Lot of stuff stolen

[BillP]

There have been a lot of fishing items reported stolen here latly. Reading the posts, it sounds like folks are just letting off steam with no real thought that they might get there stuff back. I am a retired police Capt. who ran a "Community Policing" project. Basicly, Community Policing works because "the community" is involved. It's a partnership between the police and the residents of the area they serve. We were really able to make a difference in the sort of thefts being reported here.

Usually, a Community Policing "Community" is a neighborhood or possibly a buisness distrect but that dosen't have to be the case. Fishing Minnesota is a community and togeather we just might be able to cut this problem down to size.

Lets hear some ideas how to put this togeather. If we get some response on this and ideas, I'll try to help if I can.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Bill- I like the way you think!... We at FM are a family and a community built into one. I however do not have the ideas other than to maybe have a page to list stolen items too keep an eye out for.

Being that you were in the buisness.. what ideas do you have Bill?

[ZOKU]

I like the idea, too. I'm all about being pro-active.

[efgh]

Good idea, we are all out on the lakes from here to timbucktoo and can be on the look out for bigger items like boats, motors and trailers at acesses, the small dings and scratches on boats, motors and trailers would give them away if they were reported on the web page. Smaller items , good luck getting them back.

[Valv]

Excellent idea, I do see many boats and motors, and can keep one eye out for something suspicious. If I have accessibility to a list of stolen items, I can compare what somebody is tryng to sell.

[Dan_L]

That is a great idea. keep a post at the top of the forum page, dedicated to identifing lost items. a quick reference to that page is the best way to make it work.

[Aquaman01]

Great idea!

[BillP]

Posting a report of stolen items is a start but if we want to be proactive we need to do other things as well. One thing is of course to take some action when we locate a stolen item. That means more than sending a message to the victom saying "I saw your trailer parked at a PA on Mud lake Thursday". Get all the Info you can like a descreption and license number of the vehicle towing it. Photos are excellent evidence.

Another thing; are these thefts just randon acts of some low life that wants the item for himself or Is this the work of professional theves. If it's the latter, where are they selling the items? Someone knows! Did someone offer you a really good deal on a depth finder at the bowling alley? Don't just blow him off, take a look at it. If he takes you out to his car get the license number! Then provide this information to the police. It's info. like this that will lead to the busts that will keep our gear in our own boat.

[danfall]

Need a stolen item forum.

[MSRiverdog]

Start watching Pawn Shops.

[Guest]

Community policing is a good idea... BUT

people really need to make an effort to go the extra mile to keep their valuables locked up in the 1st place. I am in no way claiming that people are ignorant and at blame themselves for items being lost... thats not the case. But it is obvious that sporting goods are a sought after item by many, and there are no shortage of thieves the last few years. I, myself had a ton of gear stolen in the last couple years on a couple different occasions... some was locked up, some wasnt. I had a snowmobile pull up to the outside of my icehouse(portable) a couple years back and his passenger jumped off and grabbed my auger and they took off as fast as they stopped.. I couldnt get the door open fast enough... there are some bold folks out there.. everywhere and anywhere.. metro, and rural areas alike.

The best thing we can do is keep our valuables under lock and key.. take things inside, build a secure storage shed that takes more than a bolt cutter or pry bar to enter with ease... At least secure enough someone is going to make noise getting into the storage area... best if you have a light that will illuminate the area.. motion lights cost about $25 and are worth every penny when someone is in your yard.. and come in handy when you pull in the driveway at night.

Work on storage security 1st, and depend on the police, insurance, or community policing later.

[Captain B.R.K]

You've got a good point there Guy. Good to see that you are pointing out things such as different kinds of locks, motion lights, etc. to keep those bad guys away.

But it doesn't hurt for us to act like a "community" here and be able to help one another out. I am all for this idea and my ears are always open when I'm at the landing or at the store. I'm not one to be bashful about asking questions either when things seem odd.

[HawgMan]

Years ago I got a kit from the local law enforcemant called "Operation ID". I received a packet with my own personal ID number, an engraver, (to borrow) and several sheets to list the name of the item,model number,serial number(if applicable)and value.

I went around and was an engraving maniac. I did all my guns,camera equiptment,fishing equiptment,hunting equiptment anything of value that would be able to walk off in some elses hands.I've been fortunate so far as not having to use it,but if, and when I do,it'll be available.

