Do you think it would be possible to get sites like these networked with a notification process that would immediately make users aware of stolen goods that might be in their area? Here’s what I envision:
1. Everyone takes plenty of photos of their stuff and records any pertinent info (i.e. serial numbers, distinguishing marks, etc.)
2. In the event of a theft, a notice with photos, data and contact information would be posted at all of the websites frequented by users like ourselves (i.e. JLC, TOH, etc.) People could be urged to watch the highways, the auctions, Ebay, Craigslist, or just coworkers bragging about a recent purchase.
This would be like an Amber Alert for stolen goods in the construction trades. Maybe even set up a reward system.
New knowledge is priceless.
Used knowledge is even more valuable.
Replies
The idea is good, as is Lojack, but I wouldn't use the term Amber - it disses the life of a young girl by comparrison with a pile of tools that will be worn out in ten years.
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You're right, of course. I only used the term "Amber Alert" because it conveys the idea that I was attempting to suggest.New knowledge is priceless.
Used knowledge is even more valuable.
Stanley Alert?Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
A "Stanley Alert" should be issued before you buy the tool!
Experienced, but still dangerous!
Well, ya know the Amber alert was based on the sympathy and concern after Amber lost her life...So maybe Deiselpig Alert!or maybe ToolHogs Alert
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Not to be confused with the "Breaktimer Alert" where the population is warned to lock up their wives and daughters , alcohol, trucks, and tools.
Or the "Silver Alert" which is the real version of an Amber type alert for an aging person missing. Probably should be Geezer alert for here. For those who have fought for it Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.
""Piffin Alert"" ????
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
Oxymoron.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. -John Kenneth Galbraith
Already done. That goes off when someone farts.
Tu stultus esRebuilding my home in Cypress, CAAlso a CRX fanatic!
Look, just send me to my drawer. This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.
I'm kinda serious..how about a FAT MAX alert?
Nah, never get off the ground.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
Piffin alert. Piffin just logged in and crapped on your post.
I can't remember if I read this here or not, but the first thing this person did with a new tool was to spray paint it hot pink. He took a lot of ribbing, but never lost a tool to theft. I'd think you'd have to be careful with dials, printed instructions. Maybe this was just a tall tale.
The problem is that there are maybe 1000 people on this board regularly, vs. how many who are in construction... and how many are DIY or retired and wouldn't see your tools anyway?
You are better off thinking of a process that could be implemented locally, then think how that could be transfered to other locals.
Tu stultus es
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Look, just send me to my drawer. This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.
I have a better idea.
How about everybody STOP buying tools from unknown sources? Just how do you think thieves dispose of their loot? Pawn shops, E-bay, Trunk sales behind the neighborhood bar, garage sales, etc.
If there's no market, there will be very few thefts.
Likewise ... would you hire a thief? How about that eager new guy, who just happens to have several tools that are usually 'company supplied,' or whose tool inventory seems to exceed his income? Who always manages to 'find a deal' somewhere?
I think the military academies are on to something when they swear "I will not lie, cheat, or steal ... nor will I tolerate those who do." Why should our standards be any lower?
the company i work for never buys tools from the back of a van. one of the guys on another crew in our company had his tools stolen from the job site. a couple days later we had a guy in a van drive by and give us the story of going out of business and selling all of his tools. since our coworker had just had his stolen we went to the van and saw our coworkers initials in big letters on the guard of the Hitachi 10" slider.
we held the van driver for the cops but our coworker got roughly half his tools back.
pretty much if you are buying tools from the back of a van you are buying stolen goods. that are someones livelihood
"we held the van driver for the cops but our coworker got roughly half his tools back. "Do you mind if I read that to say "he got his tools back roughly, then gave what was left of the thief to the cops"
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
"Yep, it was really a shame that the thief was hidding my big framing hammer in his rectum, officer. Good thing I found it and pulled it out!"
Tu stultus esRebuilding my home in Cypress, CAAlso a CRX fanatic!
Look, just send me to my drawer. This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.
LOL, Your wife doesn't always accompany you on these little side trips, does she?
