Aquarium thief in Taylorville!!

saltyseaman · 04/12/2006, 01:06 AM

I bought a full aquarium set-up on Monday from a guy in Taylorville. We got there and packed up all of the equipment we could fit in the boxes we had. We took them out to the van and started working on the sump. We got it fully disassembled and cleaned and ready to go. We took it and some other equipment out to the van and then realized that we should probably get the tank into the van before the sump due to space constraints. We set it all by the van and headed back in to take the tank apart. When we came back out ...... all of the equipment we left sitting by the van was suddenly missing. They took:

50 gallon grey 4'x2' rubbermaid stock tank
50 gallon black rubbermaid-like stock tank
Turbofloater 1000 Multi
1 Ebojager heater and 2 Won Pro Titanium Heaters.
Iwaki 55RLT
Medusa Single Stage Temperature Controller
A HOB Overflow
A box of random aquarium equipment

The neighbor said they saw some younger people sorting through everything, but they left. Then a older guy, in his 50's according to the neighbor, pulled up in a red pickup truck and loaded it up.

They had a for sale sign in front of their house, so I am assuming that the guy thought it was some free stuff. ....

I called the police and filed a report. I doubt anything will come of that. It will be posted in the paper inder the thefts, so maybe someone will see it. I will also be placing a "Lost Aquarium Supplies" add in their local paper. Hopefully that will turn something up.

If anyone from the area hears of anything, please get ahold of me.

I'm a bit beside myself at the moment

Thanx everyone.

DKKA · 04/12/2006, 07:15 AM

Ouch!!

Horace · 04/12/2006, 07:59 AM

It was probably some garbage pickers man....if you have anything on the curb in our neighborhood it will be gone if it even looks remotely like its usable. I just had some guy come by this morning and take the rails for a 1970s garage door...people will take anything man.

That really does suck though! Sorry to hear that. How much cash did you lose?

brad23 · 04/12/2006, 08:14 AM

Well that sucks,

I've had people take my kids old sand box, rotten sheets of wood, busted up chairs.

lglamb · 04/12/2006, 08:36 AM

Hmm... sounds like an excuse for a bike ride this weekend.

What kind of red pickup did you say?

Lowell

saltyseaman · 04/12/2006, 10:36 AM

The neighbor didn't know what kind of red pickup it was. He didn't pay that close of attention.

. I went for a walk after it happened and looked it the bed of every red pickup I could see. ... There sure are a lot of those in Taylorville! I appreciate the bike ride though! If you do find it and they don't want to give it up, a simple call too the police will do the trick. They have the police report. Thanx Lowell

Horace, It's hard to say how much I lost. I payed for everything before I got there. I didn't get anything back because of the theft, understandably. I mean, it was me that took it all out there, not the previous owner. That is probably $900 worth of stuff if bought new at places with good prices. It's hard to put a price on used equipment like that, you know? Sux

Thanx everyone

llewoh05 · 04/12/2006, 12:49 PM

you sure the seller didn't set you up? that is a possiblity. have heard of that many times. especially with high priced items. did you check the neighbors garage???

saltyseaman · 04/12/2006, 12:59 PM

I highly doubt that is what happened. The guy was getting out of the hobby completely, so he has no purpose for the equipment....... But, he did leave for a while in the middle of us taking apart the tank. Then I did see him hand the witness some $ ...... I am typically a pretty skeptical person, but I really don't think he took the stuff .... you've got me second guessing myself now ....... I almost want to call and ask him, but I feel that will be pretty offensive and the answer will be NO regardless. We'll see how things play out over the next week.

saltyseaman · 04/12/2006, 01:09 PM

On second thought, why would he hand the $ to the witness in front of me. That would just be stupid. It was his neighbor, so maybe it was some other debt they had going not involved with the aquarium. MAN this sux

saltyseaman · 04/12/2006, 01:21 PM

IF anyone is able to locate the equipment there will be a reward in hand for you. Here's where it happened

Map of
E Adams St At S Wyandotte St
Taylorville, IL 62568

lglamb · 04/12/2006, 01:58 PM

Yeah, they were probably in cahoots with the local constabulary, too.

