Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Security of our homes and collections

Someone broke into my friends garage. Stole a cheap stereo out of the car and didn't touch the globes or signs.

I'm glad to hear that thieves haven't gotten into taking signs and such where everyone lives. Here the Meth heads take anything they can sell, especially anything metal including signs. In fact last night a local news in Portland,OR did a bit about metal recyclers in the Portland area. The news people got some donated signs from the State and took them to the recyclers, one company wanted proof that the signs weren't stolen, a second company took the signs. The guy who bought the signs said that they were probaby stolen but didn't care. The problem has gotten so bad here that the State of WA is considering making it manditory that anyone bring in metal not get paid cash and to have to wait 30 days to get the money. PGE, a large electic utility, spokesman said that they had over a Million dollars worth of cable stolen from them last year. A meth head doesn't care about how much a collection is worth, if it has something he can sell or trade it belongs to him. Oh, using the things I learned on the bumping site, I was able to "beat" my deadlock in less than 5 minutes yesterday, a rude awaking to say the least. Just something to think about.
Bob

Bob, maybe it's just in Washington State ? scary thought......but your right ! it's been my experience that they will take anything that isn't nailed down ! Z

Now I read theives are stealing catalytic converters off cars for the platinum and other precious metals in them. Scrap is turning into gold...

Interesting topic. I just ordered an alarm system, reading that article confirms in my mind it was a wise thing to do. It's all wireless with enough power to do the shop and the house. We live in the country so any deterrant is a good one. Just can't be too careful these days.

When I was doing the antique show here in Atlanta....Dealers were being "hit" while someone KNEW they were out of state doing a show.
Sometimes info....such as where one might be at a certain time comes up here regularly....Showing off your collection,
The city you live in, are all things that can make you a target....
If you are targeted ....It only takes a couple of minutes to get in. a minute to find the best piece in a displayed collection
and another minute to flee.5 min. tops

How long does it take for the POLICE to get to your house????
Smash and grab crimes are the hardest to catch and the thieves know this.Just remember this....prison has the stupid criminals there...the smart ones don't get caught....and once it is gone you will never see it again

Here is another you should know......I am sure I am not the only one this has happened to either....
I lost all my equipment...sandblaster,compressor,sanders ,
signs, add glass,computer rebuilding eqipment,parts,Texaco planes,Amoco planes,...almost all my "toys" .
My wife at the time disposed of it all, when we went through a divorce....It was all
pre-marital property....and when the matter came up in court the judge said
"If the stuff is gone it's gone".....I lost
$20,000.00 of stuff....legally.... I could have appealed, but there is a good ol boy judicial system here.....ouch !! Would it please the court to use some lube???? My attourney said she would never take another case in Carroll county...She said the judges didn't "play fair"...I agree.
Joe

It sounds to me like the best thing would be to have good insurance. With the smash and grab theives ( for ex.), even with an alarm system they'll be gone long before the police show up. For us living out in the country, the 'neighborhood watch' doesn't apply..IMO

We should all keep in mind that when we post on Shop Talk that we will be out of town at a swap meet that a bad guy might read that and get bad ideas about visiting your house while you're gone.

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Jim "Oldgas" Potts
Your host and moderator

I had the exct same thing happpen to me, in 1998.. my ex disposed of my collection, tools, supplies, and a 1960 Impala, total value around 20K in my case too...and the judge could not be bothered to do anything about it..my attorney said that he could charge me the fees and pursure it for years thru the coutrs, but id never see a nickle back and would just continue to pay. For the Record..it was Williamson County, Texas. Justice indeed.