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How often does this happen

CHRISINDIANA | Posted in General Discussion on August 14, 2002 03:56am

The local lumber yard closed down early this year. I now have to travel many miles to the super warehouse yards.  Yesterday I left the job site for lunch. I ate lunch at home. I then went to one of these stores. I arrived at 1:00PM. I parked close to the contractor entrance. I was in the store for about 30 minutes. I stopped back at home  to drop some materials off, that were for another job. I went to get something out of one of the left side boxes on my truck. The first thing I found was that the box was unlocked. I had locked all the boxes before leaving home. Then I discovered all the left side  boxes had been emptied. This was the side away from the store, and just happened to be side all my the power tool were stored.  I have been in construction for 28 years and have never heard of this happening at a lumber yard, let alone in broad daylight. This was the first time I had gone to this store. It is also my last. I only went there because my client had picked out a light fixture that I could only find in stock at this store. Has anyone else had this happen to them?

Chris          

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  1. Decksperts | Aug 14, 2002 04:20am | #1

    Chris, you might want to see if the yard had surveillance video, maybe you can see if it happened there and possibly who did it.

  2. sdr25 | Aug 14, 2002 04:23am | #2

    Chris, that really stinks and unfortunately I've heard your experience is become more prevalent these days at the big boxes like Home Depot, I'm not sure when you say "super warehouse" if that's what your referring to?

    I worry every time I park in a HD parking lot about somebody getting into my truck, but I'm hoping the locks on my A.R.E. topper are too much for a quick crash and dash crook.

    Did they break the locks or do they appear to be opened as though somebody had a key?

    What type of boxes are you talking about?

    Scott R.
    1. CHRISINDIANA | Aug 14, 2002 05:22am | #3

      66,

      I did call them & they said they would check there tapes. They have not called back yet.

      Scott,

      It was at a Home Depot that this happened. From now on I will be sure I park so the side with the power tools in it is facing the store.

      I do not want to upset you, but I have an A.R.E. Shop Top on my truck. A.R.E. only use a few different key codes.  I have 5 doors & they are all keyed alike.

      Chris   

      1. rez | Aug 14, 2002 06:54am | #4

        In another thread a while back someone mentioned that professional bands of thieves had been targeting the big box stores. Apparently they sit and scout the parkinglot and know you'll be in the store long enough for them to do their dirty deal once you pull in and park.

        This stuff riles me up. I've been ripped off before and like the old Chinese remedy for thieves where they'd cut off the fingers.Half of good living is staying out of bad situations.

        1. Sancho | Aug 14, 2002 07:05am | #5

          I know I get a little nervous about going to the boxes with anything of value in my truck. I got a small tile job tomorrow and I have to pick some things up. I think Ill go before I load my truck or get to the job unload and set up then run to box Its happening all over. I know one home dildo where they had folks watching the parking lot for thieves. I hate a thief more than just about any kind of vermin that walks this planet. They have no reason t live as far as im concerned....   Darkworksite4: When the job is to small for everyone else, Its just about right for me"

      2. BKCBUILDER | Aug 14, 2002 01:44pm | #7

         I've had a few ARE caps. They use locks for the side boxes and rear hatch that have the key code right on the front. My weatherguard boxes had the same problem, so I changed the locks to a brand that had no key codes on them.

          I dream of the day I can catch someone stealing my tools from my truck. The guy will be begging me to call the police.

        1. oldpro007 | Aug 14, 2002 01:55pm | #8

          Hey the security at blowes and homer despot stinks. I got ripped at lowes in less than five minutes. The osb was stacked up high on the contractors side, the lot was hidden from veiw. The sob's got my chain saw, compressor and something else (can't remember) all chained up.

          Now I meet my helper there or don't stop. I try like crazy to buy from my friends at the local yard, but that is getting harder to do. The owner is 78 years old and getting rusty. I picked up three sheets of birch plywood and saw it was milled in '94 he is getting slow...Old Pro, not quite old, not quite pro, but closer every day on both...

      3. sdr25 | Aug 15, 2002 03:06am | #9

        Well Chris I didn't want to hear that... :-( I really like the A.R.E. toppers but now I know why I see some guys using a lock hasp and paddle lock.

        Guess I just pull right up to the contractor door from now on and if anybody at Home DePot has a problem they can kiss my...

        Thanks for the heads up. I did not know that about the locks on the A.R.E. (I bought mine used)

        Scott R.

