I'm PISSED, some lowlife just stole my van.

T-Bird · #1 03-19-2008, 09:23 PM

Dang.

Woke up to take a healthy nightly leak at 4 Am, looked outside the window where my van is parked, but wait a minute, somethings wrong, just an empty slot, W.T.F. There is only the lock-cylinder where my POS wan was supposed to be

.

Took a while to really sink in, and obviously this nights sleep is done. Well I was going to wake up at 6 anyway.

Obviously tried to call the local police, no-one there (I guess the crooks have a blast between 6 Pm and 8 Am). Then I called the general poclice number and was redirected to the emergency center (911 over there), which always makes me a bit uneasy when dealing with non life-threatening issues. I guess the money has to be saved somewhere

.

Well the lady took my information and redirected it to the local police patrols here (I'm guessing....one?) so I hope they find it soon, I'm quite far away from my home at the moment, and I'd like to get home before the holidays begin.

And not to be racist or prejudiced, but this town is rather close to the Russian border and there's still a high demand for spares for all kinds of cars.

Pissed.
Sam

Bett · #2 03-19-2008, 09:29 PM

Quote:

And not to be racist or prejudiced, but this town is rather close to the Russian border and there's still a high demand for spares for all kinds of cars.

Ah, I was just thinking, car robbery... in Finland?, but I see your point. I don't have anything against Russia either, but that's just how it is. At least you caught it pretty early. You have a better chance of getting your van back.

NJL · #3 03-19-2008, 10:05 PM

uuuuuggggggg that has to be one of the worst feelings!!

i'm sorry for your loss!

RedCoatMonster · #4 03-20-2008, 12:04 AM

Feed your dog gunpowder and keep him inside your next van at night.

peterbright · #5 03-20-2008, 06:05 AM

Bad luck...If thieves want it bad enough, they'll get it.

Bryan316 · #6 03-20-2008, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterbright

Bad luck...If thieves want it bad enough, they'll get it.

No matter how well you plan, how much you protect, how careful you are, if thieves want it bad enough, they'll get it. No matter what.

CTbass&birdsong · #7 03-20-2008, 06:32 AM

Sorry about your misfortune...

dinghy · #8 03-20-2008, 06:40 AM

I feel for you. A couple days ago my backpack was thefted.

Not even kidding, it's not nearly as big a deal as a van but it's kind of important when you're 15 and all of your work and $200 of textbooks are in there.

soong · #9 03-20-2008, 06:46 AM

wow. rather than just "bad luck etc"

thats truly a massive loss man.
pray for the best

casualmadness · #10 03-20-2008, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dinghy

I feel for you. A couple days ago my backpack was thefted.

Not even kidding, it's not nearly as big a deal as a van but it's kind of important when you're 15 and all of your work and $200 of textbooks are in there.

Yeah that sucks. Happened to a buddy of mine when I was at BIT. He was home from class one evening. Said three or four guys jumped on him. Took his bass and his wallet and took off. Then one of the guys came back and kicked him a few more times (he was on the ground still) and took his book bag. All of his books, homework, etc. They got everything plus they beat him down to boot. Sucks.

The Golden Boy · #11 03-20-2008, 07:58 AM

Sorry to hear it- good luck in getting your vehicle recovered in good shape.

Otherwise, good luck in getting reimbursed for it.

disenchant · #12 03-20-2008, 09:34 AM

Sorry to hear about it. I'm sending you some good vibes for a safe return of your vehicle and everything in it.

fenderhutz · #13 03-20-2008, 09:54 AM

Lets see.

Sports Car
Sedan
Van

Are you in an area where there other types of cars? Unless this dude was taking it to commit another crime to cover their tracks VAN would not be at the top of my list.

I hope you get it back safe.

buzzbass · #14 03-20-2008, 09:56 AM

Did you have good insurance ?

MonetBass · #15 03-20-2008, 11:32 AM

That happened to me several years ago. Some thugs stole it, stripped it, and left it in an alley a few miles away.

The good part: after my insurance co. totalled it, I came out ahead and was able to use the money as a downpayment on a nice car. It'll work out, man.

