OT: Car stolen and salt was in it!

[sugartooth]

Sooooo mad today!

I woke up and took my dogs outside. Our Jeep is gone! They drove it through our backyard, we can see the tire marks through the back ending at our neighbors driveway. To add to the punishment was that in it was 6 buckets of Seachem Reef Salt!

Just needed to vent.

[kdog420000]

wow... Sorry to hear that

[abfleck]

darn....sorry to hear about the bad news. If the vehicle is recovered, I dought the idiot(s) will know what to do with the salt:) I am assuming that you filed a police report, so the vehicle will be listed as hot in the system for a speedy recovery:)

[sugartooth]

Thanks guys, no reason to be believe it will be recovered.

The police first thought it was a repo, then asked if we left the car unlocked.

Our other car has marks on the driver side door and inside was a mess, they went through all of it. They didn't take fingerprints or anything and left us with a card to call if we find anything missing from the other car. They just said they would 'keep an eye out'.

[skunkmere]

wow thats horrible.

[boxer385]

Thanks guys, no reason to be believe it will be recovered.

The police first thought it was a repo, then asked if we left the car unlocked.

Our other car has marks on the driver side door and inside was a mess, they went through all of it. They didn't take fingerprints or anything and left us with a card to call if we find anything missing from the other car. They just said they would 'keep an eye out'.

Once the vehicle is recovered then hopefully the agency that find it will notify your police dept to see if they want to process the vehicle for evidence. That is when fingerprinting is valuable. Then maybe someone will be caught driving it.

[saleenpwr88]

I would keep an eye out for the salt on craigs...you never know!

[sugartooth]

Good thought Saleen!

There have been quite a number of reports in our town of this happening, and one of my neighbors told me one of their cars was also broken into, but everything was strewn about and nothing seemed to have been taken.

I think if they took fingerprints off of our cars, they would most likely find a repeat offender? At least they could maybe link it to the others? I don't know, they seemed to just brush it off. Nothing they could do about it. I SO wish I caught them in the act!

[BADGUS]

Oh nooo,that stinks Kathy,I hope you get it back.

[DopeCantWin]

I SO wish I caught them in the act!

And if they had a gun? Just be happy nobody is hurt and only the car was taken.

[bocochoco]

90% chance it was a pre-16yo teen out joyriding and the police will find it abandoned somewhere...unless you live near an illegal chop shop in which case jeeps are very interchangeable.

Footprints in dirt? Maybe they can get a shoe size?

Sorry I don't have any extra salt or I would let you have it.

[badazztealcobra]

It really bugs me how little the police care about vehicle theft..... My buddy had his Evo IX stolen last summer and the cops basically told him kiss it goodbye. Since then there have been at least 10 more known Evo IX thefts in the NW burbs.....

They found his a shell of a car on a side street in Chicago. :angryfire:

After that, once my Cobra is back on the streets I'll be installing an Escort Passport CIS into it, hidden like crazy......

[sugartooth]

Dope: Yes, I'm happy there isn't more than just that to report. They didn't get into the garage or the house. If they had a gun and I'm as mad as I was when I went out there, then they better know how to use it. Not saying that's smart, but just being honest about how I felt.

Bobochoco, thanks for your kind offer. I have 1 bucket left so it's not like I needed to do a huge water change, but adds insult to this nonetheless. As for footprints? No, just the tire tracks on our lawn. I don't know of chop shops and wouldn't know who to ask, my bordering towns are Zion, Waukegan, Lindenhurst and Grayslake?

[sugartooth]

badazz, so sorry to hear it! It really does make you mad doesn't it when people do these things.

[bocochoco]

Zion, Waukegan, Lindenhurst and Grayslake?

I highly doubt there are many in your area...most likely some 14yo on a joy ride...you may get it back or the kid might crash it into a telephone pole...happened to a friend of mine. The kid was 11 years old and stole it twice...the second time he crashed it into a pole.

