Gods!!!

I had all of my new truck parts in my utility trailer locked up and waiting for me to finally get around to putting the Excursion in the garage and getting to work. (gotta finish cleaning the garage first) Several thousand dollars in parts.


Unfortunately, due to a family obligation that I could not get out of and was time sensitive, I had to use the trailer to transport a rather large and expensive painting. 5' X 6'. Needless to say, I could not transport anything else in the trailer with it to keep shifting cargo from damaging the painting cushioned and strapped to the wall.

Sooo, No room in the garage, I had to stack it all in front of the Garage door and cover it with a couple of tarps. Parked two cars in front of that too. Asked the wife and older daughter to keep watch on it and I would be gone about 2 hours. (I was nervous a bit over it, but I still had to transport the painting.
When I came back home, the sun had just set and it was dark. I drive up and park at the curb as I had to move the other cars to back the trailer in the driveway. I see something unusual. A pickup parked across the street from the house.

As I get out of the Ex, I see a guy walking on the lawn toward the pickup. he's carrying a large brown box. I yell at him "what the h**l do ya think you're doing, and he quickly tossed the box in the bed, jumps in and peals off.

Mumbling his tag number as I dial 911 , I call it in on the cell phone. Late model Superduty pickup, dark color 2 door. Cops nailed him within 3 minutes.

But my brand new Ford 6.0 26 row transmission cooler is toast. It got smashed when he tossed it. Thankfully that is all he got. Anyway the cops have it for evidence, along with my reciept for god knows how long.


I wish to heck that I did not have to leave that stuff out there. I thought my wife and daughter were going to have a fit. They were really distraught and blaming themeselves. They had just checked the stuff within the last five minutes.

I guess I just wanted to vent in frustration, guys. Looks like I'll be finding a cheaper alternative to trans cooling. Maybe a Tru cool max or something. (I don't like using used parts)

 

At least hes gonna get what he deserves. Good work nailing him!!

 

That isn't going to happen as he will still be alive and whole.

 

What got me is that he's driving a expensive truck, and (after I checked his address) lives in a upscale neighborhood in a house that even in this economy is worth 300G's, and is not a young punk. looked to be in the mid to late 30's.

Go figure....

 

How did he know what was in the box? It doesn't seem random.

 

I don't know...

 

The stupidity of some people never ceases to amaze me. He's got an expensive truck, lives in a $300k house in a nice neighborhood and will now have a robbery conviction on his record. If this is his first conviction he'll likely never be able to get a decent job again... Why would someone jeopardize their future on a trams cooler? I dont care how expensive it was! No telling how many times he's gotten away with something like that to make him so bold to do it in broad view of the neighborhood...

 

Well at least you got him before he got all your stuff and disappeared. Strange indeed he knew the boxes were outside and what was in them. Also strange and idiotic that he would try and take the boxes while someone was home and just walking across the yard? I am sure it is obvious to him with 12 superduties and X's sitting around that you are into the trucks. Possibly he was watching your place every day as he drove by for just the right situation.

 

Oh yeah, was there writing on any of the boxes explaining whats inside?

 

With the criminal justice system in this country he was probably out on bail before the paperwork by the cop was done. With prison overcrowding he will never see the inside of a prison cell. Parole and slap on the wrist.

Arm yourself. Because when seconds count the police are only minutes away.

 

Definitely take precautions because this guy was casing you place for some time lookin' to score some Superduty parts on the cheap. You may want to consider some security cameras for the future since locks can be popped pretty fast, you would have visual evidence.

Fools get what they deserve and it's good to see he got caught. Good thing the idiot ran and kept the trans cooler in the truck bed. If he had dumped it in your yard, it would have been a situation of opposing stories with no criminal evidence. A criminal record should now follow him. Make sure the DA does not thy to plea bargain down to a lesser offense because it would be "easier". This guy needs to be tagged as a criminal, because he is.

Glad you and the family are safe and you did the right thing by following safely and calling 911 pronto!

 

The boxes were under a tarp, too.

Somebody or something tipped him off. Maybe he was just driving by when I was emptying the trailer. I don't know.

 

The boxes were either in the Ford or manufacturers original boxes with labels. Standard Ford part labels, etc.

 

New Jersey is a "will not issue" CCW state. But in my home, I and the family are safe.

(I was a custom gunsmith for 15 years )

 

That sucks......note to self......can't move to Jersey......it's easy in VA to get a CC permit.....long as you are not a felon.........good to know about the gunsmith though.....do you still tinker with it at all ?