Has someone or something stolen from you? Do you know who/what it was? Did it affect you? Do you care?
Doesn’t have to be serious.
Share your stories!
When I was first on my own, I was living paycheck to paycheck and only ate ramen and oatmeal at home because I couldn’t afford decent meals.
The first Christmas when I could finally afford to buy presents for friends at work, I went shopping and carefully picked a gift for each person. Nothing fancy as I was still on a tight budget, but things I thought each person would enjoy. Then I splurged and bought gift bags and decorative tissue paper.
I left them all in the back seat of my piece of shit car to bring to work the next day. I figured it would be safe in the garage in a gated apartment complex. Someone broke into my car and stole it all.
They left fingerprints on my window, so I thought the police could track them down like on TV, but the police couldn’t care less. It really deflated me.
but the police couldn’t care less.
The police protect property, not people. Your property was just too insignificant for them to care about.
If you have a net worth in the many dozens of millions at minimum, they respond much better to even tiny incidents like that.
I think they protect certain people. I also think there are some good cops out there. People state outright that all cops are bad cops if they are part of an institution of evil. But I mean…my existence whether I like it or not is fueling harm in other locations. And I am still buying in, soooooo.
I only say this because I have legitimately met good cops and bad cops. But I also know bad cops are fucking brutal to minorities (and sometimes even to majorities). And they are firm believers in guilty until proven innocent. But they don’t fuck with a lot of shit, and have most def been terrifyingly atagonistic in some situations of my life and radically aloof in others (like say, a child being raped). So yeah. It’s just something I sit around and “huh” at because I am not sure what else to do.
I will also say that crime in Seattle where they shooed out the cops went up ten fold. But that cops in Seattle are racist pigs. So…eh? But shout out to that one cool cop I saw in Tacoma who was trying his best to just be a human!
Got one of those rare holo hieroglyph Mew pokemon cards stolen when i was a kid, i still think about it.
The year was 1990. A kid stole my WWF ring and wrestlers. I will never forgive or forget.
Isn’t it crazy how you can “go there” when you think about it. It’s my lesson in the fact that all emotions are valid. Because I can be young again, and grumpy that some “sumabitch” stole something from me. Among other emotions from memories. But I will say it’s horrible to have somoene smile and enjoy your company all while sliding stuff into their pockets. A gal I once didn’t like (I like her mama though because she had short blonde hair and a ton of strength) stole something from me too and lied up and down the street over that one. She can go puck herself too, but I also acknowledge big picture these things are just little pieces of my life hahaha!
I’ve been robbed twice. The first time was a classic trick. One day after school, I was trading Pokémon cards as usual. I had just received a new pack and went to the kid who checked for fake cards. He told me that one card, the Kyogre EX, was fake. I was suspicious because I had mentioned that Kyogre was one of my favorites. He explained that the redness on the back and the paper thickness were off. I trusted him and showed him my entire collection, keeping the Kyogre. After chatting for a bit, I took my book and went home.
The next day, I did the same thing, but when I got home, my entire collection was gone. My mom called some teachers, and it was a big deal because losing something as a kid feels devastating. A few weeks later, the kid approached me and said he found something in the boys’ locker. I checked, and it was my collection, but my beloved Kyogre and Pikachu were missing. I asked him directly why he took those two cards, and he denied it. He offered to trade me for “similar” cards. I agreed, lost five cards, but got my two favorites back.
The second time I was robbed was about two years ago. A seemingly legitimate Amazon delivery driver rang my doorbell, handed me my package, and started making small talk about how beautiful my lawn was and how he wanted someone to make his lawn look like mine. At that moment, I had no idea what was happening. I later suspected that my bike and skis were taken and stuffed into the delivery van. To clarify, it wasn’t an Amazon Prime delivery, but it looked similar because of the blue color.
After the small talk, he said goodbye, and I checked my package. To my surprise, it was an old book, like the free ones libraries give away. I felt something was off, but since I’m not a morning person, I went to work without thinking much about it. When I got home and went through my usual routine, I felt like I had forgotten something. I remembered the Amazon guy and the package, and then I realized that Amazon doesn’t ship to my country. I know that sounds like an important detail to forget, but I can be pretty forgetful.