I agree with you that whether or not he had a gun I would do the same if I caught someone. They better know how to use it because there are a lot of places you can catch a bullet without it killing you but before he could get a couple shots off I would be on top of him.
Most car thieves don't carry guns anyways because if they get caught it's a difference between a plea deal and no time served and 3-15 year armed robbery.

[kzickovich]

My car got stollen from Zion two years ago and they did recover it. The funny thing is they found it four blocks from my house, and the only reason they did recover it is because they were writing a ticket for no city sticker.

[nanonubey]

I doubt it was a kid for a joyride, they probably broke into the second car to move it out of the way. Chop shops are everywhere all they need is a garage and a couple hours at most. Im sorry you had to go threw this, it is such a violation!

We had a old lady going door to door last week asking for a ride to Dreyer hospital in Aurora to take a toddler she was holding in her coat. She spoke little English so lucky for me my girlfriend was home to translate. She said the baby needed to go so we were concerned until she said it was for a check up visit for a sprained wrist. Then we told her we couldnt. She got the lady across the street to take her. Then Today she was back asking all the neighbors for ride somewhere else, one of them called the cops but she was picked up and gone before cops arrived. They told us that they think she is casing the houses when the people open the door. Needless to say its burning on my mind that someone might try to break in. I hope it never happens. But if it does I hope to god I catch them!

[maidia]

Sorry to hear your car...Hope everything OK...

[mtrcyclefish]

Unfortunately there's very little the police can do about a stolen car, other then enter it into the system as stolen. Even then its mostly based on license plate numbers. If they change plates it won't show as stolen. As for the car that was broken into, almost all of the surfaces inside a vehicle are textured and prints cannot be lifted from them, contrary to what CSI says.

[sugartooth]

Thanks everyone.

A couple of neighbors came by, they are so mad too.

Our subdivision is only 32 houses. My neighbor was so mad when they heard about today. Their house was robbed this year and two others were also burglarized over the past year. So we would be the 4th of 32 homes to get hit.

We are starting to think there is some target on Google maps right over our subdivision!

[bocochoco]

Next time do what I did the day I got my car (I live in "tha hood")...install a kill switch to the coils. If a car thief thinks something is wrong with the engine they will just run off. Most won't waste the time to figure it out. Sorry to be all captain hindsight and all.

[anhbimat]

Best way is Put Security Camera.i see lot of people install Security Camera..and Seurity Camera are very popular now...

[bocochoco]

Best way is Put Security Camera.i see lot of people install Security Camera..and Seurity Camera are very popular now...

And cheap...on black Friday Menards usually has a 7 camera set for $100

[sugartooth]

Kill switch and security camera are good ideas. I already asked for a quote today for cameras around the house, if something happens again hopefully we catch them!

[mtrcyclefish]

Cameras are great, but even if the jerks look right into the camera unless someone can identify the guys in the footage it's useless. The kill switch idea is a good one but still won't keep them out of your car. I'm surprised they took the time to jimmy the door. 99% of the time they walk through a neighborhood checking door handles. When they come across one that is unlocked... PAYDAY. It's shocking how often people will leave valuables in their cars and leave the car unlocked.

[saltyguy51]

And if they had a gun? Just be happy nobody is hurt and only the car was taken. YOU should say instead " If I had a gun" they used to hang horse theives!!:fun2:

[saltyguy51]

why wouldnt they take prints? maybe the same have other oustandings? One time my exwife had some cash in a envelope (that belonged to me) in her glove box, it was stolen and they left greasy finger prints on the envelope clear as day ,the police said so sorry and that was that

[bocochoco]

why wouldnt they take prints? maybe the same have other oustandings? One time my exwife had some cash in a envelope (that belonged to me) in her glove box, it was stolen and they left greasy finger prints on the envelope clear as day ,the police said so sorry and that was that

Same thing happened when my new TV got stolen...fingerprints all over the TV stand and they even left behind their break in tool (still dunno what it is) and the police investigator said something along the lines of fingerprinting doesn't work like that.

