Someone stole my Hinderer!

[JCRiley]

So. . . Long story short: my Fiance and I went to the bar and ended up meeting a couple of people who worked together(a girl and a guy). Well to be safe they drove us home. The girl with my Fiance in our car and I rode with the guy in his truck. The guy seemed cool as I had spoken to him a bit and asked if he wanted to hang-out at the house for a bit before he headed home; which he did.

He stayed in the kitchen the whole time except when he asked to use the restroom. He had to walk through the living room. My Battleship Gray Hinderer 3" Slicer was on the coffee table. A ZT 0566 sat next to it. Now I might have been outside smoking a cigarette when he walked back through the house or I might have still been in the kitchen- I'm not completely sure. My Fiance had gone to bed. We went outside for a smoke and he left. When I returned inside the house after his departure, I noticed that my Hinderer was not on the table anymore, although the ZT was.

I immediately realized what happened, but calmly collected my thoughts and made sure I didn't do something with it or anything else happened to it. My knives go either in my pocket or in their box. The Hinderer was on the table because I was cleaning it. I didn't move the knife from the table. It's not in its box and not in ANY of my pants pockets(or anywhere in the house). SO, the guy took the knife. I know it to be true, though I cannot prove it.

I know the guy's first name and where he works. My Fiance has his coworkers phone number.


I have no idea how to go about this whole deal. Am I at a total loss? There isn't anything linking me to the knife except the sale thread here on BF(although there's no way to say specifically that that exact knife is the one in the thread). I do have the fancy CF scale and TI hardware that I took off of the knife.

The most that I can see that I could do legal is confront him in person -while he isn't at work- in a non-threatening manner and ask if he took anything from the house. I would like to gauge his reaction to the question. If he says 'no' then I would probably have to tell him that I know that he did take something and that I know what it is and tell him that I'm going to file a police report(which would go nooooowhere).



This is the knife. I took off the CF scale and TI hardware and put on the battleship gray scale and regular hardware so I could use it and carry it with out too much hesitation.




--What do you guys think? I'm trying not to get too upset, but I just lost basically $500. Opinions?


PS - I wasn't sure to put this here or the knife laws place, but best I could figure is that here was more appropriate. Please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Sosa]

Maybe you should lo ball him into the ground haha.

 

[Keypper]

Only a person who is into knives would know to steal a knife like that... To the common man a hinderer is just a knife, why would he take the hinderer instead of the ZT if he just wanted to snatch a knife (assuming he did take the knife)?

Maybe you can chat him up and ask him if he's into knives and casually mention that you just lost your Hinderer recently. Unless he's a man with no shame (or he didn't take it).. he'd probably flinch a little or start acting off. That's probably your best clue and opportunity to just straight up ask him if he took it. Of course.... do this only if you have no doubt he took it, and it sounds like you don't.

 

[tim808]

I think your going about it in the right way. Don't go to the dark side if it doesn't return .......as tempting as it may be

 

[sykes3170]

Next time don't bring home strangers that you met at a bar. By leaving them sitting in plain site of a thief is like putting candy in front of a baby.

It would not hurt to confront him in a calm manner. Don't through out accusations. Maybe the booze clouded his judgement and his conscience will get the better of him.

 

[killgar]

I seriously doubt that he would freely admit to stealing it.

If you are absolutely confidant that he stole the knife, my advice would be to bluff him- very calmly tell him that you have hidden security cameras all throughout your home and that you have video of him stealing the knife. Tell him that if he doesn't return the knife immediately that you will give the video to the cops and file charges. Tell him that the knife retails for over $500 which is a felony. If he continues to deny, or asks to see the video, tell him you are going to the cops and that he can see the video at his trial.

This may or may not work, but I don't really see anything else working (short of violence that is, which I don't recommend).

Trying to appeal to his sense of decency seems like it would be a waste of time. After all, if he were a decent person he wouldn't have stolen your knife.

Of course, if he is a member here and reads this thread then my bluff advice won't work.

My other advice is- don't invite strangers you met in a bar back to your home.

 

[The Government]

That sucks! I have had knives stolen from me before and it is a terrible feeling.

Thieves have a talent (and habit) of lying directly in other people's faces. Keep that in mind before confronting him with the "honesty and integrity approach." If he is a habitual thief, he has probably dealt with this kind of confrontation many times. He might have lied to you already about multiple things, fogging your ability to tell when he is or is not telling the truth to begin with.

 

[strategy9]

Yeah, you definitely don't want my advice. So i wont give any, just that that does suck; my deepest sympathy and condolences in the event you don't get it back. I hope it works out. A shame not just in losing a high end knife like that, but the simple principle that you can't trust people into your home after spending an entire casual evening with them.