Confused, I checked my lawn and then turned my home upside down, quickly noticing my bike and skis were missing. The bike wasn’t a huge loss since I didn’t ride much, but it still hurt because bikes aren’t cheap. The skis were particularly upsetting because they were a gift from someone very important to me. Luckily, my insurance covered everything, but the sentimental value can never be replaced. The police were informed, and some of my neighbors were also missing items.
a) Fuck that kid, he’s probably a total dipshit to this day. I often wonder are people just born this way, or do they learn it by being around equally shitty people.
b) I’m not a morning person either. My brain never works, but especially prior to 10:30. It’s like the wild west up in here. I’m sorry a dip decided to sketch you out of your safety. Again. I’ve lost sentimental stuff overtime and it smarts every time but in the end I always figure the bond (love) is bigger than the things. Even when it’s like - familial stuff. Thank you for sharing though, it was a solid read. Big hugs!
Yes, someone stole a game console from my room in university. Then I caught them selling it on craigslist, contacted them, got their name and got them arrested and my console back.
Lucky for me that I had reported it to the police since I was considering using insurance to cover it. The officer that took the info recognised the persons name because he had pulled the guy over that week and thought it would be fun to catch him with stolen goods as well.
It’s funny to me that there’s someone out there probably claiming that there’s a cop with a vendetta against him.
I mean, it’s really easy to see with blinders. But everyone wants to be the hero of their own story, right? I will say the more desperate a person gets, the crappier their behavior becomes. But that if they were caught speeding prior to, they might have some kinda disorder or illness that is going undiagnosed/untreated which would turn around if they had the support needed.
But life has a pretty set timeline, rules and regulations and people who do not fit into the pegs are seen as “bad” and will slowly degrade overtime until they become the degenerates life always figured they were. (But really this is a generalization and some people really are born more chaotic than others.) I guess more so I am just saying sometimes the world is really against people even if they’re being indulgent in their thought. Because in general, I believe the world is against most people. Even if you’ve got a sliver of pie. So, eh it is what it is.
I always think it’s kinda funny when people turn things right around and try to sell someone’s things right after stealing them. It’s a sure fire way to get caught. But I do have a little wonder in my head about the whole thing like. When you get desperate for cash you start just selling things. Anything. Everything you’ve got. But what happens when that runs out, and you’re still in an unsustainable place? Idk. Whole situation is booty either way =X!
And tbh, it takes a real dummy to target anything higher-education based if this is like…past 2010. Cause there are cameras evuh-ree-whereeee! And typically these kids have money, and cops will protect money =P!
I was a kid once and heard a group of kids following me. I was trick or treating.
Heard them coming up behind me and was expecting them to attack me. Instead one of them just grabbed by bag of candy and ran off.
I started to go after them but my friends stopped me and said with all the solemnity a 7 year old could muster, “let it go”.
They shared their candy with me.
Those are good friends =) I don’t think it would have played out great otherwise. Cause of that kinda hive-minded crap, where people do way worse when in groups than by themselves.
An umbrella…
Some fellow student named Jordan did it years ago…
I’m still pissed and wondering where wtf he lives
Fuck Jordan, let’s go jump his ass =P!
Yeah… let’s make it quick, boys : )
Yes. They stole everything of value in my home, which sadly was not much, and they killed the family pets while doing it. No clue who did it, cops tend not to care much when this sort of thing happens to poor people, and they never tracked down who the culprits were. Definitely did affect me and yes I care.
Aww man, fucking puking in my mouth here. I am so sorry. I worry about this. Right now, not living in the most cracked out area, but for sure have lived in some real sketch-pockets. We almost lost our little guys once (after a shit show drive by) and I always worry that we’ll be out and some tweaker is going to fuck our lives up real bad by stealing all our shit (replaceable) and harming our pets (not-replaceable). Fuck whoever/whatever fucking thug-faced mother fuckers did this to you. I always call it the crab pot cause the low-end smashes up other people in the rough. Because like you said - the cops do not care, and they know they’ll more than likely get away with it. And nobody talks about it, because at minimum it’s the middle class folks in charge but more often than not the upper-class folks and that’s not a world they tend to live in. Although I do think that both middle class folks and upper-class folks are starting to get hit more than ever before. But not like the rot that festers down in the lower-rungs. And worst yet, it doesn’t give you some sort of Job-like resilience. It just smashes your heart to pieces, makes the struggle that much harder, and a lot of folks turn from it and start doing bad right back. Because how you gunna stay straight and narrow when you see how easily you can get away with being an absolute piece of shit.
