Ran in to get some stuff and left the truck unlocked. Came out 10 minutes later and my Milwaukee 1/2″ drill was gone, along with a couple small items. Might have happened somewhere else, but probably not.
I think lowlifes look around these places for easy pickins, knew better, but thought it would be OK for 10 minutes for gosh sakes, on a saturday afternoon, in a good area even.
That sort of thing really burns me up.
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Replies
That just sucks. I hate hearing stuff like that. Get's me riled up.
I better shut up.
Edited 5/21/2005 11:27 pm ET by razzman
Ask the manager to have loss prevention look at the digital videotape of the parking lot and maybe it was caught on tape?
That's a thought. I still feel stupid for leaving the tools unlocked. It could have been way worse. Two other places it could have happened were when I was loading up, and when I got to the worksite.
how about lock your truck "everywhere" ...
this ain't Mayberry no more ...
and besides ... there are crackheads in Mayberry ... so lock your truck there too.
U of all people, Martha, show know better. Didn't time behind bars teach ya nothing?
Jeff
I went to Chicago downtown area once and had everything stolen from the trunk, even some dirty laundry. It was locked though, and you had to break in just to see what was in there. Like I said, I knew better, but I still do something stupid at least once a day. Stoopid stoopid stoopid....
Well, Martha, live and learn, what you did was stupid, stupid alright.
Ran in to get some stuff and left the truck unlocked. Came out 10 minutes later and my Milwaukee 1/2" drill was gone, along with a couple small items.
As someone who grew up in the NYC area, and lived years in SoCal, my reaction was "asking for it, weren't you?". Any New Yorker would just assume the vehicle contents would disappear from an unlocked vehicle.
'never forget my first time in a Seven-Eleven parking lot here in the Pacific NW. I saw someone pull up in front of the store, get out, and go in to the store with not only the car unlocked, but with the keys in the ignition and the engine running. I thought I had landed on another planet.
'never forget my first time in a Seven-Eleven parking lot here in the Pacific NW. I saw someone pull up in front of the store, get out, and go in to the store with not only the car unlocked, but with the keys in the ignition and the engine running. I thought I had landed on another planet.
A few years ago I was in a sub shop picking up lunch when a guy cam in to pick up an order he had called in. He got outside just in time to see his car going down the street. He had left the keys in the ignition, engine running. I don't understand why anybody does this. Was his car hard to start if he had turned off the ignition? Maybe he had a crank start engine...
An electritian I know had his van cleaned out at 9am in Home Depot parking lot. Someone actually broke the window in broad daylight to get in. Another carpenter I know had his truck robbed, right in front of his jobsight. He had his miter box set up about 10' from the truck, and was cutting trim for the 2nd floor bath when it happened. The thieves timed the heist so he had just cut a piece, and walked back in to fit it.
One of my partners had his truck stolen while he was filling up gas cans by his tailgate! The guy jumped into the running truck (it was winter) and just sped off causing several full gas cans that were on the tailgate to fall off.
A couple hours later, he found most of his tools in the local pawnshop.
blue
He should have went and broke the pawnshop owner's fingers.
"I can't say I was ever lost, but I was bewildered once for three days."
I have heard of guys roofing and nailing away. Suddenly the guns quit....Someone swiped a running compressor.
Last job I was on last week, all the GC's ladders got feet, our Aluma-poles are locked to the pics ( or vice versa) I'l like see someone TRY to carry off a 24' Pic with a 28' pole attached...If they could, I'd hire him to help set up and tear down..LOL. Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
this is small, so you feel compelled to look at it
And.........................I ................................think..................it .............................works...................wait, I have a plan...ok?...............let's ...oh neve mind, just email me and forgo the stuff,,is that whole life? or just the recyclababbels?
Reminds of the BTstory here a while back where someone is on a high ladder with a spraygun, painting around a corner from the compressor.
The sprayer quits and by the time he's off the ladder to see what's going on the works are gone with nothing but a track of paint running to the roadside.
be a vigilante
"I can't say I was ever lost, but I was bewildered once for three days."
Sorry, but ditto what Jeffbuck said. Mine is locked all of the time - can be a pain in the butt, but it sure cuts the losses.
Jim
If I can't see my van, I'll lock it, everytime. I want to get those wire screens for the back two windows. I'll probably order them today. I really should get some time of alarm system. I've seen those huge locks you can put on the exterior of the van doors to lock with a padlock, but they look kinda ugly...and I don't think I've seen one actually used.Anyone have any ideas or tips on making your van/pick-up less of a target?I always park in a very visible place when I go to Depot...never in with the rest of the vehicles.jocobe
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"Anyone have any ideas or tips on making your van/pick-up less of a target?"
Pit bull in the passenger seat?