        1. User avater
          JeffBuck | Aug 15, 2002 06:55am | #10

          Nearly happened to me with the old van. Real ugly......ran great but looked like a pile of crap! Parked at HD....came out......figured the alarm was just acting goofy by chirping a bunch of times. Didn't think much of it.

          The next day...go over to the pass side...and see the lock hanging half way out. Started to put two and two together! Remembered I had a drill box in the pass seat well. 

          Figured they got a screw driver...busted the lock half out...and set off the alarm. Musta scared them off. Had to laugh..at that time...my alarm light was down low on the dash.....they probably never expected a P.O.S. van like that to have an alarm!

          Since then.....and now on the new van...I moved the alarm light to up high on the dash.....centered over the steering wheel....mostly so it can be seen by the "troubled youth" that crawl down my alley at nite.

          I have tool theft ins....but that alarm paid for itself that day! Once again...Home Depot...about 3-4 years ago...broad daylight.......parked pretty close to the enterence...but with the pass side away from the store.

          All it'd take is another truck or van parked side by side to cover it. Know of a few guys that have been hit at different stores. Mostly HD....but that's because Lowes moved in fairly recently....I'm sure they're working those lots too.

          Jeff.......Sometimes on the toll road of life.....a handful of change is good.......

          1. 4Lorn1 | Aug 16, 2002 07:19am | #11

            That's low. Stealing tools from a working man. Most working men would give a dollar or two to anyone who really needed it. Most I know, even the hacks, are good people who would go out of their way to help folks.

            Makes me want to get together with a contractor friend and have him park his truck at the big box. When the thieves start messing with it the cavalry would swoop down on them and adjust their attitude. A good, American made, 3' crowbar rings like the liberty bell when swung in the service of justice.

            Just my gut feelings talking. I know better than taking justice into my own hands. Still a good thrashing would, at gut level, feel good, just and correct. A perfunctory blacking of the eye, a crime of the heat of the moment, followed by handing the miscreants over to the local law would have to do I guess.

          2. Piffin | Aug 16, 2002 07:32am | #12

            How about a legal sting then. Another van with a video camera. For bait, a few new but emptied boxes (maybe with some fake weight inside) for computors or tools and maybe an old tool on the way to the dump.

            It might not equall the visceral pleasure but it would be safer (remember that some gangs work with armed backup) and probably more effective.Excellence is its own reward!

          3. 4Lorn1 | Aug 16, 2002 08:26am | #13

            The video tape is a good idea. I would throw in some busted or yard sale power tools with hidden but well documented serial numbers and names so that when they are captured by the law with the tools in their possession it can be proven, beyond a reasonable doubt, that they are thieves, up to no good and deserving of hard time.

            If they don't take something the thieves can claim they were worried about the bins being ajar and were just closing them. Being upstanding citizens, altar boys all, and with all the rumors of thieves around they were just trying to do the right thing and the charges are simple misunderstanding. A circular saw and hammer drill, even if they don't work, in their car pretty much makes it an open and shut case.

            Still if I saw it happening I would not surprise myself if I jumped out and confronted the scum with any weapon close at hand. Sometimes I just go with my gut and this sort of thing makes my blood boil. Stealing tools from working folks is just too low to stomach. Grrrr. Hangins too good for them.

          4. Piffin | Aug 16, 2002 06:00pm | #14

            Another option would be to park immediately beind their vehicle and shut yours off. "Ooops, it won't start, I'll have to run in and make a phone call for help to start it"Excellence is its own reward!

          5. rez | Aug 16, 2002 07:00pm | #15

            Ya 4, I agree. But do you really want to get your name in the paper and possible litigation with a scum bag over a roll on the asphalt with blood and bruises for an enjoyable but too quick revenge rumble? Piffin said it right with a multi car sting, moving the cars to block them in. Coupled with a video of the theft maybe the police would even pat ya on the back. Half of good living is staying out of bad situations.

          6. SHazlett | Aug 18, 2002 05:01pm | #16

            One rainy day this spring I decided to make use of some down time by putting a ceiling fan in my sons' room. I stopped by a Lowes to purchase said fan and could not of been inside more than 5-6 minutes----I already knew exactly what fan I was buying.

            when I returned to my truck I discovered that the front half of my delta payload plus toolbox had been opened and I was now missing 3 roofing guns(2 bostich,1 paslode) My framing gun(bostich),circ. saw (milwaulkee) and panasonic cordless driver/drill were untouched.

            following a call to my insurance company,by the end of the day I was the proud owner of 2 new bostich guns and a sweet Max gun.( minus a $200 deductable)

            I have never worried about parking at real lumber yards,and ALWAYS worried about diy warehouse lots----guess I was right to be worried.since the theft I have had a nagging suspiscion that I was ripped off by an employee or ex-employee-----how else did they know which box to open?

