About three weeks ago between 6:30 PM Sunday night and 7 AM Monday morning my shop was broken in to and some cash stolen out of my office. I've owned this business for 23 years and this was the first time it had been broken in to. They pried open a window in the back facing the alley. That prompted me to get some sort of security camera to try out. Didn't have a lot of money to spend so I got on Amazon and searched, found an Amcrest Wifi camera less than a hundred bucks and bought it, had it installed up and running 4 days after the break in.

It's kind of a cool camera, but I didn't know how well it'd work, so just wanted to play with it awhile before adding any more cameras or an NVR. As it is, I get motion detection emails after hours with and attached photo. Quite often I get a photo of nothing but an empty office, I suspect its headlights changing the lighting on the wall coming from the passing street. Last night I'd got in from Coyote hunting about 10:00pm and set in my chair and got on my laptop. Had about 4 notifications that were nothing but an empty office, delete as usual. I was actually browsing ARFCOM and got another notification, don't usually check them right away but this time I did and this is what I received.



At this point I was more excited than I was Coyote hunting. Dialed 911 to report the burglary in process and stayed on the line as the police arrived, which they did in about three minutes and had the front and back covered. The kids put their hands up apparently and the police kick in the front door to apprehend them as I was on my way to the shop. One of them is 18 and in Jail at the moment, the other is a Juvi and in the detention center. The older boy is my oldest boys sons age and had gone to school with him, but my son hadn't seen him since middle school, so suspect he dropped out. I'd never seen either before.

They made entry by trying to pry all the windows in the alley open, but they couldn't as I had screwed them all shut, which in itself pisses me off as I open them in the summer time for air circulation (it's a collision repair shop). They then pried my new rear entrance door open (no deadbolt). I really hope they tie them to the first break-in so I can tack the stolen cash on to these two. Who know how long, if or when I'd ever see any compensation....

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Rod
M&P 22A, 40c, 15A, 15-22

Congrats! Good job! Vigilance!

Good job...

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Eccentric old coot

Can't stand a thief.
Good job with the camera install.

Chuck

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They hold no Quarter

Cool, I hope they put a real hurt on the devils. That was well worth the $100.00.

I love good endings to bad stories.

This story warms my heart! I love when a sound investment pays almost immediate dividends!

A good ending to a bad thing happening.

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

Don't you just love it when a plan comes together

You can file a Civil Suit against the Adult. Here in Texas the Juvi's parents are responsible for your losses up to $10,000.

Could we make their bail and take them out in the country and "party" with them?

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

Get two big dogs from the shelter they will serve you well.

How Sweet it is.......... !!

I would want the judge to slap them hard or at least the parents.

Got to love it.

Thanks all! I gotta say, when I opened that email and saw that picture, it was as exciting as seeing a coyote come in to my sights!

I don't know either of the boys. The younger one is new to the area, apparently getting a leg up with the right crowd....

From what I've been told, the 18 year old is a chip off the ol block. A few people in town who knew them said his dad is pretty much the same way, or was when he was a kid. I got a kick when the Officer said the 18 Year wouldn't say a word, and after being pressed for his name, all he said was he pleads the 5th. I heard that and laughed.

I'm not a lawsuit kind of person, but I do think about it, but then I think regardless of the outcome, would it really do any good, would there ever be any restitution?

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Rod
M&P 22A, 40c, 15A, 15-22

Junk yards are a dying business. Go by one and adopt his junk yard dog. Teach him to go for the zipper and let him know he can keep all "treats".

P.S. Get to know him very, very well before you turn him loose loose the first time..

I'm glad your system is working. It is nice. Maybe you'll sleep better. Maybe the word will spread and you'll be left alone.

It's obviously not a high end camera, but still pretty neat for the price. I'd forgot I do have the ability while in live view mode from my phone to tap the speaker icon and I could have listened in to anything they may have been saying. As well as, I could have hit the mike button and talked to them.

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Rod
M&P 22A, 40c, 15A, 15-22

a gorilla with an attitude or a hungry alligator is better than a junk yard dog for security.

Ah, there's good news tonight.

