Offered Stolen Tools?

bobcaygeonjon

The gas thief thread made me think of this subject.

First off I hate people who steal tools. To me there in a special bracket all of there own. I dont condone any type of thiefing at all but, do you know what I'm getting at. A guy who would steal another guys tools deserves that extra special treatment. But do you know whats worse. It's the A hole who buys the stuff knowing full well it's stolen.

I used to get offered a lot of stuff ( I never bought any ) but this one time this guy offered me one of those drill mixers that plasterers use. In case I changed my mind he made the mistake of telling me were he lived which was about 40 yards from were I was working. Next thing you know a van pulled up, out jumped a plasterer wanting to know if anybody has been offered any tools. End result the plasterer got his mixer back and the A hole got to see the world through squinty eyes for a couple of days.

Now I want to ask you all to be honest for a while.
Have you ever bought stolen tools?
Maybe you were desperate, hadn't much cash etc. Maybe you were just young and stupid. But be honest. Stand up share your shame and tell the whole world. Yes I have bought stolen tools. Use this as a chance to redeem yourself.

If not then be proud.

dougchips

Never have and I never will! I've had my tools stolen in the past and I know they ended up at a pawn shop of a flea market somewhere. Buying stolen tools only promotes more tools getting stolen. I was at a flea market last weekend and there were several (20+) vendors selling used tools---how does someone legally get ahold of tables full of used tools?

On a side note, a window company, a siding company, a bath company and a roofing company all had booths set up.

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PARA1

I bought a stolen cordless drill (still in the box) years ago. I used it a couple of times,left a job with a side bin on my service bed open and it fell out(the only thing that fell out).--makes you wonder, remember"IF YOU STEAL IT WE ALL FEEL IT"

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JonM

I wouldn't want anyone coming into my house taking the food off my table...why would I do it to anyone else?

neolitic

NEVER
I have been ripped off big time twice, i.e. the whole truck gone and emptied.
Other times to a lesser extent.
This is why they used to hang horse thieves.
Not because horses were particularly loved, but because they were stealing a man's livelihood, or at least his means to a livelihood.
A practice that should be revived!
The people that buy the stuff?
Just hang them up by their privates in the center of town, as a reminder.

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L. B. Condulet

Last year some sketchy looking dudes came by the job site with a van load of tools. I didn't ask any questions but all the stuff was brand new and obviously stolen from Home Depot.

Some of the stuff even had HD price tags on them. There was a very nice electric start gas generator with a price tag of $2500. I bought it for $400.

I don't mind buying stolen property, if I didn't buy this generator, someone else would have.

But, I draw the line at buying tools that were stolen from a working man. There is nothing more despicable than stealing the the tools someone uses to make a living. If you buy those tools, you are supporting and encouraging that type of theft.

KillerToiletSpider

Liquidation auctions, estate sales, etc. A friend of mine makes his living doing it.

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JonM

Sorry, I can't agree with you on this one...If there wasn't a demand (you) there woudn't be a supply (thiefs)...If you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem...A thief is a thief is a thief...you just subbed out the dirty work...

Mike Finley

I won't even buy tools from a pawn shop, since I was edumacated by this site by the guys here. I'm not taking the chance of supporting some crack head ass holes tool stealing habit.

The next victim might be one of us.

kevjob

not worth the karma

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L. B. Condulet

I don't disagree with that characterization. I'm very busy and spend my evenings pricing jobs and doing paperwork, I just don't have time to break into Home Depot and do my own stealing, so I sub this work out to the experts.

I got a great deal on a generator so I'm happy.

neolitic

The Despot?
...might be some kind of "special dispensation" there....
I think I hear my conscience rolling over for a nap?
Nope they might just "graduate" to trucks.

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POOLMANinCT

yes, but no more.

when i was 25 yrs old i bought a brand new builders level & tote board for 30 bux. i was having lunch across the street from a HD & some nut case offered it to me for 50bux.granted it has made me tons of money & i still use it today.

but im reformed, around mid july another nut case offered me a 14" diamond blade for 15$, outside of HD. I promptly told him get the F&*L away from my van.

ray

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works4me

I found I don't need to buy/steal them, I just seem to find them. Most recently I found a nice extending gas chain saw lying the middle of an intersection. Grabbed it, waited about 3 min. for some one to show up. No markings on item. Mine now. We also clean out alot of properties (rentals, rehabs etc.) we find all kinds of stuff left in the vacated houses. Drills, plasterer stilts, saws, ladders - some are pretty nice, you can tell they are hot and didn't unload them. I have always called anyone about a decent item if it has any markings on it of ownership - sometimes the ones with markings, they have a hard time unloading. The last thing any reputable worker wants to do is pull out a tool on a jobsite with someone else's name on it.

I got cleaned out at BLowes parking lot a couple of years ago (couple of paslodes, dewalt combo kit, etc.). Police caught the guy a few days later stealing other stuff. My business cards fell out of a file he stole from me when the police were searching the vehicle. All my stuff was long gone, police told me to "have a nice day, case closed". I did get his name though, I go 6'5" 245 lean, he'll be suprised to meet me someday. Of course I won't tell him who I am.

Chris G

I have bought from a pawn shop before. Were they stolen? Maybe, maybe not. There is a pretty good verification system in my city.

There really is no need to shop at a pawn shop anymore. Tools have come way down in price over the years.

On another note, two weeks ago, I hid my cordless reciprocating saw under the porch I was working on, along with the battery charger and a battery in said charger. Went to the lumber store for twenty minutes. All gone when I came back. 99% sure who did it, and the cops came and knocked on his door. No answer. Funny, the just saw him go in there too. But, there is really not much they could do.

Two days later, I am still working on the porch, I see a contractor with a bad toupe` pull up in his pickup truck in front of the same house. Out of the house comes a brand new washer and dryer into the truck it goes. Unbelievable. Crack heads in and out of this house all day too.

dkillianjr

I've never bought anything that was stolen. I've had tools stolen from me I know that it sucks. I was in a decent neighborhood nobody around at all. I sat my circular saw on a customers front porch which was far from the street, went inside for 2min to talk to the HOs come out and bam it was gone. Another time I stopped for a quick bite to eat on the way home came out and truck looked fine did'nt suspect a thing. I get home open her up it was almost empty they got brand new boots and some tools. Freakin scumbags Aparently they broke the lock to get in and them put it back in place so it looked fine.


Dave

tinner666

I don't, I have the private cell ph. #'s of several detectives around here. When tools are offered to me, I tell them I have a friend who is dying to get 'One of those'. I call the cop, BS a bit and tell him what I have. If he's free enough, he comes by and takes the tools and the guy away.

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wackman

I bought a miter saw at a pawn shop once. It had no markings on it at all and didn't seem stolen but who knows.

Shop guy said a contractor sold them a bunch of there tools that he was going to take a job as a foreman for someone else. Seemed realistic as I've know several guys do the exact thing and sell me tools.

RobertCDF

Only bought a few things at pawn shops. I think 3 items total. Around here the police check evey serial number on every item before it goes to the floor. Its a law they have to follow and they can get in some trouble if they dont. If you dont have your tools serial numbers and file with the police then your just being dumb. I had a compressor stolen and it was no big deal. But I filed a report anyway with the serial number so if they ever find it they can nail the bastard.

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silvertree

Wont buy stolen tools ever, bad karma all around.