Probably all had a good laugh at that hippie dude.

So, what they gonna say when me and Annette start riding up and
down their streets? hmmm, better take the ex-patrol Crown Vic
instead of the bike... ...and have Annette put on her patrol blues
and badge, as long as they don't look close enuf to read the
"Parking Enforcemtent" part.

saltyseaman · 04/12/2006, 02:12 PM

that would be awesome

After it happened I walked around a few blocks and looked in the bed of every red truck I saw. I'm sure it looked like I was trying to steal something rather than looking for something that was stolen from me.

saltyseaman · 04/12/2006, 02:24 PM

Allright, I placed an add in the Classified under Lost and Found in the Taylorville Breeze Courier

http://www.breeze-courier.com/

The lady said the paper is deliver to 5600 people, so hopefully that turns up something.

redvipe2010 · 04/12/2006, 10:04 PM

I think you may have been set up. Why would anyone leave while you were taking the tank apart? I'm assuming you didn't know these people. I wouldn't leave a stranger in my house. The part about handing over cash to the witness, is really bizzar. I don't know many people in my every day life that would know what most of that equipment even was. And they were sorting through it, and decided to take everything? And there wasn't even a tank out there yet? What are the chances of someone in this hobby driving by and seeing that equipment? If I drove by and seen it, I certaily would know better than to think something that expensive would not be garbage. Doesn't sound like a garbage picker to me.

I would call the police back and let them know about the exchange of cash.

So sorry this happened to you, that is really horrible.

saltyseaman · 04/13/2006, 12:19 AM

The guy left in the middle of us tearing down the tank because he is diabetic and needed something for his blood sugar. He left us alone in his house because there is nothing in his house. He recently moved and all that was left in his house was the aquarium and related equipment.

I don't have specific details about the $ exchange. I was standing a bit aways from them when it occured, but I could see it clearly. One of the people that was with me was standing closer and when I asked him today about the $ exchange he said he overheard them talking about a partial payment for something that the guy that was selling me the tank was renting from the witness. Again, no specific details. One of the other people that was with me was standing two feet from them when it happened, but I haven't been able to get ahold of him yet. He should know exactly what that was all about. I'll update when I talk to him.

I also think that it's pretty ridiculous to think that all of the stuff out there was garbage, or even free for the taking. But, sometimes people are able to convince themselves of the most unreasonable things when they are gaining something. Either that or they were just thieves to begin with, in which case I really don't think I will be finding anything

Another thing I should mention is that the guy that was selling me the aquarium suggested that I call the police. ...... If this guy truly did con me then he played it off well, which makes me think that he didn't con me to begin with.

We will see what the add I placed today turns up over the next 6 days it will be listed. I offered a reward so maybe something will happen. Perhaps another conversation with the police is in order.

Thanx for your suggestions and sympathy .... this really is a bummer

saltyseaman · 04/13/2006, 12:58 AM

I can't stop thinking about this and running everything through my head, which really sux because I totally have more important things to be doing right now.

A couple more thing I thought of:

The guy that was selling me the tank was asking the neighbors if they saw anything, just like I was.

When the cop suggested that it may have been garbage pickers he was a bit argumentative about it and suggested it was more of theft. This is something that I am leaning toward more and more as well.

I guess that info could suggest he stole it as well as clear his name, depending on how you look at it. I'm thinking along the lines of him stealing it being more of a conspiracy theory than anything, but I guess sometimes those can be true.

zlwags85 · 04/13/2006, 07:22 AM

the money exchange could have been over a rented airator for the lawns. I know at least 20 people who have rented them this season already with there neighbors. Just a thought. Sorry to hear of your loss.

lglamb · 04/13/2006, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by saltyseaman
IF anyone is able to locate the equipment there will be a reward

Wow. This whole scheme is working better than I hoped.

That Starphire is sure gonna look good in my living room.