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NOT SO FAST,, NOT-- SO-- FAST

But I tell you, just catching their ugly mugs in the act is priceless.

Oh, and on the fifth amendment the cops were probably thinking, "You don't have to tell us a thing because we have your behinds cold." Smart burglar.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I think model70hunter hit on a pretty good idea. I mean if anybody did try to break in and met up with Cujo or one of his canine pals, you can bet the ranch they'd never try it again.

Personally, I'm afraid I'd just let the dog continue to gnaw on the guy while I casually dialed 911...but not before I made calls to family and friends to tell them about the night's happenings...while they listened to the perp's maniacal screaming in the background as the dog began to slowly emasculate and then disembowel him.

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Pack light and cinch tight.

I say get a kitty. No mess to clean up like with the dogs. You will,however,need a jumbo litter box!



f.t.

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South Carolina-God's country

The Police Chief said he just wanted to make me aware that I could file a complaint with the city for the cost of the front door since they kicked it in. I looked at him and asked if that was as opposed to tacking it on to those two kids, he said yes. I said that doesn't seem right, you did your job and I have the right to file a complaint?? Ain't no way I'm filing a complaint, what is wrong with laws these days??

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Rod
M&P 22A, 40c, 15A, 15-22

Too bad you couldn't mount a gun to the camera.

Good job!

Regards,

Dave

Unfortunately, with the way the legal system is today, you probably would have found 5 minutes alone with each one of them far more satisfying.

Good show WHAT. -))

I wonder how Fred Sanford would have handled this situation? After all, in a couple of episodes, he carried a Springfield rifle. :-)))

I love a story with a happy ending! Good job!

Here's a little update.

The adult is still in jail, no court appearance yet. The Juvi is new to the community, moved here from Texas. His mom died when he was younger, his dad is in prison. He already has a record (multiple) in Texas, dating back to when he was 13, he'll be 18 in May. He's being released OR.... He is living with his grandmother and Aunt, not attending school because they aren't his legal guardian and can't enroll him. There is a chance they will offer a diversion. Are you kidding me?

The adult has no known record, and has lived here quite some time.

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Rod
M&P 22A, 40c, 15A, 15-22

Years ago a Vietnam vet had a second hand store in Liberty City, an underpriveledged neighborhood in Miami. After numerous break ins he wired a metal grate by a door to 110 current. He was arrested after a burglar was found electrocuted inside his store.

The grand jury chose not to indict.
I admired the man for his pro active stance, but he lost me later when he filed suit against Miami PD for false arrest..
Google "Prentice Rasheed" for a follow up.

That story would be so aggravating to have to deal with.

A few years ago I was having problems with kids mostly, but others as well, climbing up on the roof of my building from the alley. My shop is down town and is a brick building in between two other buildings, I have no lot to fence and gate off. The back of the roof is about 7 feet off the ground. The building to my north is two story and has windows that look out over my roof and from the front, the fasade hides the pitched roof. This building has been abandoned for years and kids would break in to it and get on my roof through those windows, all kinds of graffiti up there! The issue I had, along with wear and tear on the singled roof, was they would plug my roof drains with beer can and bottles. I bitched at the city enough they finally boarded up the empty building to my north. One officer joked I should put a hot wire across the back of the roof. I said I'd like to but I'm afraid I'd be liable for someone getting hurt then (even though I would give a you know what).

Reading that story just makes my blood boil when I read the statement from the burglars sister when she said the shop owner shouldn't have booby trapped the building and that he should have had a burglar alarm. A person SHOULDN'T have to do either, but idiots bring about a need for action.

I'm a little steamed this morning just because to top off my week, my banks fraud division just called about suspicious activity on my debit card. I hadn't used it in a couple of weeks and this morning there were numerous charges, some small one, with equal credits, and they were followed up by larger ones from the initial places, locations ranged from the USA, Canada and Japan. So now I have to wait for them to send me a new debit card. All transactions will be reimbursed, but FFS, GD crooks!

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Rod
M&P 22A, 40c, 15A, 15-22

Live by a code, do the right thing and STILL one
has to cover their butts. Aggravating to say the least.