you sure you weren't living in Alabama. |
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Apr 1, 2009 7:57:43 GMT -6
... that part of Pennsylvania... its entirely possible
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Post by Irish Stu on Apr 1, 2009 8:06:03 GMT -6
Sorry to hear your news TexJohn but glad to hear they caught the bastard and you seem to have got most of your stuff back. The cops in the UK are just as bad as others have described. If your house gets burgled here you're lucky if they even bother to come out at all. A few years ago I was driving home in heavy traffic and a guy on a motorcycle was pissed off at me because I hadn't left enough room between me and the car next to me for him to squeeze through when the traffic had all stopped. When I moved forward he seized his chance, and as he went by he punched my wing mirror and broke it. I took his licence plate number and made a mental note of what his helmet and jacket looked like, then called the cops when I got home. They finally took a statement from me THREE MONTHS later, and only after I had called several times and written to them. By this time I had of course replaced the mirror, I had to buy a whole new unit which cost me over $400. Three months after that they finally contacted me to tell me they had spoken (on the phone!!) to the owner of the bike and he had told them it wasn't him and that he often lends the bike out to friends, but as it was so long ago now he obviously couldn't remember who had it that day!! I have no doubt it was him, but the useless cops accepted his alibi. This bastard caused hundreds of pounds of damage to my car, and because the cops are so lazy all he had to do was say 'No, it wasn't me' and he got away with it!! Yet fast forward to a couple of years ago and I was driving past the house that my ex wife was living in that we still jointly owned. There were two ambulances outside and my children, who were in the car with me became hysterical. I stopped and went to find out what was going on. My ex, who had relapsed back to drinking, had got blind drunk, smashed the house up, and cut her wrists. As I arrived she was being put in one of the ambulances. I went into the house and was met with a sea of devastation... broken plates, furniture, mirrors, two broken windows etc. I found her keys on the floor, locked the place up and left only to be confronted outside the front door by the neighbour who she wanted the keys for my ex. I told her I was taking charge of them and I didn't want my ex getting back in the house until she had got herself sober again. She became abusive with me saying "No wonder your wife tried to kill herself married to someone like you!!" so I told her to get the fuck off my property. So she went to another neighbour's house, a cop, he called his buddies at the station, and within minutes two cop cars carrying EIGHT cops came racing down the street with their flashing lights and sirens on. All to ask me for a set of keys!! They all got out of the cars, the woman rushed to meet them pointed me out to them, then they surrounded me. I had eight of them in my face... first they were polite, but when I in turn politely told them I was not going to give them the keys to my own property so my ex could smash it up again they started the intimidation and shouting. This all took place right in front of my children. In the end I said "You better arrest me because that's the only way you're getting your hands on those keys. And if your not going to then kindly get out of my way so I can go take care of my children who have just seen their mother taken away in an ambulance!!" There was nothing they could do so they let me go, but they still came to my house later that evening to hassle me again for the keys. They didn't get them  Cops = useless, lazy bullies wherever you go in the world. Simon (who is sorry for hijacking TexJohn's thread but I needed to get that off my chest) |
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Post by wareagle on Apr 1, 2009 8:18:20 GMT -6
The blow up Goat in the Hedo pool told me you had such a lovely chest too.
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Post by TexJohn on Apr 1, 2009 8:49:08 GMT -6
Many years ago, I had a car stolen. A few days later, while riding on the interstate in Houston, I see my car on the side of the road. I called the copy. An officer came out. He never even got out of his car. He wrote up his paperwork and left. I never heard from them again. That was the type of in-action I was expecting.
One of my reasons for posting the story was my total surprise at getting a dedicated officer to work my case. This was a pleasant surprise.
TexJohn
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Post by Tex on Apr 1, 2009 9:23:04 GMT -6
Here, the cops are fairly effective. Furthermore, everyone is armed to the teeth and if you shoot a burglar, that's considered a public service.
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Post by edie2u on Apr 1, 2009 9:33:24 GMT -6
Glad to here you got most/some of the stuff back. I bet your son was thrilled to get the Wii game back.
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Post by DT on Apr 3, 2009 17:51:38 GMT -6
Many years ago, I had a car stolen. A few days later, while riding on the interstate in Houston, I see my car on the side of the road. I called the copy. An officer came out. He never even got out of his car. He wrote up his paperwork and left. I never heard from them again. That was the type of in-action I was expecting.
One of my reasons for posting the story was my total surprise at getting a dedicated officer to work my case. This was a pleasant surprise.TexJohn I have the same attitude as most who file police reports and get NO satisfaction. Good to see a positive side to the bullshit that came your way. |
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Post by Christinko on Apr 3, 2009 18:37:22 GMT -6
TexJohn, I'm in awe that your burglary turned out the way it did! How wonderful! And an asshole is OFF the streets--the best part of all (besides your son getting his toy back--grin!). Glad you weren't in the house when it occurred too--that criminal sounds dangerous.
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Post by TexJohn on Apr 6, 2009 8:40:38 GMT -6
I just cal a call from the deputy yesterday. He has arrested the second guy who was seen in the pawn shop video with the first. Both have confessed. They were such dumb asses. There are now two of them off the streets. ;D
TexJohn
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Post by edie2u on Apr 6, 2009 19:51:38 GMT -6
Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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