Any advice re helping police solve theft

On 12/29 I filed a police report. Two outboard boat motors, a truck tool box, my new push mower and my new Troybilt Bronco tiller came up missing from an outbuilding. Since then I've been playing detective and have found out who did it, who he sold one of the boat motors to, where everybody lives and that a probable accomplice is in jail in a neighbor jurisdiction for stealing a car over the weekend.

With all this info I'm practically handing them a closed case if they'll just get going. I just today got the serial # from the motor that was sold and have called the investigations dept. I can't get anything but a recording. It's so frustrating I am about to bust a blood vessel. I want my property back, or restitution but most of all I want to see the thieves do jail time. I'm sure if and when I get to talk to a detective they'll tell me how overworked they are. Any ideas about something, anything else I can do to get some action?

Got a local TV station?

Bet they would pick up the ball and run with it. Maybe the Sheriff or Constable would be receptive. Call the mayor's office

Hello Twiggy,

First let me say how sorry I am to hear of the trouble you
are having thanks to an idiot thief. I'm sure your blood is
boiling and your temper is on a short leash right now.

I'm afraid I can't help you to further the progress of your
case, but I do have to say something you don't want to hear.

If you are in a small town, there may not be specific departments
loaded with staff to address such issues in a timely manner. In
other words, your case is likely on the bottom rung because it
is basically solved, it's just a matter of red tape. Emergencies,
kidnappings, rapes, assault, etc. will receive higher priority especially
if they involve danger to lives.

By no means am I saying your case is not important, but if the
department is understaffed, it may take some time to see results.

Certainly it doesn't seem as such when you see them hanging out
talking in a coffee shop, I understand your frustrations.

Know that I am thinking of you, wishing you well and hoping the
bad guys get the punishment they deserve. And swiftly.

Karen Marie
:-)

Good suggestions Bubba. The deputy that took the report said the detectives would be out until the 2nd for the holidays. I thought I gave them a break by letting them have yesterday to catch up on what's happening. This is not working like the tv shows would have us believe! I've lived here for 21 years without having anything stolen and I'm just so incredibly outraged. Time is of the essence since these people and my stuff might move around and be hard to find.

Oh Wuvie I know you're right. Patience has never been my primary virtue. I just got lucky by hearing a little crumb of gossip and spent a large part of the last 5 days gathering up all this info. I had to suffer speaking with low-lifes and vermin. There wasn't any holiday about it for me and I was so looking forward to justice today or at least a start on it. I guess I'll just stay on a slow boil the rest of this week and take Bubba's advice if something doesn't happen by Monday. It is very hard to take.

oh twiggy - you have my utmost sympathy. I hope you were insured, that at least helps ease some of the financial burden of replacing your things. I was burgled a long time ago, knew who the thiefs were and everything, but the police never did "find" them, even though I practically gave them an address. The thought crossed my mind that I could just break into their place and recover my stuff faster, but of course I didn't do that. Since the stolen items were jewelry, my renters' insurance only paid a fraction of the actual items' worth. But that is water under the bridge, c'est la vie. Try to let it go, they're only material possessions.

PraireGirl thanks for your condolences. No I have no insurance. You may have heard that the insurance companies are all getting sued over ripping off Katrina Victims. Many folks that have their home paid for have dropped insurance completely in protest or just kept up the fire part. I'm soon going to really need my tiller which I bought last March and the lawnmower I got on clearance in Sept.

I've decided to type up a brief with all the details and mail it to the Sheriff's Dept, investigations div. I just feel I have too much invested financially and emotionally to just sit here twiddling. The letter will also be good for passing on to the investigative reporter at the tv station if necessary. The citizens around here pay the highest property taxes in the state and I want my money's worth.

Good point! More power to you, and it sure beats stewing.

twiggy: I may be wrong, but I believe the District Attorney's office is the one who prosecutes. Of course, they have to wait for the police report, but maybe by calling them they can get the ball rolling. In the mean time I would consider filling a claim in small courts for the total amount of the merchandise. Again, I believe the amount cannot be more than $5000., but you can waive the difference. If you get a judgement, let me know, I did collections for years and can make someone life miserable. I hate thiefs!