I know one contractor who always has his Rottweiler..and another a german shepard. Never heard either of them being ripped off...I guess one of my four cats wouldn't help!jocobeView Image
Sorry to hear- but I always lock mine , everywhere. I keep a truck key on a clip on my nail pouch. Got me thinking, anyone make a keychain control that would lock or unlock my van as I aproached and left , even with my hands full?
I've got the big ugly locks on my van; they've worked for the year they have been on. My neighbor has about 10 individual padlocks (keyed the same same, I hope) on his wood cabinets. Either way, they only function to slow someone down, hopefully enough to deter them. Door locks can be popped in seconds with a long skinny flathead.
Home Depot and jobsites attracts thieves. They lurk in the parking lot and work in teams. One follows you in other cleans you out. They talk via cell phones or walkie talkie. Most of them are tradesmen.
I have had all my trim tools stolen broad daylight 2pm truck locked alarm on and cop in parking lot sitting in his patrol car. I just was in for a box of nails and some gas cartridges.....cost me 2K.
They broke the glass on the cap and passanger seat window alram screamining and all. I asked the cop he says go home park it in the driveway and then call it in. btw ho ins aint cheap as it is. (citizen on patrol...pah thanks for nothing).
I asked HD manager for some help...he laughed (i almost punched him as he smirked) and told me about the way the theives have been working his store and then offered to resell me new tools with a 10% discount (i started to wonder about him still do).
I now order almost all my material and HO foots delivery price. I hate the box anyways glad to pass them up when i can. but I cant always.
So when I can I plan ahead and unload its a pain but only costs me time. When I can't....I use ghetto/urban camo'....I keep a bag of trash and several nasty lookin tarps all goes on top of tools etc. Never leave flashy "come get me" stuff out. I don't park near the contractors and never between two vans. When I can I park right by the door where I can see it. I have often paid a helper for the ride and he/she sits. Dog would be cheaper.
guys I work with are true and blue times were hard. job wasn't done couldn't finish and get check without tools....so some gave me old ones some lent me...finished the job bought new tools and now keep an eye out as I walk thru the lots.
If you see something (and someone had to) don't just walk on by. It could be you next!!!!
I hope I catch one! If I do.......If you do give him my regards!!!!
live and learn but live!
Martha Stewart,
There is a mall in New Jersey that opened maybe 16 or 17 years ago. Nice place, near really nice neighborhoods with easy access to main roads. That meant? Nice Cars.
And, for just those reasons, parking in it's massive parking lot was like handing the thieves your keys. They had to break down and hire a private security firm with experience in just such matters to get it under control.
Same thing at Home Depot. Lots of trucks, lots of tools and no one really looks suspicious milling about the truck. Hey, they are probably just making room for what they are picking up, or maybe theye are just loading up.
When I worked for myself I never had anythign stolen at an HD. One tip. And this is going to sound bad but I don't care. I NEVER, and I mean NEVER frequent a Home Depot that has a large percentage of immigrant (most likely illegal) labor type customers. At least not woth $30K worth of tools in my truck I don't.
Former coworker had a ladder lifted right off the top of his truck at Depot. He uses a U-lock now.
And seriously consider NOT lettering your truck. It's basically telling every lowlife out there that there's "tools aplenty" in that rig! I never had anyone say, "I saw your name on your truck..." Not worth it. And even if you did get a call from one customer that saw your name could it really be worth the loss of tools that you've taken years to accumulate?
Just my thoughts.
KevinThey don’t build ‘em like they used to. And as my Dad would say, “Thank God!”
so whichn thives U think yer fooling by not having lettering?
Hey, look ... there's a big white one ton van with ladder racks ... no letters though ...
must be for running groceries .... up trees?
Jeff
ROAR!
"I can't say I was ever lost, but I was bewildered once for three days."
I once knew a guy who went back into the site for a minute and saw some guys taking off with tools they'd swiped from his unlocked van. He chased off after them, and they didn't see him coming. And unfortunatley for them they had forgot to get gas before there little heist. So he caught up with them at a gas station while they were filling up. They were cooked, 'cause Don was a big guy...lol
The company I work for now locks and chains everything in the van, the van is alarmed and imobilized. They'd been broken into twice, the last time, the thieves must of spent along time in there, because the back door is backed up tight against the house and the sliding door is up tight against a wall. They got out the big compressor that was undertheath everything, up over the bench seat and out the drivers side door. they also got all the guns and some other stuff. Only good thing was they swiped several makita circular saw cases that had some cheap work lights stored in em...guess they didn't know how much a saw weighs...lol
Unfortunately these stories are all to common here in California. HD in particular is SWARMING with illegal aliens just waiting to grab your stuff! I've even seen them reach into guys trucks while they were stopped at red lights. Hey, I thought they were just nice people just wanting to work...ya right!!