          7. rez | Aug 18, 2002 05:18pm | #17

            I hate to hear stories like that. Riles me up. I can feel a bit of facial flush even now as I type. Does it kinda make you want to chase them down?

            I use to sign on with crews years back. But never knew who I'd be working around and sometimes didn't particularly care for the environment some of these guys would bring on the site with them. Kinda like always having to watch your own back. Wasn't worth it for the chaffing I endured against my genteel nature so I opted for solo labor and am a happy camper now. 

             Years back a guy worked for my dad. Nice guy, laughs, the whole bit. Years later a friend and acquaintance of this supposed nice guy fesses up and tells me how he use to brag about all the stuff he ripped from my pop. Guy's not around anymore so I never told pop, wanted to save him the grief. Seems the dark side is always trying to creep in.Half of good living is staying out of bad situations.

          8. JohnSprung | Aug 20, 2002 01:51am | #25

            A sting is a good idea, but it's not a DIY idea.  I'm not one to say "leave it to the professionals" very often, but when it comes to law enforcement....  

            -- J.S.

          9. Mooney | Aug 20, 2002 04:15am | #26

            I had a store that got broke into once a month. same MO. Cops could not catch the burgalar. They asked me to install silent alarms, with a dialer. I installed the alarm on Friday , and at 1:00 am Sunday morning the dialer called me and the police . They arrived to find the mouse in the trap. I pulled in behind them . They had already surrounded the store. They asked me for the key. Two minutes later he was in hand cuffs . They do need our help.

            Tim Mooney

          10. CHRISINDIANA | Aug 20, 2002 06:11am | #27

            Tom,

            What type of an engraver do you have?

            RReed40,

            I guess I have been getting strange looks, when I ask if they have any butt markers. A butt marker is used to mark hinges on interior & exterior doors & jambs. You lay it on the door or jamb in the proper location, tap it with a hammer. Then you  take a chisel  or router & cut out the area for the hinge. They work great.     

          11. cmcdade | Aug 20, 2002 08:18am | #28

            I bought a set of butt markers from http://www.toolcribofthenorth.com about a year ago.Dont know if they still have em, but its the only place I know of to get em from.I been fortunate as far as it goes with tools being stolen, although i did have to chase a clients St.Bernerd who was running away with my 4 ft level in his mouth.

             

            i never knew enough to know any better 

            Edited 8/20/2002 1:38:35 AM ET by CMCDADE

          12. PhillGiles | Aug 20, 2002 09:31am | #29

            Ah, a owner/GC I worked for last year went and bought one of those, a Stanley from HD to use on his french doors - I showed him how a template jig worked and never saw the "butt marker" again..

            Phill Giles

            The Unionville Woodwright

            Unionville, Ontario

          13. TommyB12 | Aug 20, 2002 10:06pm | #31

            I think a dremel or something, its the vibrating impact type with a carbide head.  Only takes a few seconds to put on, but you would have to grind it off.  I usually engrave a few places visible, and at least one where you wouldn't normally see it, like the battery cradle for example.

            I usually write "stolen from Tom padl 20199838".  Maybe the type of scmuck we're dealing with will have a moment of conscience when he sees this, or tries to sand it off.Tom

          14. CHRISINDIANA | Aug 22, 2002 06:59am | #32

            Thanks for all the advise. I just about got all of my tools replaced & back in the truck. I took your advise & etched my drivers licence number on the tools, cases, batteries, & chargers. The numbers are on the cases so they can be seen as soon as you open the tool box door. I took one further step. I took some bright colored spray paint & marked everything. It probably will not keep someone from steeling them.  I just thought that defacing them with paint & etching the number on them, if they are stolen the resale value should be very low. My old tools were in perfect condition.  Now I just need to get the locks replaced on the truck boxes.  I had never looked at the notches in the key until this happened. I could not believe what I saw. The key only has 1 notch cut in it.

            Chris

               

          15. JohnSprung | Aug 20, 2002 08:18pm | #30

            > They do need our help.

