Observed a theft!!

Retired LTC USAR · Feb 7, 2013

Wife and I were getting ready to go out yesterday evening (1645 hrs).

We live in a spit level house and have a large window over the door. I was standing at the top of the steps looking to the street/house across the street when I observed a car pull up.

Kid got out of the passenger side, walked up the front yard to the porch, using his foot kicked the door mat off a large package, picked up the package walked back to the car and they left.

I had walked out to the driveway (but had no shoes on, no cell phone and no car keys) and watched them speed down the street.

We called the police and reported what we had observed. Went over the her house when we came home, but she was not home. We did see where a police offocer had left his card on her front door.

When I first saw the car I knew something was just not right. 30 seconds and it was over.

Just never know what you are going to see when you look out your window!!

steamloco76 · Feb 7, 2013

I hope the package was something totally useless to the drive-by thief.

At least you called the police. A large percentage of people ignore these things not wishing to be involved!

I have a story of my own.

Years back I lived in a 1970's raised ranch house. My bedroom was over the two car garage. We had screw-drive door openers which really held the doors tight to the floor. About four nights in a row one summer I was awakened by my neighbors dog going nuts around 3AM. I looked out the window and didn't see anything other than my neighbor peeking out his window in my direction.

About a week after the dog barking incidents, I was washing my car and noticed damage to the bottom of one of our garage doors. It looked like someone had pried-up on the door bottom with a crow bar damaging the seal. I put down the hose and went across the street to my neighbors house and range the bell.
When Mr. Neighbor answered the door, I asked if he and his wife had seen anything strange going on around my place in the past week or two. He said "Oh yeah. Several nights last week my dog woke me up. There were two guys around your garage doors and side door one of those nights. Looked like they were trying to get in."

What!- Why didn't you call me!-Why didn't you call the cops!?
He said he thought maybe they were friends of mine

JcMack · Feb 7, 2013

Hopefully the neighbor had ordered a Black Mamba for her reptile collection, and it was just delivered.

timn8er · Feb 7, 2013

Sounds like he was clueless or "didn't want to get involved".

photoman · Feb 7, 2013

Very common for criminals to use stolen credit cards and have deliveries to a randomly picked house. As soon as the online delivery notification comes, they go pick up the package before the homeowner arrives.

It's possible your neighbor didn't order a thing and has no idea any of this happened.

Flathead · Feb 7, 2013

A few years ago I witnessed a shady looking character walking up and down our street numerous times looking in the neighbor' yards. After a while he vaulted a fence and took some copper pipe and then ran down the street. I called the Sheriff's office and they sent a deputy out about 30 minutes later. When I explained to him what I saw he asked if anyone was home at that particular home. I told him no the residents were at work as far as I knew. His response caught me flat footed. He said, and I quote, " No victim, no crime" and left. So much for "To Protect and Serve".

labworm · Feb 7, 2013

Probably happens frequently, the thief follows the UPS/FedEx truck and takes off with the package after delivery.

At least you were able to call the police.

Your neighbors probably were telling you the truth as to why they didn't call the police.

We really are a messed up society.

JJEH · Feb 7, 2013

That was an almost perfect drug deal...

Walking up to the front door, acting like a visitor/friend and take the package with either $ or drugs in. Or both.

Sadly the neighbor saw it and is probably now on their hitlist...

photoman · Feb 7, 2013

Keeping a quality video camera at hand is probably as important as keeping a quality gun at hand.

Comrad · Feb 7, 2013

Remember when the delivery guy rang the bell and asked for a signature?

bullmack · Feb 7, 2013

I've never understood the logic of leaving packages right in front of the door then announcing their presence by standing the doormat in front of them.

JcMack · Feb 7, 2013

People are actually stealing my Netfix DVD's either en-route to, or from my mailbox. So far they've sent them back to Netflix after viewing.

gm272gs · Feb 7, 2013

I'll bet she ordered a dozen pmags back in December and that was them!

dougb1946 · Feb 7, 2013

Years back, and maybe still going on, drug dealers would have drugs shipped to homes. They would case an area and find a home where everybody was gone during the day. The LE in the area (sheriff, if I remember right) intercepted a package, substituted talc, and sent the package on its way. When the people got home, they found the package, picked it up and brought it in. SWAT hit the door, shot two black labs who were running for the bedroom, floored, cuffed, and tore up the house looking for drugs. The victims, one who was the town mayor, were totally innocent of everything, except receiving a box of talc.
I am sure the sheriff had to pay for damages, but the dogs were still dead.
Might not want to pick up anything unknown on your porch.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/crime-scene/ruben-castaneda/pr-georges-settles-lawsuit-in.html

feralmerril · Feb 7, 2013

I had sent a exspendsive colt single action army back to colt for work. We came home late one evening and found it on our doorstep.

