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I got robbed!

chin311

Diamond Member
To set the stage, I have a small home with a carport. I have had an old mountain bike under said carport for about...hmm 2 years.

I came home from work, was inside with my wife talking etc. She goes out to the laundry room which is off the carport to change things from the washer to the dryer etc etc. She in this time notices the bike is MISSING. Calls for me to see whats up if I had moved the bike etc. NOPE the bike was there when I got home an hour ago, where is it? STOLEN. Call the few neighbors I have the phone #'s for and see if they have seen or heard anything, nothing except for one who mentioned she had seen a lot of neighbor kids walking about lately (summer I take it)

I didn't care much about the bike, but the neighbor had said to report it just so the local PD know what is going on in the neighborhood so I go ahead and do so, sheriff's dept shows up and takes my report etc, finds out we were HOME and it was under the carport, says how it is a 2nd degree felony as a burglary with occupation of home. The neighbor directly across the street (the only one I didn't contact) came over and said how she saw someone etc etc. She files her statement after me, the cop left her home and pretty much immediately after leaving her home came back to my house and asked me to follow him up the road where the neighbor suspected the kids lived, I do so and pull up on a home a few blocks up the road where the "kids" who did this live, sure enough the bike is right inside the fence against the home. The officer who took my report called to make sure we know for a fact that the bike went missing today because the mother is saying the bike in question has been "shared" with the local kids for the past few weeks. I say BS I know it went missing today. Later on, another cop comes back after a bit and says how the kids and family are outside and want to "apologize" and return the bike to me. I say no thanks I couldn't care less what the kids have to say, go ahead and press the charges ( already filled out the report and intent to prosecute ).

The officer returns later with my bike and paper to fill out confirming I received the stolen goods. The "kid" is 17, in the patrol car on the way to the jail! Sounds good I say and close the door.

What would you have done? I couldn't care less about a bike, I care about the fact that my wife was home all day and even I was home at the time of the theft and the perp did it anyway.

I didn't fall for the "apology please drop the charges" trap they tried to set....have a good time in jail and enjoy your summer, hope your parents have fun bailing you out and paying all the your future legal fees....

WWYD? lol
 
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I probably wouldn't have called the cops because around here they don't do anything. I'd have traveled around the neighborhood to see if I could find it, and if so, I'd take it back.

Sounds like it worked out well for you, and given the setup, I'd have done the same thing. You might have been able to get some money out of them though. $500, and you don't press charges. Give them 20 minutes to come up with cash. That's probably a good amount for the PITA they caused.
 
At first I thought you went too far (IMO) with pressing charges, but on second thought, I guess I agree with you. Not sure what I would've done. Probably nothing cause I'm a pussy.
 
I understand your desire to punish the "kid", but if the whole family is degenerates (sounds like it if the mom was lying to the sheriff), then don't they know where you live?

I mean, they can really make your life miserable if they want to. I'm not saying that I wouldn't have done the same thing, but did you consider the "revenge costs" associated with pressing charges?
 
You did the right thing. At least there's a chance they'll learn the lesson now, before they do something really bad.

Just store the bike inside from now on, and keep an eye out for anything unusual.
 
Good for you! I love it there are way to many " Getting Away " with thefts and etc... That is why they think nothing of it.

I would have done the exact same thing.
 
I understand your desire to punish the "kid", but if the whole family is degenerates (sounds like it if the mom was lying to the sheriff), then don't they know where you live?

I mean, they can really make your life miserable if they want to. I'm not saying that I wouldn't have done the same thing, but did you consider the "revenge costs" associated with pressing charges?

What you're saying makes sense, but that would essentially be giving in to bullying. I say put up a nice security system sign in the yard, maybe even get a real one, and let them decide if they want to chance it. Heck, they already know you'll full-press on a crappy bike theft.
If that all doesn't work you could just punch them all in the neck. That sucks.
 

Kinda being a bit sarcastic. My bad.

On another note, seems like a lot of people would roll over and take it because they are "scared'? I can see both sides but you don't let people do that and get away with it, regardless of the value of the item.

From theft to arrest was probably under 3 hours. Maybe they'll realize how closely they are being watched....
 
Put the bike right back where it was.

Maybe you'll get lucky and reel in another dumbass or two.
 
Kinda being a bit sarcastic. My bad.

On another note, seems like a lot of people would roll over and take it because they are "scared'? I can see both sides but you don't let people do that and get away with it, regardless of the value of the item.

From theft to arrest was probably under 3 hours. Maybe they'll realize how closely they are being watched....

Scared? "Discretion is the better part of valor"...

I would have been tempted to press charges, too. But, in my experience, you have to do a cost/benefit analysis. The bike wasn't worth anything and you showed the family that you can and will track them down. Could you not pressing charges have made them see you as "soft"? Possibly. Will the whole family and any hooligan friends of the 17 year-old have it out for you now? Probably.

I get standing up for the principle of it, but some battles are just not worth fighting when the other side has nothing to lose.
 
Good job handling the situation. But I would recommend getting a camera system setup for the exterior of your house since I'm sure the kid, his friends, or his fam will start shit with you in the future...maybe a broken window or slashed tires or whatnot.
 
Scared? "Discretion is the better part of valor"...

I would have been tempted to press charges, too. But, in my experience, you have to do a cost/benefit analysis. The bike wasn't worth anything and you showed the family that you can and will track them down. Could you not pressing charges have made them see you as "soft"? Possibly. Will the whole family and any hooligan friends of the 17 year-old have it out for you now? Probably.

I get standing up for the principle of it, but some battles are just not worth fighting when the other side has nothing to lose.

Your argument is logical, but I still disagree. I would punish that asshole to the full extent of the law. Kids usually don't learn unless there's a tangible outcome that somehow catches their attention. Sixone was right in my opinion; this was an opportunity to teach him about actions and their respective consequences before he does something worse.
 
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