OT Security - (WAS: OT [TCLUG] Somewhat Humerous CoLo Adventure

Thu Dec 2 12:47:58 CST 2004

Stories from frogtown are the best. This really made my day. Thanks for the
post :)

-----Original Message-----
From: tclug-list-bounces at mn-linux.org
[mailto:tclug-list-bounces at mn-linux.org] On Behalf Of Adam Maloney
Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2004 11:44 AM
To: TCLUG Mailing List
Subject: Re: OT Security - (WAS: OT [TCLUG] Somewhat Humerous CoLo Adventure

While we're on the subject of security and theft, I'd like to share a tale 
that happened a few weeks ago.  The ongoing saga of things stolen from my 
yard in Frogtown.  This is case-in-point that even neighbors can't be 
trusted.  But it is pretty funny.

I hired my brother's friend to come over and paint my garage door on a 
Saturday.  He brought with him his 4 day old, brand new, used once, $1000 
power sprayer.  You already know where this is going...

He left it in my yard up by the garage door unattended for 10 minutes. 
Came back out, it was gone.  This was at about 3 in the afternoon.  In 
it's place was a plastic blue bin, and in the bin were an empty pack of 
"Winner" cigarettes, and an open but mostly full box of prophylactics. 
Apparently the thieves had tried to wedge the sprayer into the bin, but it 
didn't fit so they left it.

We noticed a trail of green paint leading quite a ways down the sidewalk. 
It trailed off into the grass 4 doors down.  I called the police, and St. 
Paul's finest showed up about 45 minutes later (he apologized, they had a 
shooting a few blocks away...)  We filled the cop in and showed him the 
paint.  He followed it a ways, then announced that he was going to call in 
a K-9 unit.  Cool.

10 minutes later the K-9 shows up, and when the dog was sniffing the bin, 
the handler said "Track!".  The dog took off down the sidewalk, sweeping 
back and forth, more or less following the paint trail.  As they get to 
the house where the paint trailed off into the grass, a gentleman in 
painter's clothes with green paint on his leg came out of the house.

The dog went nuts.  Partially because it was the right scent, but also 
because the guy had a small bag of marijuana on him.  My neighbor was 
arrested, charge with felony theft AND possession of a controlled 
substance.  I was hoping he'd put up a fight or try and run, so I could 
see either the taser in action, or at least the application of some "stick 
time".  Alas, much to my disappointment he went quietly.  Even covered his 
face as he walked by me (dude, you live 4 houses down...you're not on 
Cops.)

Unfortunately, his story was that he helped his roommate's buddy load it 
into their truck and they left with it.  He didn't know it was stolen. 
When he picked it up from in front of my garage door.  With paint still in 
it.  In a hurry.  Anyways, to my knowledge it has not been recovered, but 
buddy spent some time in the clink, and I believe there are warrants out 
for the other two involved.  At this point the sprayer is ruined anyways, 
since they probably didn't clean out the paint that was still in it.

Oh, and I asked the cops as they were hauling buddy off to jail what I 
should do with the blue bin (not so much wondering if anyone wanted it 
back, but if the police wanted to take it for evidence.)  The cop says 
"throw it out.  Hell, burn it!"

Lessons learned:
Expected lifespan of a paint sprayer in Frogtown is 10 minutes
The scum of the earth use protection when trolling for prostitutes
If you're going to steal something that's dripping paint, don't drag it to 
your driveway.

It was /almost/ worth it all, just to see the police dog in action.

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