            Yes, but the point is, they're in charge.  Definitely not a good idea to try to do it without them.

            -- J.S.

          16. MisterT | Aug 23, 2002 03:41am | #35

            Another option would be a power tool box with one of those ink bombs in it. (or a stink bomb).

            Or train a rottweiller to lay quietly until the door is opened and some one gets in the van, then RUFF- CHOMP!

            TDo not try this at home!

            I am a trained professional!

  3. User avater
    dieselpig | Aug 14, 2002 01:15pm | #6

    When I think of myself walking out of a store to find my truck violated.... oh man does it work me up.  Dirtbags have no idea that they are truly stealing bread off of our tables by stealing our tools.   Whenever I go into the Cheapo, I not only lock all my boxes, I leave a surprise in the bed of my truck...my 100 pound German Shepard.  He doesn't  let anyone near the truck without causing a huge stink!

  4. Jgriff | Aug 19, 2002 12:32am | #18

    Chris

    Find yourself an attorney, make an appointment and sit down and speak with him about it.  If it's happened to you, it's happened to others and HD damn well knows about it.

    Knowing about the prevalence for criminal activity and doing nothing so that your customers are injured (theft is an injury) makes them liable in most states.

    Have your shark start talking class action...all the others who have been ripped off while shopping... proved by their own surveillance cameras and internal records. Bet you settle for a whole new set of tools, plus some $ for your aggravation and some $ for the attorney's fee.

    Did you report it to the police? Best do that, even now.



    Edited 8/18/2002 5:33:54 PM ET by Griff

    1. CHRISINDIANA | Aug 19, 2002 03:56am | #19

      Thanks for all the replies.                                                                                             

      Griff I did report the theft to the police that day. That is the police in my home town. The store were the theft took place was 76 miles from home & I did not discover it until I got home. I still have not heard back from Home Depot as to there tapes.

      I do not know what my family has done wrong in the last 2 weeks. It has got to get better. A week before my truck was broken into someone broke into my father in laws store. The day after the tools were taken from my truck, my father in laws store was broken into again.  My father in law is 88 years old & in a wheel chair. He has a small store that he sells radio control  cars & air planes from.  Both times they broke in at night. The first time they kicked the glass out of the front door, the second time they got into the utility room & went through an air vent & then when out a window. Besides trying to replace tools last week, I had to spend 2 days replacing doors & covering windows. I still have not gotten all my tools replaced. The biggest problem is that when I built the shelving in my truck, I built it for metal tool cases. Now I am having problems finding  metal cases. I was able to replace the Milwaukee tools with metal cases. The cordless drills is were I am having a problem. I had 4 cordless drills in metal cases. All I can find now are cordless drills in plastic cases.  

      Anyone have any Dewalt metal cordless drill cases there not using? 

      I also can not find butt markers. I can not find anyone that knows what they are let alone sell them.

      Chris 

          

        

      1. 4Lorn1 | Aug 19, 2002 05:24am | #20

        The problem is not limited to the big box stores. A year or so ago a group of thieves were targeting hotels. They would wait until the bars closed and make a tour of local motels. Looking for service trucks and company vans they would clean them out and pawn the goods the next day.

        Specialty crews, concrete crews, telcom and fiber installers, tower crews were hit pretty hard. Most of the crews were from out of state and either on the way to or working a local project. One crew, 5 tower builders, from California had three trucks cleaned out in one night. They lost the job due to a failure to perform, no tools, and returned from Florida loosing money every step of the way. From what I heard it nearly put the company out of business and gave the company a bad reputation in Florida. Bad luck or not they had to be removed from a contract and caused other contractors trouble by slowing a major job.

      2. TommyB12 | Aug 19, 2002 10:30pm | #21

        Yeah, I got ripped of at Home Depot too.  About 2k worth of stuff, felt like I was raped.  I filed with the police, and talked to the manager of Home depot.  They had no cameras, and didn't seem interested in installing them either.  I suggested that they at least alert the guys outside that this goes on.  Checked with a few of them and they said no one told them anything.  I confronted the manager about that and he claims he did.  The police were even less interested.  It seems like if  a kid knocks over a tombstone its front page news.

        A couple of things:

        Mark all your tools with your driver license number using an engraver.  The state police in my state have a program for identifying stolen property this way in my state and probably others.  I was told by the staties that it is frustrating for them when they find stolen property but it is not marked.  I keep my engraver on the workbench for when I purchase tools.