I’m not saying you though. But I will say I have seen folks turn. And legitimately it breaks my heart. Because people don’t even seem to know the game isn’t for most people. And that the scarcity is forced. But also things. Like, people are fighting so hard for things, because the bullshit that capitalism taught us. But so much stuff is just extraneous. And like, at the end of the day doesn’t really matter. But also poor people don’t tend to travel, and tend to live their entire lives in set-spaces and (this is my opinion) but I think that can really fuck you up too. And media doesn’t help, because so much of it is chatter and everything alive is trying to buy and sell you on some bullshit.
Eh. Big hugs, I got grumpy just thinking about it. I donno when this was but fuck them again and I hope you and yours found some way to feel safe. Even if it’s grabbing a couple of pieces, putting cameras on every wall, glass around the perimeter, bars on the windows. Whatever. This is going to sound fucked up but if you’re in a real shady ass space try not to talk with anyone especially the nicest of folks. And keep your windows COVERED and I mean covered - like if you gotta do it with sheets. Make sure if you walked up on them, nobody can see shit in your joint. And make a point of hopping out of your place fast, doing checks that everything is closed up prior, and just going from A-Z. Like I said - don’t talk to anyone. It’s not a great way to live, but if it’s between you and surviving fuck that - just do what you’ve gotta do.
*p.s. - Stay safe =/!
The was in the 90s when I was growing up. Some asshole straight up came into my parent’s house and took these expensive ass Guess shorts while I was napping. Also had my wallet and ID in there. In a few days, the ID showed back up in my mailbox. I have a feeling it was a scumbag dude I grew up with but I’ll never truly know for sure.
Yo, at least you got the set back. But who the fuck does that? I hope that dude wasn’t some kinda freaky ass pedophile who was coming for booty or some shit.
I lived in an apartment complex in my early 20s. Left the car unlocked one night and someone rummaged through it. The only thing they took was my prescription sunglasses. It aggrivates me to think that the moment they tried it they realized it was a prescription and threw em out. $600 just gone to steal something absolutely useless to anyone but me.
Like bruh.
Woah, I talked about someone who had their car broken open and the only thing they took was sunglasses @_@. Totally, like bruh moment. I’ve heard people say it’s easier to keep nothing in your car and keep it unlocked than to keep it locked with stuff in it. Shrugs.
Either way fk thieves!
Yeah, had a drug dealer burgle our apartment (just an opportunistic thing, spare keys had been left outside by a friend who was moving). Fortunately no-one was in, but it sucked to have to deal with all the damage and security.
We eventually tracked them down when they sold some stuff though and they were actually arrested and we got a few things back.
It was awesome the police actually raided them. Unfortunately the new government released them as prisoners with “non-violent” offences.
I had a friend who made bad life choices and while I love them, they are most def not in my life anymore. They stayed up with a dealer and smoked a bunch of shit. The dealer, who is in one of the best pictures I’ve ever taken in my life by the by I think bitterly, proceeded to steal everything from this person. They met up while we were on a walk, and while my buddy used to buy weed off this person they started doing harder and harder drugs. But that’s all to say this fuck-face magee stole everything they could from my buddy. They no longer could do their work, which was remote. They ended up homeless and got ultra fucked (literally and figuratively) while on the streets. I had just moved away, or else I woulda helped. But who the hell knows what that woulda brought in to my life. Sigh.
But fuck drug dealers. Most of them are total fucking assholes. I am glad you got the fkers. Surprised they got off, considering what they probably had around.
p.s. - This wasn’t some tab shit btw. This was smoke up a lotta stuff and then gank kinda stuff.
I don’t think I have, but I’m always mildly irked by broke people stealing from other broke people instead of from people that can afford to replace the stolen whatever.
I used to steal food from the local big chain supermarket.
my father gave me a lesson once when my bike was stolen when i was a child. he told me that they did it because they felt they had to; not because they wanted to target me and that remaining angry about it was unproductive because they will never know nor care.
i try to apply that same lesson every time someone wrongs me.
That’s some good stuff. Like it’s on them. It’s why I try not to get upset if someone’s having a mood swing or something. Cause that’s on them, not me. But it can be harder to practice the more toes that get stepped on.
A friend in college gave me his Gameboy Advance SP and some games, and I’d collected more games over the years. I lent everything to a coworker and then I was home sick when said coworker moved away and took it all.
