What are you doing in my garage?

[FP]

Bringing home groceries this afternoon and I notice a beat up brown chevy driving down our street and slowing down periodically. I am walking in and out of our house getting the groceries out of the car. The last trip back to the car and as I open our door to the garage I see a tall, scruffy looking dude in our garage looking through our cabinets.

I immediately say "What the hell are you doing in my garage?" to which he turns around and replies "Hey man, you need some trees trimmed?" and half heartedly holds out what appears to be a business card. I say "No and please get off my property" and he immediately turns and quickly walks to the running car his buddy has waiting at the curb.

With 10% unemployment and things only getting worse with this economy I wonder how much more common this shit will become. Two buddies had their credit card #s stolen last night at the bars.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

The correct response is "i'm getting my gun and calling the cops....in that order"

 

[mozirry]

typical thief, did you call the cops?

 

[FP]

Tried to but I guess their non-emergency number isn't manned on the weekends (small town). I decided against calling 911 as it wasn't an emergency. I will call them on Monday and give a desc. of the car/people. I got the first few #s off their license plate too.

 

[JMapleton]

I don't understand theives, they risk jail and life to steal a few hundred bucks worth of stuff. If you're going to steal, why such small things?

 

[mozirry]

description of the perp + vehicle + location + part of the plate # is enough to maybe locate a suspect who has a record or at large.

I would call 911 and say that you need to report someone who was trespassing and may be causing problems elsewhere.

I called 911 once after some drunk ran at my car while I was driving and threw a full bottle on my windshield, I just informed the dispatch to be aware in the area that my vehicle got attacked and the guy ran away, just to give the officers in the area a heads up.

But I'm with you if you don't want to take it too far though, sometimes its fruitless =(

 

[Exterous]

Originally posted by: FP
Bringing home groceries this afternoon and I notice a beat up brown chevy driving down our street and slowing down periodically. I am walking in and out of our house getting the groceries out of the car. The last trip back to the car and as I open our door to the garage I see a tall, scruffy looking dude in our garage looking through our cabinets.

I immediately say "What the hell are you doing in my garage?" to which he turns around and replies "Hey man, you need some trees trimmed?" and half heartedly holds out what appears to be a business card. I say "No and please get off my property" and he immediately turns and quickly walks to the running car his buddy has waiting at the curb.

With 10% unemployment and things only getting worse with this economy I wonder how much more common this shit will become. Two buddies had their credit card #s stolen last night at the bars.

Was it an SUV? Because that sounds eerily similar to something that happened to me - although he didn't go through my cabinets.

I was in my garage working when someone said "Hey buddy" behind me. Surprised, i turned around and saw a guy standing in my garage within arms length of me. He then asked, persistantly if he could trim my shrubs, wash or wax my car or clean my house

 

[PieIsAwesome]

What an unusually un-dramatic encounter with a thief inside someone's home.
Me? I would have been "OMFG GTFO I get my gun and u DIE fuck I have no gun gah I gonna die take the children leave me!11!"

 

[TallBill]

"Hey buddy, why don't you lay down on the floor before I knock your head off?"

 

[rezinn]

Sucks man. I would have been swinging something at his head prior to asking any questions.

 

[MovingTarget]

Originally posted by: JMapleton
I don't understand theives, they risk jail and life to steal a few hundred bucks worth of stuff. If you're going to steal, why such small things?

...because not everyone has the foresight, patience, or resources to go Bernie Madoff on our collective arses. :laugh:

 

[BoomerD]

I dunno...every circumstance is different, and we react differently in each, but I suspect that if the above scenario happened to me, the guy wouldn't have left the scene without the cops letting him go.
I may be crippled up somewhat, but I'm NOT gonna tolerate some motherfucker in my garage...then let him walk away.

 

[Elias824]

man I probably would have taken his offer, he seemed pretty professional

 

[alkemyst]

I had to run from the cops one night after a kegger got busted....pulled in an open garage and closed the door. It was about 1am.

Some dude came out and I was just like "Hi, our flight got in late...Uncle Frank around?"

The guy was calm once I explained that 'my uncle' told me to just pull in the open garage

 

[DrawninwarD]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
I had to run from the cops one night after a kegger got busted....pulled in an open garage and closed the door. It was about 1am.

Some dude came out and I was just like "Hi, our flight got in late...Uncle Frank around?"

The guy was calm once I explained that 'my uncle' told me to just pull in the open garage

Yes, my flight got in late, but I have no luggage whatsoever. I've also been drinking heavily. LOL.

 

[dahunan]

Originally posted by: FP
Tried to but I guess their non-emergency number isn't manned on the weekends (small town). I decided against calling 911 as it wasn't an emergency. I will call them on Monday and give a desc. of the car/people. I got the first few #s off their license plate too.

That is an emergency.. anytime you have a criminal who will invade your dwelling like that

Also, he could very well be wanted for prior crimes. Hopefully someone else called him in.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I sometimes see the bible thumpers coming down the street. If my garage is open I usually close it and just let my dog bark at them until they go the hell away.

Haven't had anything like what the OP happen though. Might have to start keeping the .44 out in the garage hidden where only I know where it is when I'm out there working.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: DrawninwarD

Originally posted by: alkemyst
I had to run from the cops one night after a kegger got busted....pulled in an open garage and closed the door. It was about 1am.

Some dude came out and I was just like "Hi, our flight got in late...Uncle Frank around?"

The guy was calm once I explained that 'my uncle' told me to just pull in the open garage

Yes, my flight got in late, but I have no luggage whatsoever. I've also been drinking heavily. LOL.

luggage would still be in the trunk at that point he wasn't cross-examing me.

 

[GasX]

unless you live in a gang violence infested area where anything less than gunplay brings the cops out, 3 men trolling your neighborhood with intent is DEFINITELY an emergency.