[mtrcyclefish]

Fingerprints are no where near as easy as people think. The interior of a car is completely textured, or not smooth. For fingerprint evidence to be usable it has to be a complete and crystal clear print. "Partials" are useless and so are prints that are smudged. How often do you put your fingertips down in such a way as to leave a perfect print? It is useless to try to get prints from the interior of a car. The painted surfaces of a car or its glass are about the only places that prints can be successfully lifted from. The back of the door handle is another possible location, but to get it means that the handle has to be removed from the car. Also, when there are prints on top of prints they are useless.

The other infuriating thing about these kinds of crimes is that even if you prove the person was inside the vehicle, you still have to prove that they stole something from inside of it. Finding a fingerprint inside the car shows that he committed Criminal Trespass to a vehicle, which is a misdemeanor and will get them a very minor fine, if anything. To prove that they actually TOOK something from the car is nearly impossible unless you have a solid gold witness to the crime. Even if you find stolen items on them it's still just a misdemeanor Possession of Stolen Items. Again, a minor fine if anything.

Another sad fact is that even though getting your car broken into is a very bad crime to you, it's still just a petty crime. Police just DO NOT have the resources to investigate this type of thing very thoroughly . Getting your car stolen is obviously not petty, but there is VERY little that can be done until the vehicle is recovered and can be processed for evidence. Some departments don't even have the resources to process a recovered vehicle. I know Chicago normally won't unless it's been used in another crime.

[reeftrinh]

sorry to hear about your car. I feel your pain. Darn those thieves! I recently lost all my stuff to car theft. Watch your cars everyone

[sugartooth]

Yes, I was going to say that they probably don't have the resources or feel there is anything they can do about it.

That, and I guess television and real life are very different. I think I've been watching too much CSI, but it still makes you mad and you feel like they aren't doing that much. I didn't think it was that difficult to get prints because things are more advanced nowadays.

The same thing happened when our house was robbed a while back. No prints were taken or anything and they were never caught. Those guys took their time and took out every drawer and flipped every mattress in the house.

[DoubleM 10]

My car got stollen from Zion two years ago and they did recover it. The funny thing is they found it four blocks from my house, and the only reason they did recover it is because they were writing a ticket for no city sticker.

did they still give you te ticket??? sorry had to ask

[kzickovich]

Yes he did.

[newreefer2]

The salt may be covered under your homeowners policy. Luggage in a stole car is. Worth a check.

[anhbimat]

guy..
if anyone have got stoling or thieft. or burgury .police not going to do any finger print..It not a Murder.all police do is, make a report...home security you can watch your home or away from home, by using your phone internet...

[sugartooth]

newreefer, thanks. We are submitting the receipt and it looks like it will be covered. That's encouraging at least.

anhbimat: yes, I agree with you. I'm looking for quotes to get those installed.

[bocochoco]

You can probably pay some of us less to be night watchman's around your house.

I would SOOO do it...with the black balaclava on and all :)

[bocochoco]

Oh one thing...I'm a smoker so I will need a provided ashtray...or unfriendly neighbors yard to throw butts in. My only conditions.

[1boatnut]

Sorry for the loss.
Not sure of the cost,but something like On Star may have helped in the recovery?
Available on GM vehicles,you can now get these systems installed at Best Buy
I have a app on my phone that shows the location of my vehicle.

The cut off is another good idea

[sugartooth]

bocochoco: You are funny! It sounds like you may have some experience bouncing or working security? With your balaclava, I wouldn't mess with you.

boatnut: Thanks, On Star would have been great in this case. Tell them to shut the car down and locate it. The reason I wouldn't have installed it in the first place was because I didn't want to be so easily tracked! funny.

[1boatnut]

: Thanks, On Star would have been great in this case. Tell them to shut the car down and locate it. The reason I wouldn't have installed it in the first place was because I didn't want to be so easily tracked! funny.

You on the lamb ?:D

Just kidding.
I know what you mean though.
I figure if anybody's looking for me,I've made enough footprints in life for their search to be relatively simple. You would be surprised if you googled your name what can appear,even your screen name :strange::eek:

On the other hand,if I really needed to disappear I'm relatively confident this could be easily accomplished...lol

[sugartooth]

Haha, no I'm not running from the law.