        Park your truck where it can be seen on both sides,  my home depot has some spaces parallel to the front of the store on one side.

        Make friends with the guys out front,  I usually grab one of them on the way in and point out my truck if there is anything in the bed.

        Make a point to watch for suspicious activity when you go to these places.  What amazes me is that someon lifted probably twenty tools out of the side of my truck, put it in another vehicle, and no one saw them or thought it suspicious?

        Reminds me of the time I was in depot and one of the forklift drives hit a gas line to one of the overhead heaters.  They started evacuating the stores, and it looked like the managers had no clue what to do.  I asked them if they knew where the gas shutoff was which drew a blank, slack-jawed stare.  I ran back into the store searching for it,  and witnessed them shoving a customer out of the store who didn't want to leave until he found his son.  They are morons of the first order by and large.  I noticed a recruiting poster they had when I was there today, it said "you don't have to be and expert to work at home depot, you don't even need experience!"  

        I know my nailgun guy references tools to the owner when they come in for repairs if possible.  I still have hope that the dirtbag who stole my impulse gun will take it in for repairs. 

        Tom

        1. User avater
          BossHog | Aug 19, 2002 11:02pm | #22

          Tom -

          Sorry to drift off the subject. But your broken gas line/dumb manager story reminded me of something that happened when I was in the Army.

          I was in a combat engineer company, so we had lots of heavy equipment. In the work bays of the motor pool building there were hanging gas heaters. One of the genius truck drives tried to make a "U" turn inside the work bays, and knocked down one of those heaters. So we had natural gas spewing out of a 2" gas line.

          The driver was kind enough to alert everyone inside the building before he took off running. The motor sargeant, being the veteran leader he was, immediately started barking out orders:

          Open all the doors! No don't do that, it might cause a spark! Wait - Somebody go inside and shut off the main breaker! No wait - That might cause a spark too!

          Seeing that our leadership was doing it's typical outstanding job, I took off riunning for my car. The motor Sargeant screamed at me to get my a$s back there, but I ignored him. I got a 12" crescent wrench from my trunk, headed around behind the building, and shut off the gas valve.

          I strolled back around to the front of the building (where the motor sargeant was still yelling) and said: "Sarge, I shut off the gas.

          He looked at me with a wild eyed look and screamed:

          "YOU WHAT????"

          Guess the thought hadn't crossed his mind up to that point.

          After he calmed down a bit, I told him I thought I deserved a medal for shutting off the gas and saving the motor pool. He told me to shut the F___k up and get back to work.

          Join the Army. Visit exotic places, meet interesting people, then kill them.

      3. rreed40 | Aug 20, 2002 12:33am | #23

        OK, I'll bite...what the H is a butt marker and do I have to wear baggy pants to have one?

        ps & knock on wood - i've never been ripped off - and all my tools are engraved with my drivers lic.# some of these carpenters here sound downright medival!!!!!!!!!!!

      4. Mooney | Aug 20, 2002 01:16am | #24

        Ive been thinking about this. I dont drive my tool truck to the boxes, as its several miles away. I drive an empty truck to them , but I was thinking about a big van with an alarm that makes the horn blow. LIke the new cars . Any one done that ? Im afraid to park at walmart with my tool truck!!

        Tim Mooney

  5. exlrrp | Aug 22, 2002 05:25pm | #33

    Home Depots

    You have my sympathy, Ive been ripped off too--the last time was my new Makita Chopsaw which I had thoroughly tied on the back of my truck while I ran into the store for a  fast 5 lbs of #8s. My Baby!!! gone when I returned, the rope cut to bits.

    I solve this problem by eschewing the superstores as much as possible  and going to the ones in nicer neighborhoods when I do.

    but what it really taught me is to lock my sht up and get insurance--there's really no one to blame but yourself if its insecure.

    What I hate about Home Depot is the length of time getting out of there--I have to figure at least 1/2 hour standing in line there--I always figure an hour per trip there. And the people there are serious retards, don't EVER ask them ANYTHING--some are stupid, some don't care some ar just plain crazy Lumberyards where you can establish a relationship with the people there who actually KNOW stuff is worth a little extra money, esp when ordering on the phone.

    1. TommyB12 | Aug 23, 2002 03:11am | #34

      You'd better watch you generalizations.  The breaktime  police are gonna get you.

      All home depot employees aren't retards.  I met one once who wasn't.  Just kidding.Tom

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