What ever you do when talking to law enforcement be concise, compelling and most of all factual. You need to sell your case to them...... Sell your CASE. They want something that is "in the bag".

twiggy,
I would send your letter to the detective with a cc: at the bottom saying your local television station and newspaper. Whether or not you send the letter to them is irrelevant, but it could scare the dept that doesn't want negative attention. I would be sure to put in your letter the day you called the police, name names, dates, times....everything you've documented. I would not put in there who you think it is or know it is.......

Remember in this country a person is innocent until proven guilty and you could be implimented in a defamation of character suit.

It angers me when I hear that someone has stolen anything from anyone, to include even a dollar. It infuriates me that people believe they are entitled to someone else's belongings. Isn't it Turkey where they cut off one's hands if caught stealing? Perhaps this country should take some lessons from others.

Good luck to you. I'll be anxious to hear how this pans out.

:) Kathy

Not to be the bearer of bad news. I hope your state or county is different than mine. Over the past two years we have gotten two cars, along with lots of tools stolen. Long story short...we had to do all the detective work as well. We were able to have the police catch them IN THE CAR, the first time, they got a tiny bit of time...they had done alot of burglury as well. What they used to steal the car, was a plastic key in the owners mannual. We didnt even know it existed. The second time, just a few months ago, we searched for the car, finally one day saw it going down the road...called 911. Cops got there...boys bailed out...cops didnt get them. The car was full of stolen property mind you, and they asked me if I wanted to pay to have the car towed and fingerprinted. I was like...WHAT. You dont want fingerprints...what about all the stolen stuff in the car. I made the stupid decession to have it fingerprinted. Cost me about 400$ with tow bills. Nobody did then, nor does now, give a rats betute. I guess the law is SO in favor of the criminal...as far as who sees what they did, and prove it kinda thing. I was at rack room...only one clerk. Some lady was stuffing tiny NIKES in her purse, while someone she was with asked the clerk a question....I told the clerk about it before the lady left the store. She said that she was pretty sure the lady was doing it...but since she did not SEE it, she could do nothing. Same thing at walgreens this week, some guy sticks a pizza up under his t-shirt. Being round...the shirt held the pizza in place so the guys hands could swing free. When I was at the counter..I mentioned it....SAME THING. They did nothing, because THEY didnt see it.
GOOD GOOD Luck to you...dont give up. pam

I just called the detectives again and left my name and # on the recording. Pam and PG those are the most outrageous goings on imaginable. I thought they'd be delighted to jump on something so easy but I guess I've been living in total ignorant bliss. I've seen in the paper they report each catagory of crime every year but you never see the number of cases solved. A few days before this my son got a ticket for no taillight (blown fuse) about a mile from home. And my daughter got a ticket last month for a small crack in her windshield. They sure don't have any problem with nitpicking. Pam I just can't comprehend that they charged you for towing and fingerprinting. That's insult on top of injury. The jails, courts and detectives are backed up past the breaking point but I'm sure I'd be in jail if I laid a hand on the thieves.

Slightly off thread, but related.
DW will hound anyone she sees parking in a handicapped space. She has chased several out of stores - she follows them, yelling, "Why did you park in a handicapped spot? Go move your car now!" and she gets louder each time.

Usually gets a round of applause from other customers when the offender leaves. Store managers have thanked us several times.

I've even stood behind their car so they couldn't leave the parking spot until the cops arrive. Haven't been hit or shot yet, but several have been stuck with heafty fines.

The more I think about it, you should call the local TV station if they don't call you back today. That is outrageous, isn't it? My friend got a warning for having an expired license plate sticker, the day after it expired! Maybe because that kind of "police work" is easy and a sure thing. You can bet we'd be in jail for doing the same, but what really stopped me was that I was pregnant. And the only reason they didn't make off with my mother's wedding ring is that I couldn't get it off my fat finger! You still may not recover your property, but at least you would get the satisfaction of embarrassing them into action.