 

[Fanglekai]

Record your conversation for evidence if he does admit to it.

 

[Sosa]

Don't feel too sorry. This guy leaves absurd PMs and I don't know what to say really.

 

[SURVIVAL&WEAPONS]

Only a person who is into knives would know to steal a knife like that... To the common man a hinderer is just a knife, why would he take the hinderer instead of the ZT if he just wanted to snatch a knife (assuming he did take the knife)?

Maybe you can chat him up and ask him if he's into knives and casually mention that you just lost your Hinderer recently. Unless he's a man with no shame (or he didn't take it).. he'd probably flinch a little or start acting off. That's probably your best clue and opportunity to just straight up ask him if he took it. Of course.... do this only if you have no doubt he took it, and it sounds like you don't.

^^ This might be a safer course of action. Jumping out with a statement of filing a police report might cause that guy to get PO'ed and want to start something. If you really want to file a report you don't need to let him know, i don't know if your state is the same but here in California $500 and up is grand theft (felony if I'm not mistaken). I don't know your city/town but maybe you will have better luck than anyone in my family filing a report of a burglary & grand theft, multiple times. Due to extremely limited resources (a community service officer told me no cop wants to work for SJPD due to no benefits if injured on the job). So essentially our reports were just so we can feel good that the cops made a report, but they wont follow up. Once the had finger prints, "our Sgt. Doesn't want to pursue the case". So you would be the expert on how crime is handled in your city, regarding police reports filed. Or you can directly question him on the subject, roll the dice and see what happens from there. The report will give the incident a paper trail at minimum if you end up wanting to go to small claims, if you still feel he took it. The decision is ultimately yours, you'll end up with a lot of different answers to your question , my response is just a tired person at 3AM after working in an attic:yawn:, there are others who can give you refined responses (that are not groggy too). Hope all goes well with your situation though.

 

[arskrg]

Maybe you should lo ball him into the ground haha.

Don't feel too sorry. This guy leaves absurd PMs and I don't know what to say really.

Maybe start your own feedback thread instead of passive aggressively clogging up this thread?
Just a thought.

 

[LuxN]

I seriously doubt that he would freely admit to stealing it.

If you are absolutely confidant that he stole the knife, my advice would be to bluff him- very calmly tell him that you have hidden security cameras all throughout your home and that you have video of him stealing the knife. Tell him that if he doesn't return the knife immediately that you will give the video to the cops and file charges. Tell him that the knife retails for over $500 which is a felony. If he continues to deny, or asks to see the video, tell him you are going to the cops and that he can see the video at his trial.

This may or may not work, but I don't really see anything else working (short of violence that is, which I don't recommend).

Trying to appeal to his sense of decency seems like it would be a waste of time. After all, if he were a decent person he wouldn't have stolen your knife.

Of course, if he is a member here and reads this thread then my bluff advice won't work.

My other advice is- don't invite strangers you met in a bar back to your home.

I'd probably go this route.. And also totally agree with the not inviting strangers into your home advice.

 

[craytab]

I don't know if threatening this guy with a lie is a good way to go about this. Do you really want to put a guy willing to steal almost right in front of you, in a corner based on a lie? See the video (that does not exist) at his trial? Thieves generally aren't the most upstanding of people. Believe it or not they can even be unstable. Do go around threatening them. You have no idea what this guys deal is. You met him drunk at a bar. He could be a complete psycho. In fear of going to jail with a felony (which you threatened him with) he could decide the best coarse of action would be to make sure you don't tell the cops anything.

Chalk it up to an expensive learning experience. Don't get too drunk at a bar to drive and have random strangers drive you home (how much did they drink?) and don't invite them in to drink more and leave them alone with your expensive stuff. Seems like there might be a couple lessons in there.

 

[cchu518]

I usually am very level headed and vengeful about such things. Steal my knife get four of your sidewall slashed on your truck tires.

 

[Clanton]

No don't threaten him he has a knife!
Seriously though where are you in north GA? People run there mouths in small towns I might be able to help you out.

 

[PURPLEDC]

given that you were intoxicated enough to need a ride home and what I would call several lapses in judgment over the course of the evening I cant say with conviction that I believe the knife was stolen. And since I have been in the position many times of thinking someone took or moved one of my possessions only to discover it was my own fault I err on the side of caution and never accuse anyone of wrong doing like that unless I am absolutely sure that I am correct. And even then its like you say how is proof to be obtained. There is an equal chance this person is innocent, guilty as a matter of habit or guilty as a matter of he himself being intoxicated and it being a lapse in his own judgment. Either way for me there are too many variables and contributing factors to poor judgment or ineffective memory of the events. Now please dont misunderstand. I am not trying to push blame on you but rather say that because of how the events transpired and what transpired that I cant in good faith say for sure what happened. I dont think it would be fair to place blame on anyone given what I know. But I would say that I would NEVER invite a stranger into my house, leave them unattended and around weapons.