Plus,I got a small discount on my insurance policy when I told my insuance agent about it.

[Guest]

I agree with you completely Captain.

I was just pointing out better security issues because I grew up in an area with no shortage of thieves, burglars, crack-heads, thugs.. you name it. Security is an important issue no matter where you reside, and it does give piece of mind when your not at home.

For storage sheds, garage doors(walk through), or any storage building I highly recommend large, heavy duty hasp that can take large diameter locks.. or better yet, specialty locks that can be purchased at many locksmiths. A hasp large enough to be secured with 1/4" carriage bolts is ideal, and large enough to take a 1/2" diameter lock. Be sure the hasp is mounted into a solid door frame.. *beef it up* if you have to.. they should run through a 2x4 at the least. The door hinges.. be sure there are no exposed pins. If the door is solid framed.. it would be easier for someone to come through the wall than to get that door open.

For garage doors.. the internal locks work ok if there is one on each side.. DO NOT depend on your automatic door closer.. it doesnt take much to force the door open. Its a really good idea to back up the locks with a large C clamp mounted somewhere on the track that will restrict the door from opening at all.. if someone can force it open far enough to slide in.. your stuff is gone. If your garage has an external door handle that has no use(auto door closer).. its not a bad idea to remove the handle.. that is a point of leverage(something to lift to force).. if you really need the door to manually open, you can open from inside.

If your walk in garage doors have steel(high quality) doors.. an industrial dead bolt lock is a good addition.. be sure the door frame is very solid... a locking knob isnt stopping anyone that wants in.

Boats that are stored in the garage, car port, driveway that always have a battery on board.. not a bad idea to get a $30 Wal Mart car alarm to put in the boat. These will detect motion(vibration if someone enters, or prys a storage locker), and will also detect amp draw if any of your storage areas have automatic lights... they dont have the loudest audible alarm in the world.. but its loud enough to hear... and will really detour a thief that is tampering with your boat.

Locks only keep the honest people out.. but if you make some extra effort.. you will keep a lot more people honest... at least with your equipment.

[BillP]

It sounds like boat ramps are one place a lot of thefts take place. It's easy to break into a vehicle and boats are even easier so that makes it easy picking for the Bad Guys. But it's not all that hard to spot the BGs. They look like they don't belong (not dressed for boating or no equipment or they are just showing too much curiosity about everyone elses stuff.

When you see someone like that don't be in a hurry to leave. Stick around and see what he's up to. Chances are when he sees you watching him he will leave. You might want to write his license number down and later call the local police. If there was a theft then the information you provide might be the break they need. If not they might tie him into a theft from last week. In most police departments this sort of info is recorded and provided to detectives to see if they can tie it in to open cases and to the patrol officers who may get a chance to stop the car and get some names to go along with the license number. They might even find them with some stolen items.

[PierBridge]

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I was just pointing out better security issues because I grew up in an area with no shortage of thieves, burglars,

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I am in the same area as TG and preventive measures can help I boarded up my garage door(walk through) that and windows are a main entery points for these PUNKS, I enter my garage through the big door using my Garage door opener or Touch pad. I also have a motion detecter Alarm and mine is pretty loud and should scare the theives off, I also like to set the alarm off periodically so everyone on the block can hear it sometimes the theives are amonst us.

I have been lucky so far I don't keep a lot of valuables in my garage but I sure want to keep what I have.

[BillP]

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I was just pointing out better security issues because I grew up in an area with no shortage of thieves, burglars,

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If a lot of thefts are the result of B&Es to garages and it sounds like they are, then professional theves are responsible. No doubt they are targeting sporting goods because there is a good market for that here in MN. That being the case, they have to have a means to sell it.

The theves may just be crack heads who never pass up the easy chance to score something that can be traided for their next high. Or they may be real professionals that locate a good target and then clean it out.

Eather are hard for the police to do much about from the theft side of the equation. Their weekness is at the other end. A solid tip and perhaps evidence of a sale or attempted sale of stolen items is solid gold for police investigators. Even if they are moving it out of the area, occasionally they will sell something locally. So keep your eyes and ears open, question frends who may have bought something on the street and pass this information along to the police.