Bubba - That would be a very dangerous thing to do here. I have wanted to do it myself though, he he. Esp. since there are so many handicapped spaces, which is good for those in need, but bad for impatient shoppers like me.

I just had a call from a detective. I'm not euphoric yet but do feel a little better. I made sweet and kept to the facts. He recognized the name and knew the house where the perp lives. That got his attention and I sensed that he was shifting gears. He said would probably be getting back to me tomorrow. I hope I have to eat all my words above, wouldn't even gag, although just between you and me, I know they're true.

Bubba you, your wife and Pam too deserve a medal or something. That's a shameful practice and it burns me up too. I think most of us just hate to make a scene or lose any time such as waiting for the cops. And we're so afraid of being accused of being nosy that we don't watch everything going on in the neighborhood such as strange vehicles and that's another reason the thugs find such easy pickins. The shoplifters cost us all a fortune. Obviously we all need to take more action for the common good. The problems are at overwhelming levels it's just so discouraging.

PraireGirl that's once that fat fingers were a good thing for sure. I've been on both sides of the handicapped fence. I used to get upset at the empty handicapped parking slots too and especially when you see people no more handicapped than Olympic athletes getting in and out of cars parked in them. And another one is when you get in Walmart and see people return the power carts that get up and walk normally out of the store. And another is when you have to wait for somebody to return a power cart that has had it for hours just dawdling around the store killing time because it's their big outing for the week. Another is when the handicapped person has an attitude and expects everyone to make way for them. Every facet of all our lives is maxed out with frustration I think. I can tell you that the truly handicapped greatly appreciate any and all kindness and consideration.

About 15 years ago I took a load of stuff to the Salvation Army thrift store to donate. I was standing at the counter waiting to get a receipt. The clerk was dealing with a woman with a bunch of kids that had a running over buggy full. She was explaining that they only got 30 items of free clothing per month, per person. I was so outraged I just walked out and related the story to a friend. I don't think I've ever known someone that needed 30 pieces of clothing a month. My question was why should I box up my stuff, being careful not to break any glass, keeping matching stuff together, burn my time and gas so they could literally shower folks to excess. My friend said we just need to do the best we can, when and how we can and be satisfied that we've done our part. I don't think much is going to improve in our society until more of usl adopt that approach along with the concept of personal responsibility.

Oh, Twiggy, I hear you on the personal responsibility thing.

It irks me to no end to see someone using a power
cart simply because of overindulgence and not because
of a handicap. Overeating is such an excuse, and to see an
elderly woman hobble through the aisles because a lazy
person has the power cart burns my cookies! Even worse
is when they have the cart filled with cookies, chips, soda,
candy and t.v. dinners. Ugh!

Good to hear you seem to have made a bit of progress in
the theft case. I hope it is all resolved and turns out well for you.

Keep up the good work, Detective Twiggy!

Yay, atta girl! I hope you get your things back in good order.

One good thing here, our neighborhood is filled with nosey neighbors. When I was a single mom, it was actually a comfort to me, that if something should happen to me, my daughter would be looked out for. And it helped all of us moms, as she was growing up, since you only needed to make one phone call and that person would say where they all were, so you could find your kid in a hurry. My daughter knew she was on a short leash, LOL. It was my house they all wound up at a lot too. But it was a small house on a corner lot, and the house was right at the corner of the lot too, with the sidewalks running parallel to the kitchen and living rooms of the house.

We still laugh about the time the three sisters, also know as little old ladies to my daughter, walked by and said loudly "Oh, looks like spaghetti for dinner tonight!" I had to pull my shades if I wanted any privacy, LOL, and even then neighbors would stop on the sidewalk and talk through the windows to us. Now I'm married and we live three blocks away, and people always remark that they can't tell if anyone is home or not. At least they're still looking.

