A couple of nights ago, someone broke into the back door of my garage (destroying the door and frame in the process) and stole 90% of my tools and my air compressor. It probably took me about 10 years to amass the tools they took, many of which were specialty tools, or fabricated.

Well...they came back last night, broke the new door, and stole my OBX header. For what reason I can only guess. There is only one MC owner in the area, and I know him pretty well, and he isn't into cars at all.

Since they were seperate incidents neither broke the 1000, deductable I have on my insurance...so Im just out a bunch of stuff. Oddly enough I moved to this suburb because I had a car stolen in the city. So far I've got two auto break-ins (both with my Honda), and now two garage break-ins. Guess Ill just have to keep EVERYTHING in the basement...

Has anyone else had any theft problems with MCS/MC items?

 

--Man that sucks! Sorry to hear about your bad luck. I'd get a mean dog and or alarm system if I were you. Haven't heard a whole lot about garages being targeted. Mostly just vandalism ON our cars in Honolulu. Hope someone catches those creeps.

 

Bastards. Hopefully these crooks die horrific deaths.
I would IMMEDIATELY put up motion sensor lights all around your house.
Very sad.

 

At this point I’d consider setting up a video surveillance camera and record that area of your house. You may not recover what you have lost, but you will be able to identify who is doing this.

 

Sorry to hear that, Coop. It doesn't sound random. I wonder why they'd risk coming back the second time for the header and not take it the first time? Someone you might have talked to about MINI's casually? If you remember any names check CCAP, Wisconsin's online court records website, for prior records. Someone like that is likely to have priors for the same thing.

 

The great bad guy stopper!

 

In the famous words of G. Gordon Liddy

"If someone breaks into your house ....dont fire once or twice....Fire five, six times....empty the whole magazine into the sucker!....Make sure he'd dead! That way there is only one story to tell, That's yours! Otherwise he will say that he was looking for mother theresa to give a hand-out to the poor or something."

And In the words of Mrs. Liddy while the G-man was in prison for watergate. "Now kids, watch as mommy makes the bad man's head explode.

 

Funny, and I agree with the sentiment, but a sure way to get into a whole bunch of legal trouble. Most states do not allow shooting BGs over "stuff".
Coop, I doubt it was a MINI person who did this; smash and grab thieves are usually looking for stuff to sell and a header would be in that category.
Reinforcing the door and some sort of alarm would seem to be the best solution. If you're going to use video monitoring, put it inside the garage, lest they steal that, too!

 

Ouch! Sorry to read this....I can only imagine how you feel.....PISSED!!!! Like others have said above, some type of alarm system and outside motion lights might be in order...We have both and knock on wood, no intruders...

Donna

 

My dad's stone masonry tools were stolen out of a car trunk a LONG time ago. Now he's gone too, and I wish I had those tools. Tools are a very personal thing. Coop, I wish I could help you replenish some of your stuff. But I have fairly basic tools. The only good thing I can think to say is to try and use this as a reason to upgrade some of your tools: i.e. replace screwdrivers with hi-grade cabinet makers screwdrivers, etc.!

Ken

p.s. Is your garage detached from the house? It might be easy to hook up an alarm.

 

Really sorry to hear about your break ins

Back in the 70's my Dad had his whole coin collection stolen by a neighbor kid. They were all pawned off before he could get anything back. And this happened way out in western NY state (middle of nowhere)! I guess these things happen all over, city or suburbs.

I'd have to agree with the camera and some motion sensors, even an alarm.

 

Two words: Smith & Wesson

Anybody got three?

 

In the Great state for Florida the Castle Doctrine is the law of the land! If the bad guy comes in your have the right to be sure he leaves in a body bag.

 

If you are serious, you might want to do a little more reading on the matter. A garage is not considered being in your house, and you could well end up with a roomie named Bubba at the Graybar Hotel.
Please, PM me if you would like some links for research. I would hate to see a good person end up in serious trouble over a misinterpretation.

Oh, yeah, Smith & Wesson is three words. Try Springfield Armory for the 2-word version.

 

I believe the Castle Doctrine covers your home, and place of business. The new law (forget the name, details), I think as of last Oct., pretty much says if you feel your life is threatened, fire way! Jeez, I feel threatened every day down here! : )

 

sorry to read about your troubles Coop d'etat . Did you mention whether the garage was attached or detached? At least you're ok. Stuff can be replaced eventually.

In my old neighborhood, several neighbors around us had been broken into. In two cases, the family was home . One ended with money and a car stolen (they found the keys on the counter).. the other didn't end so well. the daughter was raped . The family eventually moved away and the house has been knocked down and rebuilt for a new family. It's a good area actually, maybe that's why so many break-ins.

Sorry for the loss and the violation you feel... but things could've been a lot worse. Good luck

 

Whoa! Make an itemized list of what tools were stolen. If you spent 10 years amassing your tool stock, I have a feeling that you would clear the 1000 deductible.

It's worth a shot. Your air compressor is a couple hundred right off the bat.

 

Exactly, the OCT 1 law was a big change. Heck you don't even have to retreat if your outside. The best part of it is the immunity from the bad guy's 3 wifes for wrongfull death.

This law also covers you in the event of a car-jacking.

http://www.flsenate.gov/data/session.../pdf/s0436.pdf

 

That really sucks. It sounds like an inside job...meaning someone who knows you. Unless you're in a high-crime area or your neighborhood is experiencing garage break-ins, why would they choose your garage? Most people don't have things of value in their garages, at least not enough to make a break in worth the risk.

I find it hard to believe 10 years worth of tools doesn't hit the $1000 point. Maybe you should take a closer look at that.

I hope the police were able to pick up some prints.

Paul

 

I'd watch ebay for your header.

 

If $1000 is too much cash to come up with for the deductible I'd think of lowering the deductible. I'd also take a very exacting inventory of everything missing and see how much replacement items of like quality add up to. you may find that in today's market you have a claim of over $3000. If that is the case, then paying $1000 to get 3 makes sense.

 

www.supercircuits.com
IR/BW (will give you a great view in pitch black conditions) camera run into the video input of your existing (if you still have one) vhs. IIRC, SLP will give you 8+ hours of recording...

 

Problem with the lower deductible is HIGHER payments

 

Thanks for the kind words all. I've been looking into a security system, so perhaps that will be next. For the time being I've just put everything into the basement. I have motion lights in the backyard, but that didn't seem to deter them. The first two car break-ins I had were both for a stereo, the first was a pretty nice kenwood I forgot to take the face off of, but the second one was a 9 year old sony that was probably worth $10. That leads me to believe that it is some local kids who are getting a kick out of breaking into places/cars... My garage is detached, the back door faces my house, and the other doors face and alley. I did talk to a neighbor yesterday, who said someone else on the block had some tools stolen around the time I did as well, Im planning on stopping by his place this weekend.

My 10 years of tools were basically a craftsman compressor, a handful of air tools, two big tool boxes, and around 200 pieces of craftsman tools, and various special tools. Many of the tools were non-craftsman and then it took me 10 years or so to replace the cheapies with craftsman.

Pyratio, what kind of vandalism is happening to you in Honolulu? Im moving there in 6 months!!

 

--Hey Coop d'etat don't worry, the vandalism has been mostly keying and people taking knives to our paint jobs. So far only about 3 of us in a club of 120 have been hit. You just gotta know where the high risk areas are. Avoid them and park next to pretensious porsche and bmw owners and people will leave you alone.

Gimme a call when you get over here. I'll show you around and give you the 411 on the area.

~pyratio