My uncle's ranch in Ballinger was broken into some time Friday night. They didn't vandalize the home but they did steal televisions, air compressor, a nice fish cooker, one gun that was sitting out and maybe a few other things. At this point it sounds like everything they got can be replaced pretty easily but it still sucks. If any of y'all are in that area and hear any talk about it or see any of these types of items at a pawn shop or on craigslist, let me know.

Methheads strike again!

Sorry for the loss, hope you get it back.....

I hope they catch them!!! I hate thieves!!!

Do you have the S#s to everything?

Sorry to hear that. It worries me sometimes when I leave our place. We're close to Hood county.' Nuff said.

That sucks, nothin worse than a theif. The violation of your stuff just changes your perceived safety and will change what you do going forward, and that for me, is almost worse than the actual loss.

I agree txshntr. Once our home was burglarized. It definitely changes your attitude about being safe in your own home. Horrible feeling being violated like that.

You're right. And not almost, it is worse. Everything they took can be easily replaced, but it's just the fact that they were there and the feeling of being violated and insecure. My uncle is out there right now to see what all was taken and to look into ways of better securing the area.

Anybody have good suggestions on secure gates?

Nothings worse than guns walking off. We had a whole bunch stolen from our place in the late 80's. Keep em with you or locked up.

Sorry to hear that. Karma will get em

You realize that TVs, guns, grills, and other stuff are all over pawn shops, Craigslist, lots of people's homes, etc., right? This information isn't going to help you. Your best bet is to deal with the cops.

I'm well aware. However, around this small town, if items like this show up at a pawn shop that weren't there a few days ago, someone might start asking questions. Worth a shot, right?

By now the stolen items are probably a long way from Ballinger, if not a long way at least Abilene or San Angelo. I bet there are at least 15 pawn shops in Abilene, and the same in San Angelo.

Or they may show up right there in Ballinger, Coleman, or Cross Plains all sitting right next to each other. Worth a shot right?

The items don't really matter, but if someone does know of some quality gates that provide security that can't be cut with a pair of bolt cutters, I'd be interested in hearing about that so I can provide that information to my uncle.

x2 good luck finding them

I have no sympathy for idiots like that, bet it isn't their 1st time, or last. Wonder if they new the property?? Hope you get the stuff back, but more so, hope they get caught.

Sorry to hear, hope things get squared away for him

It is absolutely worth a shot and a good idea to keep checkin in on the local pawn shops. That is one of the first places the police would start also. Very good chance you'll never see this stuff again, but hey you never know. Good luck, and I hate to hear about this kinda stuff.
Like was said earlier, the worst part about it...is how we lose a little more and more faith in our fellow man, it sucks.

Well placed land mines have come to mind on several occasions. Sorry to hear about it bud.

Pawnshops put new material out on the shelf every day. Craigslist has new stuff for sale every day. So something new for sale that wasn't for sale a few days ago isn't a sign of being stolen. It is part of the norm of operation.



Most thieves will not pawn to a Texas pawn shop because it requires a government ID to pawn or sell the item to them and they know that the shops are checked by the cops. So chances are that if a stolen item ends up in a pawn shop, it is after it has been sold by the thief to somebody else first and then that person decided they needed money and opted not to privately sell it to somebody else. That means it isn't likely to happen fast if it ever happens at all. If the item is pawned, it cannot be out for sale for basically 3 months at the earliest. If sold to the pawn shop, then usually less than 2 weeks before it might be out for sale.

You can check pawn shops all you want, but it is one of the more fruitless searches you can do especially since the police will already be checking them. Instead, if you are going to check anywhere, check any junk stores, flea markets, garage sales, etc. that are places that are NOT checked by the police. Of course, that will likely be quite fruitless as well.

Stolen things usually end up in a local dope house, traded for the drug of choice. Quicker and easier than dealing with a pawn shop.

Sucks about the theft.

If they did pawn or sell it in a pawn shop, it is going to be 14-21 days before that can put it out or 60 - 90 days if they did a loan.

If you have model #'s and serial numbers then you have a better chance of getting them. Most pawn shops report to leads on line.

Best of luck

If we had neighbors who knew us, and laws that were enforced with jail time, then I think we'd have a lot less of this on our hands.

Sorry for your loss, hope you get it all back and the ones who did it die from something like an infected hangnail.

Everything can be cut... Portable cutting torches are fairly cheap.

But, the best chain I have seen is the OnGuard Beast (with the elongated link on one end - the opposite end link slides through the elongated link). Add the 100% hidden shackle lock (the ones you see on 18 wheelers) - the small link will slide into the lock and thus the only thing to cut is the octagon, hardened chain. Supposedly, bolt cutters can cut this chain.

Or get a metal cargo container and put everything in it and lock it up with all the after market bar locks. Grainger has all sorts of locks for cargo containers.

My neighbor just had someone break into his place by cutting his barb wire fence about 20 feet from his gate and driving right in.