jimmyj · Feb 7, 2013

Flathead said:
A few years ago I witnessed a shady looking character walking up and down our street numerous times looking in the neighbor' yards. After a while he vaulted a fence and took some copper pipe and then ran down the street. I called the Sheriff's office and they sent a deputy out about 30 minutes later. When I explained to him what I saw he asked if anyone was home at that particular home. I told him no the residents were at work as far as I knew. His response caught me flat footed. He said, and I quote, " No victim, no crime" and left. So much for "To Protect and Serve".

Unfortunely there are Officers who will dodge making a report. This is one reason that Agencies have adopted "You Roll, You Write" system.

A10 · Feb 7, 2013

Flathead said:
A few years ago I witnessed a shady looking character walking up and down our street numerous times looking in the neighbor' yards. After a while he vaulted a fence and took some copper pipe and then ran down the street. I called the Sheriff's office and they sent a deputy out about 30 minutes later. When I explained to him what I saw he asked if anyone was home at that particular home. I told him no the residents were at work as far as I knew. His response caught me flat footed. He said, and I quote, " No victim, no crime" and left. So much for "To Protect and Serve".

I wonder how he deals with prostitution and drugs......

FishingPilot · Feb 7, 2013

I work from home and my desk faces the window overlooking the street in front of my house. Last year, I noticed a car pull up to my driveway where someone got out, walked over to the utility pole and started cutting the copper ground wire running down the length of the pole. I quickly grabbed the camera on my desk and got pictures of the person, car and license plate. Called the electric company first, they called the sheriff's department. The sheriff called me about 10 minutes later. I told them what happened, the license plate and some other info. About 20 minutes later I get a call from a deputy who has the car pulled over. I described the person, the clothes, the writing on the sleeve, even the color of the grips on the tin-snips he used to cut the wire. I got a summons to court a few weeks later. Turns out they had cut well over 100 poles in my neighborhood alone. The three of them (driver, cutter and inside man at the recycling center) each got 10 years in prison, with all of it suspended but 10 days. Always be prepared with a camera. The DA told me they all denied any wrong doing until he showed them my photos. They all took a deal to repay the utility company, 10 days in jail (on weekends since they worked) and 5 years probation. The judge told them that any infraction would cause him to impose the full 10 year sentence. I keep waiting on them to drive by shoot up my house. Got the camera ready.....

Steve in Vermont · Feb 7, 2013

Here in Vermont one tactic was to set up a "contest" in Canada. The winner was given a free ski weekend for 2 at a ski resort in Vermont, complete with a free car. The people picked up the car, drove to Vermont, and returned home not knowing that while they slept at the ski resort someone was retrieving drugs hidden in the car. If they got caught at the border that was their problem. As for police raids, I've seen more screw ups from these operations than I can count. Wrong address. Wrong person arrested. The common thread from these operations gone wrong is poor training, poor supervision, and a lack of procedure. As budgets are cut we can look forward to more problems like this. (And back in the day I participated in many drug raids. I was the "dog" man, carried an 870 to deal with the critters. Encountered many mean dogs, never had to shoot one)

Nightowl · Feb 7, 2013

FishingPilot said:
I work from home and my desk faces the window overlooking the street in front of my house. Last year, I noticed a car pull up to my driveway where someone got out, walked over to the utility pole and started cutting the copper ground wire running down the length of the pole. I quickly grabbed the camera on my desk and got pictures of the person, car and license plate. Called the electric company first, they called the sheriff's department. The sheriff called me about 10 minutes later. I told them what happened, the license plate and some other info. About 20 minutes later I get a call from a deputy who has the car pulled over. I described the person, the clothes, the writing on the sleeve, even the color of the grips on the tin-snips he used to cut the wire. I got a summons to court a few weeks later. Turns out they had cut well over 100 poles in my neighborhood alone. The three of them (driver, cutter and inside man at the recycling center) each got 10 years in prison, with all of it suspended but 10 days. Always be prepared with a camera. The DA told me they all denied any wrong doing until he showed them my photos. They all took a deal to repay the utility company, 10 days in jail (on weekends since they worked) and 5 years probation. The judge told them that any infraction would cause him to impose the full 10 year sentence. I keep waiting on them to drive by shoot up my house. Got the camera ready.....

And how long do you think it will be before they are stealing again? About 11 days? Criminals have to work really hard to spend time in prison! Judges are not doing the society any favors by being lenient.

Observed a theft!!

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