Could’ve left it at work, could’ve left it with a mutual friend. They were coming back for a visit so I asked if they could bring it and they accused me of not caring about them, only the gameboy, so they did not give it back then either.
It was a huge bummer because I was on THE LAST LEVEL of Pokemon Sapphire and now it’s too expensive for me to get another copy. I’d also told the guy who gave it to me originally that he could reclaim the GBA and his games if he ever felt inclined but thankfully that has not happened since I wouldn’t be able to return them now.
I’ve had other belongings stolen from me in the past but it was the accusation that trying to reclaim my property meant I did not care about the person who stole from me that really grinds my gears even now. I’d spent a lot of time trying to help them through some difficult life stuff long before I ever lent them the console.
a) Co-worker is an asshole and who the hey knows what happened to your stuff but you can reach out and see if they maybe have it in a box somewhere. $12 will get you most smaller things shipped across America (pending you’re here).
b) Idk where you sit on the whole retro-gaming thing. But they’ve got gobtones of little handheld systems that can emulate most older systems and they’re loaded to the gils with games too. I don’t have one (if I feel the spirit I emulate on my phone) but they look pretty nifty. I’ve actively looked at them and though “Hmm, that’s pretty nifty!” I am just not sure how much I would play them, and I already do well enough with my phone.
c) On the tail-end - most people will be friendly first if you do reach out. They don’t feel a bunch of shame about anything, especially if you were nice to them. They might just think about the good times you spent with them and reminisce. Seriously, I would consider reaching out and seeing whatsup and then ask them if they remember the DS. But also you clearly kissed it goodbye, so it is what it is. I hope you kick the tail outta the last bit of Sapphire some day =)
Thanks for the thoughtful reply!
This happened many years ago now and I don’t have contact info for them or much desire to find out if they’re less of an asshole now. I would’ve thought if they were interested in returning it to me they would’ve done so at my request back in the day so I imagine asking again now wouldn’t make much of a difference.
I’m not too broken up about it; a much better friend who heard the story got me a used GBA and a couple of games for my birthday a while ago so I’ve managed to rebuild some of my collection. Mostly just upset that someone who stole from me called my character into question when I requested my stuff back. It made me feel like all the time I’d spent helping them with their issues was a waste of my time seeing as they were so quick to make me responsible for their own bad behavior.
Of course, no worries! I was thinking if magically they were a male (I mean 50/50 right?) that they might have the same name as when you knew them. A gal? All bets are off. Some folks are easier to track down than others. Ah, I think I missed the part where they questioned your character. You know that’s some bs deflection crap.
Also your friend sounds like super dope, x100. That’s awesome =)! I still don’t know where you sit on things, but I will say that when I did have a gameboy (I gave it to a friend when I moved at one point in my life) I did have some kinda flash card I think? It is shaped like a cartridge and connected to my laptop via a cord (Maybe a micro, maybe a mini?) and I coudl put a handful of games on there. I know scalpers have ruined the joy of retro gaming to a point. I once went into a retro game store and could have slapped every face in that store having seen the prices games go for nowadays. I’ve been sticking to basically “lofi” pc gaming. Like the super amazing intergalactic fishing and Sword of the Samurai *Sugoi~! But I do wanna toss one more thing your way just in case you end up deciding to check out retro-handhelds. I actually saw one recently, because someone posted a whole thing on PieFed I believe. That had lists of handhelds and their prices on AliExpress. But this one caught my eye because it looks like an SP and can play up to Dreamcast I think. Here’s the review that I watched when I looked into it. I kinda hopped around, because I don’t care too much about sound or teardown or anything. Feel free to check it out if you’re interested =)!
Keep gaming, and keep being sweet =)!
I had my art stolen and combined with other stolen art by an AI image prompter. Some of my work is very personal to me and I have zero tolerance for art thieves.
Ngl, I stopped posting stuff pretty much as a whole because of bots and thieves and shit heads. But then again, they’re gunna steal all of this (text-baed) stuff and talk like a shit-eating hooker so muwahahahaha!
Sorry that they did you like that. I’m not even sure what to do in the end because even if you crop your art for litigation and ownership - who you gunna sue? It really is crazy though because I believe creative endeavors are copyright the second idea hits the “paper.”
Did you ever get your art back?
