Caught thief on tape and now?

Jens Schuetz

Jens Schuetz

Joined
Jun 24, 2013
Messages
4,162
My cars front facing camera caught on audio how the test drivers of a repair shop stole my zippo. Can hear them opening the drawer and playing with it.
What should I do? Police?
 
Will try that. Thank you. It's just $30 (zippo + gas insert) but it's more the act than the money which makes me sad.
 
Jens Schuetz said:
Will try that. Thank you. It's just $30 (zippo + gas insert) but it's more the act than the money which makes me sad.
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Dollar figure doesn't matter theft is theft ,as said take the audio to the manager and let him hear it . Tell him you want your stuff back if you get your stuff back go on your way ,if you don't call the police .
 
Ok. Actuslly went there again after picking up my kids from Summercamp.

After showing them the video they gave me the money.

When hearing the distinct Zippo sound over the speakers it was obvious to the manager.

Before that he had asked the mechanic in question twice and he denied. Even gave him a chance by saying maybe it fell out of the car. Nope.
No idea if this will impact his employment. But he'll probably get a little paycheck reduction.

Also makes me wonder how much more he might have lifted from other unsuspecting customers.

Lesson, seriously empty all your compartments of even the least likely to be stolen stuff and next time I'll point the camera into the car.
;-)
 
dishonest and unnecessary repairs done by crooked shops aren't enough. They have to steal your stuff too. What a rip I don't let those scumbags near my vehicles.
 
Jens Schuetz said:
Ok. Actuslly went there again after picking up my kids from Summercamp.

After showing them the video they gave me the money.

When hearing the distinct Zippo sound over the speakers it was obvious to the manager.

Before that he had asked the mechanic in question twice and he denied. Even gave him a chance by saying maybe it fell out of the car. Nope.
No idea if this will impact his employment. But he'll probably get a little paycheck reduction.

Also makes me wonder how much more he might have lifted from other unsuspecting customers.

Lesson, seriously empty all your compartments of even the least likely to be stolen stuff and next time I'll point the camera into the car.
;-)
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Most guys that work at a shop like that are pretty tight , unless it's a dealership or something .

I know most places that would of been a ticket out the door .

If they would steal a lighter imagine if you left cash or whatever in there or what if the lighter would of been sentimental to you. Goes way beyond just a lighter.

I can't stand a liar or a thief and usually if someone is one they are the other and they have no business around other peoples belongings.

My first job was at a car lot detailing cars . My boss would bait the new employees if something was in the car he'd leave it or he might drop a 20 under the seat . You can imagine we lost a few employees
 
Spartan00 said:
Most guys that work at a shop like that are pretty tight , unless it's a dealership or something .

I know most places that would of been a ticket out the door .

If they would steal a lighter imagine if you left cash or whatever in there or what if the lighter would of been sentimental to you. Goes way beyond just a lighter.

I can't stand a liar or a thief and usually if someone is one they are the other and they have no business around other peoples belongings.

My first job was at a car lot detailing cars . My boss would bait the new employees if something was in the car he'd leave it or he might drop a 20 under the seat . You can imagine we lost a few employees
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Thanks guys. I just boosted the audio and since I'm sure there was only one door opened and closed, he must have been talking to himself.

"It's a normal zippo though"

"You would have done the same. You'll never look"
"You would have done the same"

No, I wouldn't have!
 
Sounds like Gollum from LOTR...."My Precious!"

I had $5+ in change taken from my car....at an Audi dealer no less. Crazy thing is that they actually gave me a slip detailing the contents of the car when I dropped it off. Manager started talking all serious about calling the cops, etc, but ended up just gving me a $5 bill out of his pocket lol. But ever since then I empty my car before taking it anywhere.
 
Awesome job Jens :thumbup:. Way to stand up for yourself and get some satisfaction, as well as exposing a thief.

Too many people in this world would have just let it go because of the low dollar value, and/or because they are afraid of being "confrontational", or because they don't want to "cause trouble". And as a result, the bad guys get away with it and get to go right on stealing from others.
 
Curious what camera you have for your car that they didn't think about and that you can rotate around? Thanks
 
I had someone steal the brand new endura I had given to my girlfriend some time back. We both specifically recall it being in a certain place before she took her car in, gone when she came back. No proof though, so of course that's probably how many get away with it.
 
If that type of news (theft) got out on line, or word of mouth. It would have a crippling affect on that company.
 
Glad things worked out for you and hopefully the thief was shown the door.

I had a small gold ring taken off my keychain at a well known muffler and brake shop franchise.
I had all the quarters taken out of my center console at a well known oil change franchise.

I now lock everything up in the truck and only give them the ignition key anywhere I get service done.
I even lock up my garage door opener before service.
 
I trust my local mechanic and staff. This is not always the case.

Also - well in past - I have presented the 'Travelling Alone' information series to groups to make people more aware of human kinds' more self-interested, predatory, and even perverse side - related to travel and the vehicle.

Clearing the vehicle of valuables and recording odometer readings pre service - if possible, do it.

Before finding a trusted mechanic, as a person simply seeking maintenance of any kind, and as a person who hates noise in general, I found that my vehicle was always much noisier following service .. here may I comment that I don't think shifty mechanics can keep their wrenches out of a financially promising hole in the exhaust system.

Hey, that's just me.

Some manufacturers offer valet keys that do not unlock the glove box but only work the ignition.

Simply - I dislike creeps who steal. Don't make it easy for their survival. Financial predation is rampant all around us. Most is hidden.

Thanks for a reminder to be vigilant. :thumbup:
 
I've tested car washes around the area by leaving a small S&W assist opener in plain sight and so far, still have it.
That's how I know at least these guys are ethical.
 
Sosa said:
dishonest and unnecessary repairs done by crooked shops aren't enough. They have to steal your stuff too. What a rip I don't let those scumbags near my vehicles.
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Ain't that the truth. I got burned by a local dealership mechanic when I was 17 and never looked back. I do all my own work unless it involves special tools that I can't afford. When I do take it in somewhere, I only take it to places that let me sit right there and watch. But that's usually just tires and oil. I've wrestled enough tires by hand to last me a good long while. I'll still do small stuff, but cars I have done at a shop. I also get my oil changed at a drive through place because they let me sit in my truck while they work and watch them on that screen. I'm all thumbs anyway and just end up making a mess when I do my own oil.
 
I keep a small can in a cup holder for loose change in my center between the front seats, and people often ask me why I stay with my auto shop I always go to, and it's because in 10 years, I've never had one of their employees take the change in it.
 
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