Please help me figure out what to do. In March I had a contractor (licensed, bonded, insured) in my house to add an exterior door and move some cabinets around. For one and a half days of the time he was here, I had to work. After the remodel was finished, I found that my stuff was missing. I have been too shocked to put a number to it, but a couple of thousand dollars is ball park. No one else has been up in the attic (he pulled some wires up there) or in the house unsupervised. He dug through tubs in the attic and left a couple of empty silver boxes so I”m sure I have the right tubs.
I have known him for over a year, he’s done other small jobs for me, and I still can hardly believe it. But the stuff missing includes crystal that was removed from the cabinets he was working on, put into boxes in the living room, and then put back when cabinets were finished. So it went nowhere else and was put back right away. I wondered why it all seemed to fit back so easily.
I can’t prove anything, but I really would like either my stuff back or this guy’s license. My husband will probably want some other things so I hope to be able to give him some better alternatives than he will come up with.
The contractor did tell me that he wasn’t a licensed electrician when he wired the new porch light and switch. Also we didn’t pull a permit.
Thanks in advance
Replies
Tightwad, if you've asked him and are sure that the stuff was there b/4 he started and isn't just now moved, call the police.
A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Calvin,
Thanks for the suggestion. As for whether he says he has it - I haven't asked him yet - but I've torn the house and garage apart. Stuff is definitely gone.
Then this is a criminal issue, not one that is covered by bonding? Our home insurance has a $2000 deductible, so may not be worth the trouble.
Call the police and have them investigate this.
Something very similar to this happened to a friend of mine years ago. The police came and got fingerprints off of the cabinets that the silverware was stolen from and the prints were found to belong to one of the contractors employees that was working on the house. Of course that employee already had a record so his finger prints were on file but provided you haven't contaminated the evidence finger prints may be the only way you can prove your suspicions.
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Jerrald,
Thanks, good to hear sometimes these jerks actually get caught.
Right...
"Hello Larry."
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
There is no cure for stupid. R. White.
Nah, I'll give you two to one it ain't.maybe even 3
Beware. RFID is coming.
Are you guys talking about THE Larry?
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
talking about THE Larry?
Ahwk! He Said The Word! Aiyiyiee! Ni! Ni! Ni!Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
Actually I think Sphere said "the" word.
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
I think Sphere said "the" word
Which one? "It" or "Neewhaka, ptangptang, er, ah, Formerly said Ni!"?Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
yes, it is he who must not be named and sphere said 'the name'.be an aiyiyi alright
Beware. RFID is coming.
This really is a matter for the police to be involved with. 3 Months is a long time to wait before filing a complaint though, don't be surprised if nothing comes of this from the local PD. Prosecutors are interested in things they can prosecute... and over 2 months time things can get pretty circumstantial. You need to take that step, but don't be surprised if it comes to naught.
Also, do not tell the contractor until after they have been talked to by the PD. You can explain why you did then afterwards, if he has a good alibi (i.e. "I hired Gunther to help me that month... and I fired him because I caught him stealing from someone else's house") then you can share a laugh and you can buy him a nice bottle of wine for helping you out. Personally, I do a kind of computer work on the side. In my business experience, it is not uncommon for laptop computers to be stolen... and for me to be the last responsible person to be known to have touched it. I expect to be grilled by a police officer, I consider it part of my job. I look forward to giving all the information that I know so I can help catch the person who actually stole that equipment.
BTW, as far as permit pulling is concerned... It's really only important when you sell your house - as long as it is still safe and code compliant of course. Building permits are not to protect you - they are to protect the next ten taxpayers who will live in this same house after your leave. Lack of a permit is something you have to disclose when you sell your house.
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Happened to my folks and my families silver...contractor had employees watching to see when HOs were gone and would go in to get stuff they would pawn. I expect they needed the money to buy more tools! (Probably went up their noses).
Call the police.
Visit ALL the local, and not so local pawn shops. If you find the silver there call the police while you are at the shop.
3 months is a long time but it is still a crime.
Frankie
There he goes—one of God's own prototypes—a high powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live and too rare to die.
—Hunter S. Thompson
from Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas
If your household goods are insured, sometimes your insurance company will investigate, whereas the police don't think it's worth the trouble. When I was a kid, my brother's brand new bike was stolen by the son of one of the local pillars otf the community. There were reports of who had it (people had seen the other kid with it). The police didn't want to even investigate. My dad called the insurance company and they found the bike and prosecuted.
Also like Frankie says. What you need to do is make the police report and get a case #. Then with the case # at hand or a copy of the case you can then start checking the pawn shops. Not only for what they have but what has been through their shops for the preceding Months.
In Utah they have to sit on it for 30 days before it goes on sale if it was hocked.
since you say it happened in march and now in june you wonder what to do I say wait untill sep then call the police
Thanks to all who responded with helpful hints. DH and I will discuss this weekend. If an earthquake is reported in Central Oregon, you know what his reaction was. To those who wondered why it took three months for me to start planning what action to take, I don't inventory my stuff in the attic all that frequently. But when I found that some was missing, I wanted advice from this board before I asked anyone else. Thanks again.
Unless you took inventory b/4 he started, I wouldn't expect too much.A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time