You need a couple of terriers.
"But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.... and just as you want people to treat you, treat them in the same way."
Here is a thought... a keyless entry (key fob with button) makes it sooo much easier to lock/unlock the truck for the countless trips to get another tool. I unlock as I walk up to it, and lock as I walk away. A real time saver.
Matt
hehehe..you said FOB Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Is Gunner more happy, now.?
OK - I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawyer... :-) what's FOB?
Matt
LOL...use yer God given imagination...surely you can come up with something.
After all, we are the creators of grand things, a simple acronymn is childs play.
( it was a gift of us that say that 'you said......' that I shared wiyh you, if I really have to esplain it, the joke is lost)
sometimes I speak in paranthectical sentances, so you can't really hear me. Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Is Gunner more happy, now.?
My imagination gave me something pretty quickly for FO, bot not sure where Bob fits in here :-)
Matt
Same thing happens here to me..LOL
We'll double team it I am sure.
Just don't lose focus of the original FOB and....oh, never mind, it can get twisted way too fast..
Ain't seen ya around in while, good to hear from ya. Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Is Gunner more happy, now.?
yea - thanks. I was out of town for a week - needed the break somethin' fearse. - before that, I've was workin a bunch of 12 hr days, so don't have so much time for talking about it too.
Matt
well i can't tell you what FOB means exactly,but it references a key chain of anytype. hit fob on ebay and you will find all sorts o f keychains for sale. hit it with a s i don't know what you'll find. larryhand me the chainsaw, i need to trim the casing just a hair.
FOB Free On Board (shipping term)
FOB Full of Baloney [slang]
FOB Found On Base
FOB Flat On Bottom (Eccentric Piping Reducer)
FOB Father Of Boys
FOB Field Operations Bureau
FOB free on board [transportation]
FOB Followers of the Bananameister [slang]
FOB Full of Beer [slang]
FOB Friend(s) Of Bill (Clinton) [slang]
FOB Federal Office Building
FOB Father Of the Bride
FOB foot of bed [medical]
FOB Fresh off the Boat [slang]
FOB Forward Operations Base
FOB Freight On Board
FOB Focus on Basics
FOB Boyd's Collection Ltd [stock symbol]
FOB Factory Order Basis
You need a couple of terriers.
Like I said before, things could have been worse. I have a Lab/australian shepherd mixed dog that usually goes everywhere I go, but I left her home. She would have run off with the basturds given half a chance. I don't even want to think of that.
Edited 5/22/2005 8:14 pm ET by Martha Stewart
Same thing happened to me during one of Home Depot's contractor lunchs. I had a $300 28' stolen off the top rack. I'd just put the thing on the truck racks with the 24'. Right before it happened, I told my employee to lock the bins on his side of the truck since the Walmart right next door is teeming with crackhead thieves, and didn't even think about the ladders. The worst part of it was that the lunch was outside!!! How did I NOT see them lifting it?1
I buy everything I can from a watchful local lumber yard. When I must run to HD, always I unload my truck.
A plumber friend lost several major power tools in the HD parking lot, from a locked truck. The perps, who were ultimately caught, were cruising the lot, and would watch for guys to go in, knowing they had a few minutes to smash and grab. I still lock my van, all four doors, every time. Lock it or lose it.
The crush of folks at the big boxes on week ends usually keeps me away--they've tied up all the help' they're all parked in the way; and I wind up answering all the questions.
Saturday night, after sunset--looks like Monday at open. A lot easier to find a well-lit spot to park. Even easier to spot people to broke to go out on Saturday night, too.
Bummer to have stuff lifted, though. Even worse that your tools were converted into almost no cash, which likely went to support one habit or another. Not like it fed anybody or raised any shelter--that's the real crime in my book.
The tools are now both used and "hot," a stigma on them for a good while. That means they wonlt likely be even used th their own potential. That means they'll just be on a shelf somewhere; a pawn shop, an evidence locker, some car trunk somewhere. That's the shame of it.
Yeah, my old Milwaukee 1/2 holeshooter. We were good together. Sure, she didn't have the unblemished beauty she once had, but I still admired her for what she was. And you should have heard her purr, no Dewalt could ever compare. But, boy was she stout. She hurt my wrist bad one time. And she always broke her socket adapters, so I had one custom made for her from a MAC extension. She could really drill a hole, but she sure could screw too. I miss her so bad. I'm going to have to get another keg of nails and try to forget her, cause she run off with a no good bum and left me forever.
Stop it, the guitar man dropped his harp, an' my eyes are water'n from all the cig smoke before beer one . . . <g>
Good riff of blues, though.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)