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Good thing I found it and pulled it out!"Uh, twenty-seven times, officer.
Wassamatter, wernt youse guys pouring any concrete dat day?
There's typically a network in the criminal community. They often have a very clever system arranged to improve their chances of a successful outcome. If the good guys would work together in the same way, maybe there would be fewer bad guys winning these battles.
New knowledge is priceless.
Used knowledge is even more valuable.
Just how do you think thieves dispose of their loot? Pawn shops,...
ponyt ALERT! ponyt ALERT!!!
ponyt will correct reno shortly for that broad sweeping assumption.
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I have dealt with that eager guy. This guy was hired to work for the company I worked for and he claimed to have experience. He was hired, and on the first day all of his experience, or lack there of, showed through in his brand new set of tools.
To make a long story short, not long after he was hired I was injured on the job and had to leave in a hurry, no time to pick up tools. One of the other guys on the crew did the best he could in gathering up all of my tools, and I thought he got everything.
Fast forward three months and I am back working with the eager guy. We were doing something that required a framing square. I coudn't find mine so Mr. Eager goes out to grab his. He hands me the framing square and I realized that it was mine, so I start thinking. If I confront him he will deny stealing it, so I had to do it another way. I started to stroke his ego a bit. I told him I liked the square, it was lightweight and durable and all of the rafter charts were easier to read then mine. I asked where he got it, Home depot when I bought my knife and tape he said. So I asked him, when did Home Depot start selling craftsman framing squares. He imediatly started to back peddle and I went right out to his car to see what else he took. I found a couple of small hand tools that he took from the other guys. Needless to say he was fired right there and never came back. About a week later the painter had said that he was missing a cordless drill. Turns out he stole the drill but didn't bother stealing the charger.
Tim
Do you know what the amber alert took to make happen?
Tim
"Do you know what the amber alert took to make happen?"No, I don't know the story behind it.New knowledge is priceless.
Used knowledge is even more valuable.
as I recal it, a young girl was stolen right out of her house with rest of the family there. One of those searches involving hundreds of people over several miles, but found her body a week or three later and evidence that indicated she might have been saved with an early warning system such as now happens when the alert goes out. National news and high emotion/drama culminated in the Amber Alert law.But my memory could be whacky.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
No shes never been found .
She was stolen from a ball park in Alma Arkansas .
The story has aired 9 times on AMW.
The mother has made a full time legislative effort for the past seems like 10 years now . [with out googling ] She went to congress and came home with the amber alert that will allow law to put out an all points immediately.
The Mother has been on several tv shows , the white house , but has helped amw the most . They thank her every time a child is stolen and the cops can jump on it with the first call.
Anyway it took several years .
Now when a child becomes missing under the amber alert the police put a picture thats screen print on the back of their patrol cars kinda like the milk cartons . The money comming from that screen prints are donations from the amber alert.
The amber alert is just getting bigger with more tools from donations.
Tim
I did know it took a long time to make it happen, and there was a lot of support based on sympathy/publicity/emotion over the case. I must be thinking of another case where the body was found later.
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You might be thnking about John Walsh's son. I think Walsh is the guy who hosted America's Most Wanted.New knowledge is priceless.
Used knowledge is even more valuable.
o - was a girl I remember.This sort of thing happens more than most folks realize.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
http://www.jdnews.com/news/property_50161___article.html/sheriff_department.html
Look at the picture in this article. This theft ring was broke up in the summer of 07 here in eastern NC.
I bought an old style Hitachi framing gun (never used) at Lowes for a $100.00. They said it was recovered in this deal. It had no box or owners manual nothing. They had a whole table full of stuff, supposedly recovered from the deal.
You may be able to find more info about it, there are several articles there. I just grabbed the one with the pic.
This thing covered about 4 counties if I remember right.
John
Ideally, this is what product registrations systems would help handle.
There's lots of 'ideals' that would have to happen, though:
- we'd all have to actually record our serial numbers and register the products we buy
- the manufactures would have to have a standard way to query the system to check for stolen serial numbers
- equipment would need serial numbers
- pawn shops/etc would have to use said system
- we'd have to update files when products are legally sold