Need to vent... thieves have maybe ended a dream

[tommy d]

Tod, make sure the guys at Automotion know about this. Stuff shows up there for sale cheap from time to time. Craigslist also. Got some of my friends stuff back because the IDIOT listed it for sale! Tom

[Marine One]

Originally Posted by Tod Lane

It was funny, they left the parts for the rest of the engine setting on the floor in front of the bench, but there was a cork bulletin board that had been setting in front of them that they put back...

Again, if they were looking to pi$$ you off, or get even for something, they would have wanted you to know they were there by creating a mess. If they were seasoned criminals and this was a random hit, they would have walked off with everything.

From the outside looking in, whoever did this either knows what the heads are, or thinks they know what the heads are. I'd also bet a $1 that they have been in your shop or know someone who has. Probably one of those friends of a friend deals. No matter how selective you are about the people you let in and out of your shop, you can always bet that one of them knows a dirt bag buddy that they tell too much to in casual conversation. It's never the friends that get you, it's the dirt bags who are friends with your friends.

[Pvt Parts]

Originally Posted by b.d.d.

Again, if they were looking to pi$$ you off, or get even for something, they would have wanted you to know they were there by creating a mess. If they were seasoned criminals and this was a random hit, they would have walked off with everything.

From the outside looking in, whoever did this either knows what the heads are, or thinks they know what the heads are. I'd also bet a $1 that they have been in your shop or know someone who has. Probably one of those friends of a friend deals. No matter how selective you are about the people you let in and out of your shop, you can always bet that one of them knows a dirt bag buddy that they tell too much to in casual conversation. It's never the friends that get you, it's the dirt bags who are friends with your friends.

Agreed. Something about this smells real bad. Someone knew what they were and where they were.

[SSDA Hemi]

Originally Posted by Tod Lane

The heads were in boxes under a bench under a desk behind a lot more saleable items

Sounds like whoever took them knew right where they were. Who had seen the heads since you bought them and/ or knew they were there? Your partner had said he didn't let many people in the shop. Should be a short list of suspects. And watch craigslist.

Don't give up and let the thieves win!

And as bad as it sounds, they could've cleaned house and you would really be screwed. Right now if you're one set of heads away from finishing the project, just a setback.

I hate thieves...

[Tod Lane]

Originally Posted by SSDA Hemi

Sounds like whoever took them knew right where they were. Who had seen the heads since you bought them and/ or knew they were there? Your partner had said he didn't let many people in the shop. Should be a short list of suspects. And watch craigslist.

Don't give up and let the thieves win!

And as bad as it sounds, they could've cleaned house and you would really be screwed. Right now if you're one set of heads away from finishing the project, just a setback.

I hate thieves...

I know we can probably replace the heads eventually. The real damage is the time. It took Bob three years to recover fom when he was ripped off before. He says he's given up. I will keep after him

[55 Chevy]

Sorry for your loss. It can be devastating.
Someone obviously knew the whereabouts and value of these heads. Between the two of you sit down and make a list of who has been in yours and his garages and who their friends may be.

I once knew a person who owned an original mid fifties corvette 2x4 car as well as a 55 Cameo that he was building. Many people used to come and "visit" while he was working in the garage. One day he came home, most of the Cameo stuff was gone and they had trashed the corvette engine compartment. Not long after he took his own life because of that and a few other reasons.

Good luck getting the heads back!

Allan

[Robert Swartz]

Originally Posted by b.d.d.

Again, if they were looking to pi$$ you off, or get even for something, they would have wanted you to know they were there by creating a mess. If they were seasoned criminals and this was a random hit, they would have walked off with everything.

From the outside looking in, whoever did this either knows what the heads are, or thinks they know what the heads are. I'd also bet a $1 that they have been in your shop or know someone who has. Probably one of those friends of a friend deals. No matter how selective you are about the people you let in and out of your shop, you can always bet that one of them knows a dirt bag buddy that they tell too much to in casual conversation. It's never the friends that get you, it's the dirt bags who are friends with your friends.

Originally Posted by Pvt Parts

Agreed. Something about this smells real bad. Someone knew what they were and where they were.

I'm the one that got hit. Yes, agree, something here smells! That's what I told the police when we filed the report. It doesn't add up, why someone took those heads and left everthing else. Why there was a mess left, yet, they took the time to put a cork board "back" over the space where the heads were?

As far as who may have done this. I don't/haven't had a lot of people out to my shop. There were friends, other drag racers, stock car racers, derby guys, a lot of different people that knew I have stuff. In addition, I did have pictures of this stuff, as well as pictures taken of things in the garage. If someone were "smart or cleaver" enough they could have easily understood the garage layout from this. Maybe a word to the wise to everyone that publishes pictures of our projects, something to ponder. I have "now" removed all mine from the 2-3 websites these were on.

After stewing over this a couple days. I'm going to get in touch with the insurance company, see what they are willing to do. Need call Parson&Myers first, get a handle on what it would cost me to replace these. I will get in touch with Automotion up in Indianapolis tomorrow. Make them aware that they may see a hot set of good heads surface.

To say I'm pretty discouraged and disgusted by all this, is putting it mildly! My trust factor for people, which has never been real high anyway, has taken a real big hit.

[CMcAllister]

This subject really hits home for me. We were burglarized twice before we got out of the crummy town we used to live in, once at home and once at the shop. The house was a random deal. We pretty much had a friendly, open door policy at the shop. We were hit by a guy who had tagged along with another fellow there picking up parts. I remember the clown looking the place over. After that, the place was alarmed and closed up tight. If you weren't on my Christmas card list, you didn't get past the reception area, period, and it's a short list. I also look at strangers a little differently now. You are wise to not trust knuckleheads wandering in to look at your stuff.

Guaranteed, you know the person who did this. I know it is a terrible feeling to have your prized possessions violated like this, but don't give up. Time will take some of the sting out of it. In the meantime, tighten up security, don't allow your building to be so public and just be grateful that they didn't completely clean you out, if you can.

Finish the car and go racing. Overcoming setbacks makes it more gratifying when you get there.

[Mike Brogniez]

Don't rule out any age group, that cork board moved back sounds like what a kid(s) would do to hide what he did..............
MB

[Robert Swartz]

Originally Posted by Mike Brogniez

Don't rule out any age group, that cork board moved back sounds like what a kid(s) would do to hide what he did..............
MB

Yeah, tend to agree with this Mike. No one escapes suspicion here. Even family members. It was a "smash and grab". Whomever did it was in a hurry, they were thinking, just not very well. They could have put the strewn items back under the bench, who knows how long before I would have discovered it?

If someone wants to break in again, you won't stop them, all I can do is make it more difficult.

It's not irrecoverable, it just makes things more of a headache. IF the car gets built, pretty sure it will be in a different direction now. Looks like the 305 Chevy with a 2 barrel may end up being the ticket.