PrairieGirl that is so funny. I see your point about the good side. I guess I grew up in a different time and place. Nosey neighbor has always had a negative connotation to me because my mother and aunts were world class at it. I think they were bored with their lives, unhappy and jealous. Their nosiness fueled their malicious gossip sessions which even as a child I felt were cruel and petty.

I spent the day waiting for a call from that detective...in vain. I accidentally fell asleep about 3pm but I'm sure I didn't miss any calls. This has affected my sleep, appetite and everything else. I truly believe stress can make you sick longterm. I'll be calling him if I haven't heard anything by Monday afternoon. I live about 1/4 mile inside the MS/AL state line and the thieves are in AL I've always heard that we have a good working relationship with the AL agencies. That may slow things down a tad.

I hate to hear of your troubles twiggy. Feels a bit like getting raped, huh? It takes away a person's feeling of safety and security. I can see how something like this would affect your appetite, sleep and other things. You said a mouth full when you said that you can see how a person who is under constant stress can become chronically ill.

I need to begin practicing what I am going to preach. I am one of those persons who about 22 years ago found myself in a situation where it seemed that each day brought on something new to stress over. I was getting divorced and stayed under stress for so long that it did eventually rob me of my health. Find some way if you can, to let the stress and bad feelings about this incident go. The continuous frustration and anger will begin to eat you up and it will be harder and harder to dig yourself out of the hole that is being dug.

You have a support system here and should use it to share your feelings and things. I often find that as I am writing that I will come up with the solution to whatever it is that is bothering me so much. It is quite hard at times when dealing with the medical, legal and justice system. They seem so sloooooowww.

I have gotten a lot better at dealing with things as I age and mature, but still have some things that come along and kind knock me for a loop. I am hoping that you will soon find some sort of peace and serenity. It won't be easy, but it can be done. I hope that this issue will soon be resolved and you can move on to more pleasant things.

Take good care.

Ruby

Ruby - You make an excellent case for what I was trying to say all along, only you said it better and more clearly. It is not easy twiggy, but no matter what happens, you have to let it go. I sure felt violated when those scummy thiefs stole my precious (to me)things, including a ring that my father gave me for graduation, the necklace my mother gave me when I was confirmed, a ring that had been an older aunts. They were the most "valuable" possessions I had. And they took them in my socks, which they got out of my underwear drawer! The fact that they were in my bedroom was very disconcerting, esp. since I was pregnant and lived alone at the time. I felt so vulnerable, and powerless. It didn't help that my new (used) car was stolen a few weeks later, not the same people mind you. I sincerely hope that you were just unlucky this one time. Our neighborhood is changing now, more moms work outside the home, and criminals have started to take advantage of that and steal from hard-working people who aren't home during the day. Our mayor publishes a monthly newsletter with a police blotter of every crime. A few break-ins occured here in broad daylight, but the thiefs were apprehended, thanks to nosey neighbors involvement. And they crossed state lines (Indiana) too, so there is hope. The police may be waiting to catch them red-handed, who knows. Now that you've done what you could, you must try to let them handle it, and take care of yourself.

Ruby you have hit the nail on the head. Yes I feel terribly violated and the word rape covers it well. In 1994 I made the mistake of entering into a relationship with a man and all his misbegotten family. I'd been a widow for 12 years and had a 7 year old boy. I was so afraid he'd grow up without a man's influence that I lowered my standards. He was the best out of a large family of the most lowlife types imaginable. He's been out of my life for years and these thieves are his nephews who have grown up calling me Aunt. Of course that makes this hurt even worse. I haven't even seen these people for years and didn't think about them when this happened. When they were kids and early teens they visited here and knew where everything was kept.

The 18 year old that stole the car last weekend has already spent a lot of time in juvenile detention. He dad is about 45 and has spent at least 20 years in and out of the penitentiary for thieving and is going to be there for years to come. The other one is his first cousin and keeps getting out of things somehow and I'd like to break that cycle. I've never known any of these folks to hold a job more than a few days.