Lowell

redvipe2010 · 04/13/2006, 12:12 PM

I would like to think that the guy is completely honest. Good luck, and I really hope you get all your stuff back. You should try to keep this post up at the top for a long time. Getting the word out may help get it back some day.

saltyseaman · 04/14/2006, 04:30 AM

Thanx Red. I appreciate your input

Lowell - If this "sceme" truly were the case, then this starphire would look 10x better smashed over your skull

ostrow · 04/14/2006, 12:08 PM

Zak, man, you may be the only dude in this hobby with worse luck than mine. This totally sucks. I hope you get lucky and find the stuff.

One thing: did the seller have homeowners? If it's theft, and you lost $900, that may be one way to get relief. Just an idea. But he may not want to go that route either b/c it'd likely jack up his rates. Still, can't hurt to ask.

blooper74 · 04/14/2006, 12:50 PM

I say you let me and some of my old special forces buddies roll into Taylorville to do some negotiating. If that doesn't work we can call in a tactical nuclear strike, I never liked Taylorville anyway. ;P

llewoh05 · 04/14/2006, 04:30 PM

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=824368

even the chicagians know about this. and look one of them is selling the same stuff. ?????????

ostrow · 04/14/2006, 04:31 PM

I linked to this as I know folks here know Zak and have traded with him. Someone who doesn't know him I don't think made a bad joke (did you notice the "JK" at the bottom?).

llewoh05 · 04/14/2006, 05:11 PM

i realized it when i read the chicago post then linked it back here. just like you surf our site, i surf yours. I just wanted to say that the chicagians are hearing about it. even a 2year old could piece it together. don't mean to be rude.

04/12/2006, 01:06 AM	#1
saltyseaman Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Naperville Posts: 2,421	Aquarium thief in Taylorville!! I bought a full aquarium set-up on Monday from a guy in Taylorville. We got there and packed up all of the equipment we could fit in the boxes we had. We took them out to the van and started working on the sump. We got it fully disassembled and cleaned and ready to go. We took it and some other equipment out to the van and then realized that we should probably get the tank into the van before the sump due to space constraints. We set it all by the van and headed back in to take the tank apart. When we came back out ...... all of the equipment we left sitting by the van was suddenly missing. They took: 50 gallon grey 4'x2' rubbermaid stock tank 50 gallon black rubbermaid-like stock tank Turbofloater 1000 Multi 1 Ebojager heater and 2 Won Pro Titanium Heaters. Iwaki 55RLT Medusa Single Stage Temperature Controller A HOB Overflow A box of random aquarium equipment The neighbor said they saw some younger people sorting through everything, but they left. Then a older guy, in his 50's according to the neighbor, pulled up in a red pickup truck and loaded it up. They had a for sale sign in front of their house, so I am assuming that the guy thought it was some free stuff. .... I called the police and filed a report. I doubt anything will come of that. It will be posted in the paper inder the thefts, so maybe someone will see it. I will also be placing a "Lost Aquarium Supplies" add in their local paper. Hopefully that will turn something up. If anyone from the area hears of anything, please get ahold of me. I'm a bit beside myself at the moment Thanx everyone.

04/12/2006, 07:15 AM	#2
DKKA Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 769	Ouch!! __________________ THIS SPACE FOR RENT

04/12/2006, 07:59 AM	#3
Horace Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bloomington, IL Posts: 4,443	It was probably some garbage pickers man....if you have anything on the curb in our neighborhood it will be gone if it even looks remotely like its usable. I just had some guy come by this morning and take the rails for a 1970s garage door...people will take anything man. That really does suck though! Sorry to hear that. How much cash did you lose? __________________ -Kurt Current Tank Info: 75g SPS Dominated, 2x400w XM20k, L3 Mini Reflectors, M59, 2x110w VHO SA

04/12/2006, 08:14 AM	#4
brad23 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bloomington IL Posts: 2,989	Well that sucks, I've had people take my kids old sand box, rotten sheets of wood, busted up chairs. __________________ Ye old English Current Tank Info: 75g reef

04/12/2006, 12:49 PM	#7
llewoh05 Daddy Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Fisher Posts: 731	you sure the seller didn't set you up? that is a possiblity. have heard of that many times. especially with high priced items. did you check the neighbors garage??? __________________ need something new. got any ideas? Current Tank Info: 1x40br w/ 20gal sump & 10gal refug and 1x incomplete custom 65

