Burglary Update

[jpskewedthrone]

OK, so they took everything. Well, not everything. They left me the flood-damaged furniture, the kitchen stuff, my collection of crackle, my board games, my dragon statues . . . and my books. That's what's left anyway. I'm sure there was other stuff in there that's now missing but that I haven't figured out is missing yet. Here's what I know is missing:

My TV. My Xbox. My VCR. All of my CDs. All of my DVDs. And all of my VCR tapes.

I spent the morning with a cop telling him everything that happened, the entire convoluted story with the flood, the lock problem, the not having time to check it, etc. He thinks that my original lock was put on, then the burglars cut it off, stole the stuff, and then somehow another lock got put on. My partner thinks that the storage unit people put another lock on there to cover their asses when they realized the lock had been cut and stuff taken. Because at the time of the flood, they turned off all of the security measures, such as the video cameras, the keycode door locks, etc. I initially thought that the locks had just gotten screwed up during the cleaning process; however now that the cop has pointed out a few things, I'm beginning to think that he's right and someone cut my original lock instead.

The storage people are claiming it was my risk to store stuff there, even after I gave them the key so they could clean up after the flood. I claim that the moment I handed over the key so that they could clean up, it because their responsibility to keep my stuff safe.

But in the end, who cares? The stuff is gone. I can't get the money back that I spent on it all.

Thanks for all of you who read through the venting yesterday and sent sympathy and anger (at the burglars). Your good thoughts and well wishings are appreciated.

Comments

[jimhines.livejournal.com]

More sympathy and anger from over here. That really sucks. I'm going to guess that at this point, the cops don't have much hope for ever getting anything back to you?

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

My guess is I won't see any of it ever again. I haven't spoken to the detective yet. But it's been long enough I figure everything has already been hocked, pawned, etc. If I had the serial numbers of the TV and Xbox, then maybe they'd be able to find that, but everything else. . . . *shrug*

[jimhines.livejournal.com]

I'm assuming that if you had any chance, it would be either through insurance or from the storage company. And it sounds like neither of those are very likely either? Sigh...

[jmeadows.livejournal.com]

What the heck? So is the storage place going to reimburse you for all this stuff? For part of it, at least? Because yeah, if they have your key, it's totally their responsibility to keep it safe.

Grr. I am so mad on your behalf. This is ridiculous.

[eiriene.livejournal.com]

I think it depends on what his contract with the storage people outlined, whether they reimburse him or not. Although there's all sorts of fun legal complications that could come into the mix.

But seriously, I still think that it's just terribly wrong.

[aeriedraconia.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I'm so sorry.
Man! You have sympathy and anger from over here too! That sucks!

I'd go dig out the contract with the storage company to check their liability clause. Are they even supposed to ever have your key? During the cleaning of your compartment, which required the contents to be unsecured, were your belongings considered to be their responsibility?

It all sounds very fishy to me, did the thieves hit anyone else during that time? Who was the cleaning company?

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

I've decided it's a little too fishy as well . . . but there's not much I can do about it. I think the storage company was either involved or discovered the break in and tried to cover their asses by putting another lock on there and blaming it on the cleaning company.

[coolmajaka.livejournal.com]

That _really_ sucks man. Hope they choke on the proceeds of their crime.

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

I was thinking of something more violent. Varis volunteered numerous options that sounded fun for example.

[jeffpalmatier.livejournal.com]

Hm . . . I'm wondering if this was an inside job.

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking it was, but there's not much I can do about it at this point.

[jeffpalmatier.livejournal.com]

One action you might be able to take is to report it to the authorities, even if you do it anonymously. It might not help you, but the next time somebody else is ripped off by what might be an inside job, your reporting of this might get these guys caught. "Hey! Didn't somebody else complain about these guys? Let's check this out."

When my brother's car got smashed up, it got hauled to our local junkyard. And surprise, surprise, his car stereo got stolen. The guys who ran this junkyard had a certain reputation. I hope they get their comeupance some day too.

[janni.livejournal.com]

That just all around sucks, yeah.

I'd be tempted to take legal action against the company just to make sure there are consequences for what they've done.

Any chance your homeowners might cover items in storage? (This isn't as weird as it seems--I think it may, say, cover items in one's car ...)

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

They probably do cover it, but I haven't called them yet. I'm in a weird mood, sort of "blah, I don't care about anything" kind of thing.

A legal action is only worth it if it doesn't cost more than what was stolen. But don't think I haven't been thinking about it.

[ddelill.livejournal.com]

That's ridiculous. Not only should they reimburse you on the stolen items, but they should reimburse you damages caused by the flood. But I'm sure they have such clauses in the contract you signed making it impossible for you to get anything. Gotta love republican economics: The big guys always fucks the shit out of the little guy and leaves him to bleed to death.

Sorry to hear about all the problems.

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I see that things are picking up for you after the deathly sickness. Good luck with the labwork!

[ddelill.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Have a happy holiday season! :)

[barbarienne.livejournal.com]

OI!!! Crap, boyo, that sucks.

It's true that you can't get the stuff or the money back, but keep reminding yourself that it's just stuff, and in the long run, that's nothing.

And then sue the storage people. They have insurance for a reason.

[kateelliott.livejournal.com]

What everyone else said - esp. Janni, in that I hope there will be some consequences for the storage company, who seem to be going out of their way to prove that there is no such thing as responsibility to the customer.



One thing, though - as always, except for physical damage, books seem safe from thieves.

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

They seem to have left everything that I thought was important. That's the only bonus.

[krteilman.livejournal.com]

crap crap crap! I'm so sorry sweetie! They really should reimburse you for all that. There is no way it is not at least in part their fault.

You seem to have a very valid case for a lawsuit!

[pbray.livejournal.com]

This sucks. Sad to think that there were vultures out there who were all too willing to take advantage of the confusion after the flood so they could rip people off. I'm betting that you weren't the only person at the storage unit who was robbed, not that the company would ever admit to that.

So sorry.

[hkneale.livejournal.com]

Sue 'em. I'll bet you they're not supposed to turn their security off.

[doctodd.livejournal.com]

Man, that bites.

I think there needs to be a storage company in your next novel, and something really bad happens to the owners.

[brad-beaulieu.livejournal.com]

Just catching up, Joshua. Sorry to hear the news. Arg! F**king thieves!

an unrelated happy thought

[lhynard.livejournal.com]

They sell your book at the Johns Hopkins bookstore. :)

Re: an unrelated happy thought

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

That's good news. It's always nice to know the book is out there on the shelf. Thanks.