thieves suck

[drkshdw]

I hate thieves. And stupid thieves at that.

I have a parts car that has been sitting behind my garage for almost a year now. Never did anything with it until a few weeks ago when I started taking things apart. Nothing serious yet, just removing some interior odds and ends.

Took a break from taking stuff off and forgot about it. This was on Friday. Went back today to start taking more stuff out and saw the drivers side door was open. Keep in mind this car has been sitting with its doors unlocked for 10 months because I never got keys for the doors when I bought it (replacement doors). Figure if you're gonna break in, don't break the window. I know, locks keep honest people honest but I shouldn't have to on my own property that is fenced in and secluded.

Look around the car and don't see anything missing so figure maybe I didn't shut the door all the way when I quit Friday. I go to take out the gauge cluster and reach down to where I left my screwdrivers and they weren't there. Look around for them and nothing. The punks stole the only 2 tools I left in that car for 2 days. My flat head and phillips screwdrivers I've had since I was a kid. The same ones that I used to build a bird house in boy scouts with. The same ones I used to take apart a dozen parts cars over the years. The same ones I used to fix anything and everything in my decades on this planet. The same ones I used to build a shed, barn, garage and house. You get the idea.

Out of all the things they could've stolen out of the car they took the two most worthless, beat up and rusty screwdrivers anyone has probably ever seen. Not the Alpine stereo and CD changer. Not the pair of phone dial wheels in the hatch with snow tires on them. Not the headlight motor, cylinder head, spare pair of window motors. Not even the Porsche crest on the header panel.

They stole my 2 screwdrivers I left on the floor of the car. Had they asked I would've given them every other screwdriver I owned if they left me with just those two. Sure I can always use different ones but it just doesn't feel right to fix stuff with other ones. Feels like I'm starting over using a screwdriver for the very first time. I don't like it. I want my old screwdrivers back.

[pavulon]

That seems too unusual to be accurate. Are you sure the tools aren’t misplaced? If not, I’d think the thief will come back with help to take whatever they can.

[john70t]

Had a Kraco tape deck stolen (in a semi-decent neighborhood).
They made a giant mess of the door and dash getting that $20 radio out.

Second time that car was broken into in SF.

[JackDidley]

Do not let this get you down. You will have bigger problems in life.

[Evans, Marv]

I have one of those cheap H.F. beeping (sort of) things with the motion sensor set up on the little road going up to where I store my tractors and other things. The beeping part is attached up on one of the sheds toward the roof. If anything sets the sensor off the receiver beeps twice. I figure if I don't hear it or not there, a potential thief will maybe think twice.

[Superman]

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

I have one of those cheap H.F. beeping (sort of) things with the motion sensor set up on the little road going up to where I store my tractors and other things. The beeping part is attached up on one of the sheds toward the roof. If anything sets the sensor off the receiver beeps twice. I figure if I don't hear it or not there, a potential thief will maybe think twice.

That's kinda smart.

Sorry for the loss of your longtime tools. Replace them with even higher quality screwdrivers and let the memory go.

[pwd72s]

My thinking is that since the screwdrivers were the only things missing, you're looking at very young thieves...pre teens...maybe 6-8 years old. Money not the motive...

[pmax]

Same thing must have happened to my missing allen keys and 17mm socket.

[tabs]

You are right they are crummy screw drivers.

[Chocaholic]

Guessing you misplaced them. Quite a rant though.

[fintstone]

It was a target of opportunity. They will likely be back. Put a sign on the car offering a $20 reward for the two screwdrivers...sentimental reasons, no questions asked.

[MBAtarga]

Are there any signs of a tidy mouse in the car? Did you look in the toolbox to make sure the screwdrivers aren't back in it?

[dad911]

Look around the yard, pretty useless to thieves, maybe they just tossed them.

[KFC911]

10mm socket theives suck the mostest

[Baz]

Originally Posted by fintstone

It was a target of opportunity. They will likely be back. Put a sign on the car offering a $20 reward for the two screwdrivers...sentimental reasons, no questions asked.

I agree with this - you could also put a post up on your neighborhood Internet bulletin board, if you wanted.

You never know. Someone may know something and this gives an opportunity to make it right.

I've had things stolen from me right off my property and it's very frustrating and annoying. I always feel violated and it takes a while to get that feeling out of my system.

Humans can be real vulgar beings.

[drkshdw]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

My thinking is that since the screwdrivers were the only things missing, you're looking at very young thieves...pre teens...maybe 6-8 years old. Money not the motive...

There is a group of 3 boys maybe 9 or 10 years old that don't know the concept of 'if it ain't yours, don't touch it' as various neighbors have found stuff in their little fort in the woods out back. Everything from butterfly flags to lawnmowers to garbage cans and even womens clothing stolen off clothes lines. Methinks it's probably them but I don't have proof.

Either way, I definitely didn't misplace them as I remember exactly where they were and haven't needed to use them since. I live alone so if they're somewhere else in my house or garage, I moved them in my sleep. But the car is empty now, including the stereo and the doors are locked.

[john70t]

For 9yo boys, an abandoned car is a really cool fort and hiding spot for themselves.

Not much thinking goes on beyond that.

Put a sign saying "I'll trade tools for a candy bar each".
Do the trade. But also give them a reminder of "mine vs. yours".

[pavulon]

Fwiw, I lived in Omaha (very near the Mutual of Omaha building) for one calendar year and had my bicycle stolen from my garage and my car stolen from the Creighton campus.

Originally Posted by drkshdw

There is a group of 3 boys maybe 9 or 10 years old that don't know the concept of 'if it ain't yours, don't touch it' as various neighbors have found stuff in their little fort in the woods out back. Everything from butterfly flags to lawnmowers to garbage cans and even womens clothing stolen off clothes lines. Methinks it's probably them but I don't have proof.

Either way, I definitely didn't misplace them as I remember exactly where they were and haven't needed to use them since. I live alone so if they're somewhere else in my house or garage, I moved them in my sleep. But the car is empty now, including the stereo and the doors are locked.

[T77911S]

kids

leave a note that says the screwdrives have a lot of sentimental value to you and to please return them in exchange to 2 new ones. just leave the old ones in the mail box please.

leave 2 new ones there for them

[Bill Douglas]

I know how you feel about them. My grandad gave me a box of tools 35 years ago and when I do a job I like to use one of his tools, that way I feel he's helping with the project.