04/12/2006, 08:36 AM	#5
lglamb Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: east central IL Posts: 888	Hmm... sounds like an excuse for a bike ride this weekend. What kind of red pickup did you say? Lowell

04/12/2006, 10:36 AM	#6
saltyseaman Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Naperville Posts: 2,421	The neighbor didn't know what kind of red pickup it was. He didn't pay that close of attention. . I went for a walk after it happened and looked it the bed of every red pickup I could see. ... There sure are a lot of those in Taylorville! I appreciate the bike ride though! If you do find it and they don't want to give it up, a simple call too the police will do the trick. They have the police report. Thanx Lowell Horace, It's hard to say how much I lost. I payed for everything before I got there. I didn't get anything back because of the theft, understandably. I mean, it was me that took it all out there, not the previous owner. That is probably $900 worth of stuff if bought new at places with good prices. It's hard to put a price on used equipment like that, you know? Sux Thanx everyone

04/12/2006, 12:59 PM	#8
saltyseaman Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Naperville Posts: 2,421	I highly doubt that is what happened. The guy was getting out of the hobby completely, so he has no purpose for the equipment....... But, he did leave for a while in the middle of us taking apart the tank. Then I did see him hand the witness some $ ...... I am typically a pretty skeptical person, but I really don't think he took the stuff .... you've got me second guessing myself now ....... I almost want to call and ask him, but I feel that will be pretty offensive and the answer will be NO regardless. We'll see how things play out over the next week.

04/12/2006, 01:09 PM	#9
saltyseaman Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Naperville Posts: 2,421	On second thought, why would he hand the $ to the witness in front of me. That would just be stupid. It was his neighbor, so maybe it was some other debt they had going not involved with the aquarium. MAN this sux

04/12/2006, 01:21 PM	#10
saltyseaman Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Naperville Posts: 2,421	IF anyone is able to locate the equipment there will be a reward in hand for you. Here's where it happened Map of E Adams St At S Wyandotte St Taylorville, IL 62568

04/12/2006, 01:58 PM	#11
lglamb Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: east central IL Posts: 888	Yeah, they were probably in cahoots with the local constabulary, too. Probably all had a good laugh at that hippie dude. So, what they gonna say when me and Annette start riding up and down their streets? hmmm, better take the ex-patrol Crown Vic instead of the bike... ...and have Annette put on her patrol blues and badge, as long as they don't look close enuf to read the "Parking Enforcemtent" part.

04/12/2006, 02:12 PM	#12
saltyseaman Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Naperville Posts: 2,421	that would be awesome After it happened I walked around a few blocks and looked in the bed of every red truck I saw. I'm sure it looked like I was trying to steal something rather than looking for something that was stolen from me.

04/12/2006, 02:24 PM	#13
saltyseaman Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Naperville Posts: 2,421	Allright, I placed an add in the Classified under Lost and Found in the Taylorville Breeze Courier http://www.breeze-courier.com/ The lady said the paper is deliver to 5600 people, so hopefully that turns up something.

04/12/2006, 10:04 PM	#14
redvipe2010 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Morris, IL Posts: 1,891	I think you may have been set up. Why would anyone leave while you were taking the tank apart? I'm assuming you didn't know these people. I wouldn't leave a stranger in my house. The part about handing over cash to the witness, is really bizzar. I don't know many people in my every day life that would know what most of that equipment even was. And they were sorting through it, and decided to take everything? And there wasn't even a tank out there yet? What are the chances of someone in this hobby driving by and seeing that equipment? If I drove by and seen it, I certaily would know better than to think something that expensive would not be garbage. Doesn't sound like a garbage picker to me. I would call the police back and let them know about the exchange of cash. So sorry this happened to you, that is really horrible.