MistyMeadows mentioned the Turkish practice of cutting off a thieves hands. The way our society works, we'd just give them a disability check, food stamps, medicaid, a place to live and let them sue the authorities that punished them. Then the jury would award them millions and convict the authorities. I happen to know for a fact that the taxpayers paid to bring these people into the world, paid for all their needs to this point and will no doubt pay for their burials.

Life will go on here whatever happens but I sure worry for our country and all of our futures with the growing breakdown of our society. PrairieGirls neighborhood sounds like Utopia to me right now.

I just previewed this and saw your post PrairieGirl. I'm so sorry your neighborhood is starting to go the way of all the rest. I've always thought we needed to bring back the pillory. Public humiliation would go a long way I think and your Mayor is on the right track. Ask him if he wants to run for president. Like you said, stay at home Mom's are not economically feasible most of the time now so the neighborhood watch can't be effective. I don't have all the answers but I'm convinced we're in a national crisis.

Yes, sadly I have to agree with you.

The neighborhood I lived in when the burglary and car theft took place is a very, very dangerous one now. And it wasn't nice 18 years ago! I took my daughter back there on mother's day, to show her where she spent the first two years of her life. Even I was shocked at how bad it was, and the 'girls' glaring at us from in front of the apts. weren't the kind you'd ask to show you around.

Too bad, but I'm sure glad my credit union now accepts payments at a network of credit unions, so that I never, ever have to go there again.

I am convinced, however, that the neighborhood watch program is absolutely necessary. For the simple fact that if we are not the eyes and ears, the police are too overwhelmed to respond to every crisis that occurs, and cases like yours only get shoved aside. Left unsolved, crimes of opportunity become more commonplace, and people discouraged by being victimized leave, so that the non-taxpayers can move in and another nice place to live becomes a slum.

In FL you can shoot them if you catch them breaking into your house. We live in the woods in TN and let me tell you, no one comes to my door without me having my gun real handy. I keep it hidden, but it is very close at hand. If I came home and found someone robbing our house I would not hesitate to shot them. About 10 yrs. ago one of our neighbors who lived around and down the rd. from us was driving really fast down the rd. I was mowing the along the rd. Another vehicle was coming around the curve just past me and both of them swerved to keep from hitting head on. My neighbor was coming straight at me and I jumped off the mower which he missed by a hair. I yelled at him to slow down and he slammed on brakes, backed up and started cussing me. I told him I would tell his mom and dad. Several days later we awoke to find our mail box had been stolen and the post which was 2' into the ground had been pulled out and thrown across our driveway. I immediately called the sheriff's dept. and when the detective came out (we knew him) I told him what had happened several days before. I also told him that if there was any other vandalism to the property that my husband and I had worked so long and hard to acquire I would take my shotgun, go looking for the neighbor and when the cops got here they would find him naked as a jaybird and sprawled face down on our driveway and he could tell him so. The det. did just that and we have never had another bit of trouble out of those people. I would go after those people. I would call the police and tell them I was going to get my property and they needed to send someone while I got my property. Then I would let those jerks know if they stole anything else from my property, that I would be coming after them. I would look them straight in the eye so they could see I was serious. Sometimes you just have to take the bull by the horns and do things yourself. LIZ

Hi Twiggy,
I'm new to this forum, but not to law enforcement. I understand the frustration that you feel, I really do. I don't understand why the detectives are putzing around with your case, other than the fact that at one point you were related to those boys. I wonder if they are treating it more like a "family dispute". It's fairly common for victims to find out the location of their stolen items before the police do. The police have several different cases going on and an eight hour shift to work on them. You said yourself that this is practically consuming you.

If you know where your items are, call the police department IN THAT jurisdiction. Tell them that you want them to stand by while you pick up your property. Tell them that you know where your stolen property is. Take a copy of your police report and anything that has your property's serial numbers on it. It's a common practice. The thieves can still be prosecuted...you have the police report confirming the items are stolen. They will be in posession of stolen goods...with a police officer as a witness.

I sincerely hope that you get your goods back and that the thieves are prosecuted.

Michelle