 

[killgar]

I don't know if threatening this guy with a lie is a good way to go about this. Do you really want to put a guy willing to steal almost right in front of you, in a corner based on a lie? See the video (that does not exist) at his trial? Thieves generally aren't the most upstanding of people. Believe it or not they can even be unstable. Do go around threatening them. You have no idea what this guys deal is. You met him drunk at a bar. He could be a complete psycho. In fear of going to jail with a felony (which you threatened him with) he could decide the best coarse of action would be to make sure you don't tell the cops anything.

Chalk it up to an expensive learning experience. Don't get too drunk at a bar to drive and have random strangers drive you home (how much did they drink?) and don't invite them in to drink more and leave them alone with your expensive stuff. Seems like there might be a couple lessons in there.

This sort of thinking could be applied to any criminal, and any crime.

If you saw someone vandalizing or stealing your car, would you not call the police and report them? Would you not file charges and testify in court and pursue financial restitution? After all, the guy might be dangerous and he might come after you. Or, his friends and/or family members might be dangerous and decide to come after you to prevent you from testifying.

I for one would not let a criminal get away with victimizing me, and deny myself any chance at justice, financial restitution, and/or the return of my property, simply because there might be a risk of retaliation.

If someone stole a $500 knife from me, or a $5 dollar knife from me, and if I saw a chance to get it back, then I would do so. But that's me, I don't believe in letting criminals just take anything they want from me and let them get away with it. Not if I have a chance to do something about it.

As far as the OP's situation, without any witnesses, or any sort of proof, neither the criminal justice system nor the civil courts are going to do anything to help him. The only chance he has of recovering his knife are entirely his own actions. Unfortunately, since the OP has no proof or witnesses, he has only three choices-1. Accept the loss without any attempt to get the knife back. 2. Ask politely for the guy to return the knife. 3. Try to bluff the guy into returning the knife.

If the OP is afraid of confronting the thief in person, perhaps he can acquire his phone number from the coworker.

 

[craytab]

This sort of thinking could be applied to any criminal, and any crime.

If you saw someone vandalizing or stealing your car, would you not call the police and report them? Would you not file charges and testify in court and pursue financial restitution? After all, the guy might be dangerous and he might come after you. Or, his friends and/or family members might be dangerous and decide to come after you to prevent you from testifying.

This comparison isn't even close to valid. Look at what the OP stated. It is nothing like the argument you are trying to make. He doesn't even know this guy took his knife. He was intoxicated. He can't call the police because he can't prove anything happened at all, what-so-ever....

Instead you suggest threatening a random possible thief from the local bar with a lie. In what world is this even close to the same as calling the cops because you see someone vandalizing your car? I'll tell you what world, not a single one.

I for one would not let a criminal get away with victimizing me, and deny myself any chance at justice, financial restitution, and/or the return of my property, simply because there might be a risk of retaliation.

If someone stole a $500 knife from me, or a $5 dollar knife from me, and if I saw a chance to get it back, then I would do so. But that's me, I don't believe in letting criminals just take anything they want from me and let them get away with it. Not if I have a chance to do something about it.

Again, not applicable. OP doesn't even no for sure there was a crime. And I guess some people have different moral standards. I don't let thieves get away with stuff either but this is a bit ridiculous. Making up lies? Threatening a possible innocent person to get your way?

As far as the OP's situation, without any witnesses, or any sort of proof, neither the criminal justice system nor the civil courts are going to do anything to help him. The only chance he has of recovering his knife are entirely his own actions. Unfortunately, since the OP has no proof or witnesses, he has only three choices-1. Accept the loss without any attempt to get the knife back. 2. Ask politely for the guy to return the knife. 3. Try to bluff the guy into returning the knife.

And by bluff you mean lie and threaten. Nice.

Again, the OP was intoxicated enough not to be able to drive and continued to drink with this stranger while leaving him alone with expensive weapons. The only way to alleviate this situation is to have not gotten into it in the first place. The only action the OP can do now, with out sinking to the level of the very criminal who stands accused, would be to ask for the knife back, and frankly, that won't work. Lesson learned.

No don't threaten him he has a knife!
Seriously though where are you in north GA? People run there mouths in small towns I might be able to help you out.

I usually am very level headed and vengeful about such things. Steal my knife get four of your sidewall slashed on your truck tires.

Really guys?

 

[asdf12345]

Considering you and your fiance were intoxicated, got into a strangers' car, gave them your address, and then invited them into your home, you're lucky theft was the worst thing to happen to you.

I wouldn't pull that thread if I were you.