04/13/2006, 12:19 AM	#15
saltyseaman Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Naperville Posts: 2,421	The guy left in the middle of us tearing down the tank because he is diabetic and needed something for his blood sugar. He left us alone in his house because there is nothing in his house. He recently moved and all that was left in his house was the aquarium and related equipment. I don't have specific details about the $ exchange. I was standing a bit aways from them when it occured, but I could see it clearly. One of the people that was with me was standing closer and when I asked him today about the $ exchange he said he overheard them talking about a partial payment for something that the guy that was selling me the tank was renting from the witness. Again, no specific details. One of the other people that was with me was standing two feet from them when it happened, but I haven't been able to get ahold of him yet. He should know exactly what that was all about. I'll update when I talk to him. I also think that it's pretty ridiculous to think that all of the stuff out there was garbage, or even free for the taking. But, sometimes people are able to convince themselves of the most unreasonable things when they are gaining something. Either that or they were just thieves to begin with, in which case I really don't think I will be finding anything Another thing I should mention is that the guy that was selling me the aquarium suggested that I call the police. ...... If this guy truly did con me then he played it off well, which makes me think that he didn't con me to begin with. We will see what the add I placed today turns up over the next 6 days it will be listed. I offered a reward so maybe something will happen. Perhaps another conversation with the police is in order. Thanx for your suggestions and sympathy .... this really is a bummer

04/13/2006, 12:58 AM	#16
saltyseaman Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Naperville Posts: 2,421	I can't stop thinking about this and running everything through my head, which really sux because I totally have more important things to be doing right now. A couple more thing I thought of: The guy that was selling me the tank was asking the neighbors if they saw anything, just like I was. When the cop suggested that it may have been garbage pickers he was a bit argumentative about it and suggested it was more of theft. This is something that I am leaning toward more and more as well. I guess that info could suggest he stole it as well as clear his name, depending on how you look at it. I'm thinking along the lines of him stealing it being more of a conspiracy theory than anything, but I guess sometimes those can be true.

04/13/2006, 07:22 AM	#17
zlwags85 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Metamora, Il Posts: 384	the money exchange could have been over a rented airator for the lawns. I know at least 20 people who have rented them this season already with there neighbors. Just a thought. Sorry to hear of your loss.

04/13/2006, 12:12 PM	#19
redvipe2010 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Morris, IL Posts: 1,891	I would like to think that the guy is completely honest. Good luck, and I really hope you get all your stuff back. You should try to keep this post up at the top for a long time. Getting the word out may help get it back some day.

04/14/2006, 04:30 AM	#20
saltyseaman Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Naperville Posts: 2,421	Thanx Red. I appreciate your input Lowell - If this "sceme" truly were the case, then this starphire would look 10x better smashed over your skull

04/14/2006, 12:08 PM	#21
ostrow It's Dr. Goodluck Himself Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 10,624	Zak, man, you may be the only dude in this hobby with worse luck than mine. This totally sucks. I hope you get lucky and find the stuff. One thing: did the seller have homeowners? If it's theft, and you lost $900, that may be one way to get relief. Just an idea. But he may not want to go that route either b/c it'd likely jack up his rates. Still, can't hurt to ask. __________________ It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml! Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :(

04/14/2006, 12:50 PM	#22
blooper74 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Bloomington, Illinois Posts: 453	I say you let me and some of my old special forces buddies roll into Taylorville to do some negotiating. If that doesn't work we can call in a tactical nuclear strike, I never liked Taylorville anyway. ;P

04/14/2006, 04:30 PM	#23
llewoh05 Daddy Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Fisher Posts: 731	http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=824368 even the chicagians know about this. and look one of them is selling the same stuff. ????????? __________________ need something new. got any ideas? Current Tank Info: 1x40br w/ 20gal sump & 10gal refug and 1x incomplete custom 65

04/14/2006, 04:31 PM	#24
ostrow It's Dr. Goodluck Himself Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 10,624	I linked to this as I know folks here know Zak and have traded with him. Someone who doesn't know him I don't think made a bad joke (did you notice the "JK" at the bottom?). __________________ It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml! Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :(

04/14/2006, 05:11 PM	#25
llewoh05 Daddy Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Fisher Posts: 731	i realized it when i read the chicago post then linked it back here. just like you surf our site, i surf yours. I just wanted to say that the chicagians are hearing about it. even a 2year old could piece it together. don't mean to be rude. __________________ need something new. got any ideas? Current Tank Info: 1x40br w/ 20gal sump & 10gal refug and 1x incomplete custom 65