Well...I'm steamed!

[JohnnieB]

I have to vent so the Steam vent seamed like the place.
I work nights and when I was leaving for work I couldn't find my wallet. I was certain I left it on the kitchen counter but, I get a little absent minded now and again. I go to work thinking maybe I left it there. Nope. Got home this morning and checked all over the house. Still no wallet.
I logged on to my bank account to see if I could find any clues, and low and behold, two charges to Dillards dept store totalling $228.00.
Now I'm pissed! As I look off into space in angered bewilderment, I notice my Xbox is gone. I'm more pissed.
I can tolerate quite a bit, Lord knows I'm no angel but a damn thief? That does it for me.
I called the police. They took a very brief report and said they would contact Dillards. Apparently they have some pretty good cameras there. With any luck, they can track the day and purchase amount to a specific time and have a good video of the individual who made the purchase.
I can't figure why someone would take a stupid Xbox and leave alot of other valuable merch. Of course, an Xbox is much easier to pawn off than some things but still.
Anyhoo cancelling my credit cards, goinv to DOT to get a replacement license and the police station to get a new carry permit. Then the bait shop to get a replacement fishing license. There also a work ID which will cost me.
Even all of that is just a bothersome expense but, dammit! Why cant people keep there damn hands off other peoples stuff.

 

[highfigh]

Assuming your XBox was connected to the network, go into the router's log and see if you can find out when it was disconnected. That will give you something to go on and if it was during the day, you can ask people who live nearby if they saw anything of interest.

To offer an answer to your question, it's because whatever they may have been taught didn't stick, or they weren't taught to respect other peoples' property.

Make sure your gun(s) didn't leave with the XBox and wallet.

 

[herbu]

Sorry man. Never had that happen. Can only imagine. Tough.

 

[JohnnieB]

Thanks herbu.
Guns was the next thing I checked. All accounted for, thank God.
Turns out there have been 15 purchases made, all in one day.
Im at the bank. This is so depressing.
To make matters worse, i'm pretty sure my Social Security card was in there as well. I can only hope this individual is to stupid to figure out what a gold mine that is.
Of course, one could argue, who's the dumb one. The thief or the person who left their SS card in their wallet.

 

[GO-NAD!]

That's tough, man. You have my sympathy. I imagine it's not just the stolen stuff, but the sense of violation that comes with it, that makes all the more infuriating. If we ever had a break-in, I wouldn't be surprised if the wife said, "We're moving!"

 

[JohnnieB]

So true GoNad.
Total charges, $2500.00 and change. Just try and change your social security number. HA. Aint gonna happen.

But where do you move? Its everywhere!

Im going to bed.

 

[everettT]

When we were robbed they took things like proprietary remote controls that they could never use. The way that they caught one of the three was through PSN network. Idiots were online 3 days after the theft. Called Sony in California, got the right person and since I had the ps3 info they could see it online. Cops got a warrant for Sony, Sony gave the ip, cops got a warrant got for the service provider and the juveniles got busted with two going to jail for quite a while. Sorry I know how violated you feel.

 

[afterlife2]

This makes me mad. Sorry bud. Hope everything works out.

 

[Chu Gai]

Any idea just how you lost your wallet?

 

[j_garcia]

He didn't lose his wallet because the Xbox was gone too.

I had a break in at the second house and they got nearly everything that wasn't nailed down, literally. They took stupid stuff, personal stuff, a lot of stuff. These people don't think at all. I know how you feel too. IIRC, ours totaled $11K and getting that back from the insurance company is no consolation for the feeling of why people are so selfish and greedy.

 

[andyblackcat]

Sorry mate.

Have authorities checked any cameras used by other home owners for security as it may have something or near by shops for anything out of the ordinary?

 

[Midwesthonky]

Sorry to hear about getting robbed. It sucks and makes you wonder what the world is coming to. When I lived in rural Minnesota, you never locked your doors. You didn't need to. Now, with Meth addicts and such, you have to. It's too easy to pawn stuff off using ebay.

Shoot, at my shop, we left 8 pallets stacked up outside a couple of weeks ago. We needed them for a job to be delivered the next day but had run out of storage space. Stolen overnight. Just one night and gone. Now I place a chain up across the drive. They may still steal stuff, but they have to work harder for it. Eventually I will have to break down and get a camera system.

 

[JohnnieB]

"Authorities" haven't done much. Took my name and number. Said tbey are filing a report. At the time they took my info, I only knew of the two charges at Dillards. After going to the credit union I found out about all the other stores they shopped at. Turned the lists into the Police. They are going to get camera footage from the stores then have me come in to view the footage, see if it's someone I know. In a way, I hope it is but, unlikely.

I had given some thought to installing cameras becore now, but cor a different reason. I believe I will be shopping for a security system this weekend.

My neighbor's wife said she saw a green SUV pull up about an hour after I left for work yesterday. They sat in front of the hoise cor a min, then pulled up infront of the garage and left. My guess is they are planning a return trip for bigger more valuable items.
I went ahead and got pictures of all my gear with Ser numbers, guns and general photos of the house just incase.

I know it's only stuff and can be replaced. The feeling of being vulnerable is new to me. I have never had anything stolen from right under my nose. Near as I can figure, my roomate left the door unlocked and they came in while I was sleeping. That took some huevos.
I believe this weekend im gonna park my truck down the street at my friends house and see sleep with one eye open.

 

[JohnnieB]

Ok, looking on Amazon and realised, I have no idea what's good or bad in security cameras. Any suggestions?

 

[andyblackcat]

Get two German Shepard dogs! And rig up few cameras for time-lapse recording.

 

[Chu Gai]

And throw in some dummy cameras for show. Just don't tell anyone.

 

[JohnnieB]

Always wanted a pair of Dobermans, like Magnum P.I.
Don't think the cat would be too happy tho.

 

[herbu]

Always wanted a pair of Dobermans, like Magnum P.I.
Don't think the cat would be too happy tho.

You never know. We've had good luck every time bringing home new rescue dogs and cats. When we bring home a new adult dog, I always keep it on a tight leash in the house until we're sure it understands the cats are NOT to be messed with.

This dog was full grown when we brought him home. Had never seen a cat before. Took a couple weeks before my wife was comfortable letting him off the leash.

I always say the best theft deterrent is a dog and a gun. Any dog can bark and alert you when you're home. A big dog works better when you're gone.

 

[Chu Gai]

This isn't your sign, is it? BTW, I was serious about the fake security cameras.

 

[JohnnieB]

I agree on the dog Herbu. Very nice Rotty BTW. Rotts really do get a bad wrap.

Actually I was in/out of the DMV in 15 min. The gal was very pleasant AND easy on the eyes.

Im off to see if I can get any of the stores managers to show me some video footage. I know the police are going to do it but, if they drag their feet at all I'm afraid the store will erase or record over the footage. Then it's lost.