T-Bird · #16 03-20-2008, 12:22 PM

Hi.

Thanks for all the kind words, the things did turn for better after all. And surprisingly fast.

Only about an hour after I'd made the official report to the police station 8Am, a policeman called and told me that they've found my van, in one piece, not burned down as is the common practice

. An early morning jogger had called the station, thank God for those kind of people.

As he knew that I wasn't a local, just working there, he then offerd to come and take me from the place I work to the van to see if it would start, what's been stolen and so forth. I gladly took his offer as I had no idea where the "sports center" my van was, was located. Now this is not normal, usually they just tell You to get your ass up there ASAP. I was very, very grateful and told the officer so.

The front door lock was broken as I already knew, the steering column had been broken to disable the steering lock and the ignition base was off from the socket.

Other items missing were my parking meter change, an old but working GPS (was hidden under the seat) , an old CD player/radio and they didn't take the transmitter key, swell. On the other hand the CD doesn't even work

and some snacks and some Coca Cola. So they probably got the munchies.

They didn'd take any more valuable items, there were a few, so not much of a financial loss. All the technical drawings and my papers were at least inside the van too. They probably didn't know what an iPod transmitter was, so they left that cheapo too.

Allthough the van was about 8 km from the place i live in there, they had driven about 50 km around according to the fuel gauge and they would've run out of diesel rather soon. The officer had a hunch that they were planning to use the van for a "gig" this weekend. He admitted that he probably knew the guys who did it as one of them lived about 100 meters from the place the van was parked in the woods. Darvin would be proud.

I won't post a pic of my van, that would be a total waste of bandwith, but the officer and I both agreed that a sane person (not even on dope) would imagine to use a van like mine for a robbery or anything shady for that matter. An old (late 80's Ford Transit), rusty, flat black ultra rusty back doors etc. van would be a sure way to get pulled over even before the night-job.

Fortunately I could drive home today as the public transportation is a PITA during the holidays, plus hauling all my gear and tools to anywhere without a van, a MAJOR PITA.

Thank's again for the symphaty, it really means a lot to me.

Regards
Sam

buzzbass · #17 03-20-2008, 12:37 PM

great news, congrats

T-Bird · #18 03-20-2008, 12:40 PM

Hi.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dinghy

I feel for you. A couple days ago my backpack was thefted.

Not even kidding, it's not nearly as big a deal as a van but it's kind of important when you're 15 and all of your work and $200 of textbooks are in there.

I can totally relate to that, quite often my van is my office away from home and almost all the important documents are there. Other than my MC, my other vechicles are only for hauling stuff (and me) from place to place. Did You get anything recovered?

Quote:

Originally Posted by casualmadness

Yeah that sucks. Happened to a buddy of mine when I was at BIT. He was home from class one evening. Said three or four guys jumped on him. Took his bass and his wallet and took off. Then one of the guys came back and kicked him a few more times (he was on the ground still) and took his book bag. All of his books, homework, etc. They got everything plus they beat him down to boot. Sucks.

That really sucks, too bad that happens everywhere nowadays. I deal with a lot of stuff, instruments, other gear, tools etc. and I always make sure that they aren't hot, as I do know what it feels like to be robbed (this wasn't the first time, nor the last I'm afraid).

The bitch of it is that at least here in Finland Your hands are tied with the law. You can't booby-trap Your posessions. You can't hunt 'em down for a pay-back, nothing. You can guarantee that it's You behind the bars then. That sucks.

Hope Your buddy was otherwise fine, no permanent damage.

Regards
Sam

Microbass · #19 03-20-2008, 12:44 PM

glad you got your van back. a friend of a friend got stopped by 3 guys in the street, the brought out a knife and demanded his wallet and phone and ipod...

not being one to argue he just asked "can you hold my sandwich" - he had just purchased his dinner...

One of the fine troopers agreed to handle the scrumptious sandwich as my friend of a friend went to retrieve his... then managed to take one of the guys out. This led to a brawl of which the 3 guys ran away!