First, It was a long time coming. I keep my 4 wheeler outside with the key in it and have done this since April of 2012. Some scum took it Thursday night. I noticed that the shed door was open Friday morning but I just thought that I didn't close it well enough. This never happens but with nothing disturbed inside I didn't think twice. This morning I went to get the 4 wheeler and waggon to load some Olds parts up and take to the barn lot. I noticed that the 4 wheeler was gone and likely happened at the same time the shed door was opened. I posted a $500 reward on Facebook and that spread like wildfire. EVERYONE in my area that is into off road knows me and most all the other people know me from my MX and freestyle days. Sort of a local hero title that I do not deserve. I am using this to spread the word about the 4 wheeler. If the people that took it know me (and likely do) the thing will be long gone because they know this same thing. If they don't know me I bet it turns up in less than 48 hours.

Good thing I did not catch them. They would be DEAD right now and I would be in trouble for shooting them in the back while riding away. Now that they lived through it, IF I get it back or find out who did it I will offer them to come to my Church for a month in exchange for not pressing charges.

 

Sorry for your loss of personal stuff. I hate scum bag thief's in a way I can not express on this forum. Usually I can be diplomatic in most matters but I have no respect patience or time for a thief. Hopefully someone will see your 4 wheeler and you will get it back....Tedd

 

You are a good man Eric, we all are, but a person who does this type of thing is not a man, nor woman...perhaps even human. They deserve the punishment when it falls on their heads. But for you to be able to exonerate them if the return your property and attend your church speaks volume's about your true character.

You have my respect.

Brett

 

Man that sucks! I just can't believe how some folks live with themselves with the weight and guilt of harming or taking from others. It's incomprehensible. I do however like your penance of church time. I guess the shooting and church time goes with the duality of man. Love, hate, ying, yang.... You know, Carl Jung stuff.

Last month the priest at my church had his house robbed. The scum took the TV, copper and even some 100 year old chalices while he was away on a retreat. Just left me really confused and dumbstruck.

Anyway, good luck in getting your 4 wheeler back. Hopefully it's just a matter of time.

Chris

 

Sorry man.

 

Eric, I hope you get your rig back! Hopefully there justice for you!

Pat

 

Church is not going to work Eric. Good thought though. Find them and press charges. AND, next time don't leave the durn key in there!! I don't think the authorities will say it wasn't an open invitation with that kind of temptation. It's someone who's been watching you and knows your habits. Start there.

 

Wishing you some luck. My wheels were stolen, I lucked out returned with in 24 hrs

 

X2, take them to church is not going to make them a good man or giving them faith. I'll press charges too. Once a thief always a thief. Thats how i see it.

 

It could. That will be up to them. Just because i don't press charges don't mean that someone won't have to pay for what was done. Either now or later. Have to find them first.

 

I really have to disagree here, I Strongly believe in sec chances
And just because some one makes bad choices that doesn't mean they can't make up for it. god, I am a recovery drug addict going on 10years clean! I can tell you this out of experience that people change and regret there bad choices in life.

 

I have to agree. Once a thief, always a thief. Lying, cheating & stealing go hand in hand. This was planned, not an accidental temptation which many decent folks could fall in to easy enough. Press charges.

 

That is terrible, as was said hope you get your wheels back, but I think tge worst thing is things will never be the same, you left keys in your machine and never thought twice, people were in your stuff, it sucks, and on thanksgiving to boot. Best of luck, and whatever you decide do whats best for you.

 

Any word ?

 

The waggon was recovered. It was found about 1/4 mile south of a place called Turner Indiana. 75% of the people in Turner are no good. I have driven through there several times the past week. Everyone is looking at me as an outsider and know good and well what I am doing there. None of them have come forward and I bet they don't. hard for them to turn in a neighbor when they will retaliate. My wife is making some fliers and we will walk that town posting them everywhere.

 

Offer a reward, be sure to use the phrase "for information leading to a successful conviction" which means that you aren't paying for baloney. Also offer immunity from prosecution, which you don't actually have control over, but they don't need to know that. There is no honor among thieves, they'll go for the reward.

If you have a friend on the force, you and he and a couple friends with rifles can do a nice little repossession before an arrest.

 

The first day I posted a $500 reward. We posted it on Facebook and other local for sale forums. It spread like wildfire. It was shared on facebook over 80 times and many other sites close to 100 times. Everyone knows about the reward. If I can find out who it was and we get it back I will pay the $500.

 

At my business front counter in the waiting room, I had a bible. You guessed it. Someone stole it. I figured they must have really needed it. Maybe its the same guy. If you get him in church and he has a bible check to see if it has my name in it. Thanks. (True story)

 

Sorry to hear about that Eric. At least you got the wagon back, hopefully you can get the 4x4 back too. I take it that it didn't leave any tracks to follow?

 

I noticed that you said you would have murdered him if you would have cought him in the act.....

followed up by you want to take him to your church. .....