I don't mind so much if someone were to google search my name and find out about me, I just don't like people being able to find me without my knowledge at any given moment.

You are right, a couple of people I know did google my name and found all kinds of things. Most were actually me, but there was another person by my name that can be described as 'unsavory' that popped up on the first page!

[sugartooth]

Oh wow!

Just got a message saying the Jeep was found! It was found in a church parking lot a few minutes away. They are going to process it and we get to see it once we prove it's ours.


AND.......ALL 6 buckets of salt are still in it!
HOORAY!

[TheReefNinja]

Glad to hear it was recovered safe and not stripped or wrapped around a tree.... If it was close it was some punk kids or a neighbor messing with you

[nanonubey]

Thats Awesome! Are you sure the salt was'nt taken? :thumbsup:

[abfleck]

Like I said...speedy recovery and the idiots would not know what to do with the salt:P Glad to hear that your jeep has been located:)




Oh wow!

Just got a message saying the Jeep was found! It was found in a church parking lot a few minutes away. They are going to process it and we get to see it once we prove it's ours.


AND.......ALL 6 buckets of salt are still in it!
HOORAY!

[BADGUS]

Glad it worked out for you Kathy.........

[sugartooth]

Thanks guys! It's a relief but we don't know the condition of the car yet. I think damage is minimal. The police said it wasn't ready yet, they are still processing for evidence. I think what people have been doing (according to my friend) is that they take a car and dump it somewhere public for a few days and leave it to see if there is a locator on the car and it gets recovered. If no one finds it, they come back and get the car.

Well, it's great to know that it was found, and I wonder if they even saw the salt in the back. :) Thanks everyone for letting me vent!

[reeftrinh]

the perks probably saw how crappy the mpg's and ditched the car. they didn't realize they were hauling around an extra 200lbs of salt.

glad you got the jeep back.

[DopeCantWin]

Thanks guys! It's a relief but we don't know the condition of the car yet. I think damage is minimal. The police said it wasn't ready yet, they are still processing for evidence. I think what people have been doing (according to my friend) is that they take a car and dump it somewhere public for a few days and leave it to see if there is a locator on the car and it gets recovered. If no one finds it, they come back and get the car.

Well, it's great to know that it was found, and I wonder if they even saw the salt in the back. :) Thanks everyone for letting me vent!

Great on the car being found. Make sure to remind the insurance company they stole your Rolex radio and install OnStar or some such security system. Surprised your dogs didn't make a sound.

[sugartooth]

the perks probably saw how crappy the mpg's and ditched the car. they didn't realize they were hauling around an extra 200lbs of salt.

glad you got the jeep back.

Thanks!

That's what was going through our minds too, why in the world would they take the Jeep? It's crappy mileage and a crappy ride unless it's wintertime. I had a new Accord in the garage, so lucky they didn't go in there.

Dope: Yep, we are going to install stuff in the other car. I do remember the dogs barking briefly (can't remember what time), but they do it for every little thing that we don't check anymore. Tomorrow is the security camera appointment so at least if they do bark and we want to check outside we can just look at the screen instead of checking outside, garage, and basement every time.

[sugartooth]

---

[fragyoureef]

WOw that sucks sorry man

[DopeCantWin]

Thanks!

That's what was going through our minds too, why in the world would they take the Jeep? It's crappy mileage and a crappy ride unless it's wintertime. I had a new Accord in the garage, so lucky they didn't go in there.

Dope: Yep, we are going to install stuff in the other car. I do remember the dogs barking briefly (can't remember what time), but they do it for every little thing that we don't check anymore. Tomorrow is the security camera appointment so at least if they do bark and we want to check outside we can just look at the screen instead of checking outside, garage, and basement every time.

Please don't get all paranoid. Better to lose something than to live in fear. Looking at the camera every time one dog bites another.