I hope you really didnt mean you would take his life.....

My .02

 

Good luck Eric , I know how this feels.

 

You worry to much about the incidentals. If people were more concerned about the consequences of their actions there would be fewer thief's. If one does no bad life is good, do bad and life can be made to be very difficult.

I probably wouldn't ask him to church unless it was a funeral..... That is just me....Tedd.

 

Heh
Your lawyer says "manslaughter"
my lawyer says "asking him to attend church" [at his funeral]

perspective/ spin...

 

That really sucks. Occasionally search your local craigslist. Maybe your thieves are stupid enough to post it there. I hope you get it all back!

 

Yep, that is what I mean. While in the act I will shoot without hesitation. I don't know who else is there or what else to expect so I shoot while I have the chance and I am in control of my families safety. If they get away and after the fact that it is over and all is clear, I will pray for them that they can turn their life around. I can forgive them for what they did but during the act I consider it a threat against my families safety because of the unknown. Wrong or not that is how it is within 10 miles of my house. We all shoot first and the crime rate is very low around here.

 

I'd have his kneecaps in a jar. Effer can go to church without kneecaps.

 

I couldn't agree more Eric. The greatest generation would be proud.
America was built by those those who believed in standing your ground.
Has anyone seen reports of the state of inner city Detroit, OMG!
That to me seems like a 3rd World country, wtf?

 

At what point is your life in danger when he is in your shed steeling a 4 wheeler ???? And you said shoot him in the back as he drives away if i remember correctly... are you in danger then too ?

Just not justifiable in my mind...i doubt your church would be ok with it either

I hope you get your belongings back i truely do, but shooting a man in the back as he is leaving a uninhabited structure on your property aint right..

Bet you'd feel bad if it was just some lil punk 15-16 year old kids being ********* and you didnt know till after you smoked there ***.....

 

Oh yea crime rate must be really low aroud you thats why you got stole from .......

$.02

 

And this, my friends ... is why criminals prosper.

 

Hope you get you 4 wheeler back.

I like the fact that you would like to help them turn there life around and are praying for them.

I hate to be ripped off but it is not worth killing for a object, its easy to shoot/kill some one the hard part is living with your self after.

The mother that killed the guy that was breaking into here house with here children at home is a rock star. She did what she had to do to protect here family and it was a just kill in defense of here family. To kill a crook that is stealing a 4 wheeler is just wrong because it is in the defense of a object not a human life.
There are far to many wars/killing fought for wealth ,land and nothing good comes of it.

 

^^^Agree 100%^^^^

 

Eric my brother was a victom resently, they took his fule tank,electric fuel pump, and tool box off of his truck. They went in the garage and got some wheels and tires too.
The good news is the sheriff called yoday and they are in jail, and all of his stuff is found.
I think they should be shot too.
I hope you get your things back.

 

I am 7 miles from town. The guy did not get there by himself. I shoot the one I see and the other (if still around) is not going to try anything. I could give more details of my thinking but there is nothing that is going to change yours. I am not saying I am right but like said above, that is how it is here and cops will side with me. Just have to agree to disagree.

 

Bet you'd feel bad if it was just some lil punk 15-16 year old kids being ********* and you didnt know till after you smoked there ***.....[/QUOTE]

And if the punk kid did get away without being shot, maybe next time he breaks into a house & steals more valuable things, or finds your wife & daughters home alone. If punk kid gets shot, he won't be able to do bad things in the future.
I'm with Eric on this one. Don't steal stuff & you most likely won't get shot.

 

I like that...Turner, Indiana....75% no good....must be the name!

On a serious note, I hope you get your stuff back Eric, as I know how hard you work and that you are as stand up as they come! I'm also glad you didn't catch him in the act....for his sake and yours!

 

And for what it's worth ... I would feel bad. I'd feel bad that someone wasted their life for greed. I'd feel the grief of their parents ... but little sympathy for their failure at parenting. And I'd feel no little sadness for the world as a whole ... that this is the level required to defend my little part of it.

It's easy to say 'death penalty for theft' ... but unfortunately, anything less gets laughed off.

 

Today at school my friend had his truck tires slashed and it was t the top of the road for him to drive home in. If someone slashes mine you ding right I'd be taking action I work too hard for one individual to destroy or steal my stuff I'm broke as it is I don't have the money to replace things

 

Yes, most aren't very smart. the ones that stole my wheels pretty much got away ( but didn't ) because the camera didn't get much in the dark, but then they came back during the day to get there tools. then they tried to sell them to there apartment maintice guy. Then they sold them to a wheel shop directly across the street from where they got stolen from. Took less then 24 hrs to get them back. And charge them

But hey you have the right to protect what's yours and the law stands behind it if you are threaten. Can't be any worse then these cops these days a young kid was shot five times in the back here locally all because the cops felt threaten because he was running away?! Don't know how with no gun but hey he had a sword so it's justified

 

I can respect that jensen agree to disagree :-)