I must vent!

[cdcmj]

Hi all- I just got back from 7springs ski resort an hour from Pittsburgh, PA. I went with some friends from school (pitt) for the night. Anyways, the jist of the story is I put my 600$ snowboard down, outside, for about 30 seconds...Yep, it was stolen. I did the best i could to search the surrounding area for anyone walkin off with it, but not luck. Man am I pissed! I grabbed a friends metal ski pole and went huntin like a mad man. I just wish i could have had the chance to confront my robbers. There were some 18 year old local types hanging out by the seclulded area I had STUPIDLY left my board at. I was so pissed, I went up to them (with pole in hand) and cussed them out and asked what they were doing. In the end, I figured there scheme out as they all disappeared. There were look at men, and people to carry the newly stolen merchandise off to a newly discoverd (to me) back parking lot behind the food court..

Anything I could have done differently, except for not leaving my board in the open like that....I am just so pissed right now. In retrospect I allso wish I had my Kershaw leek on me, and/or a ccw (not 21 yet though). I filed a useless police report with security people...they said to check with my parents homeowners insurance to see if reimbursement is possible?? any advice, comments, etc are appreciated.

 

[loki.fish]

In retrospect I allso wish I had my Kershaw leek on me, and/or a ccw (not 21 yet though).

As angry as you were and the fact you wish you had a weapon on you tells me you're somebody who doesn't need to be carrying any weapons until you do something about your anger problems. Sounds like you might have done something stupid if you had a weapon on you. It's not wise to wish for a CCW because a simple item was stolen. To even say such a thing is irresponsible.

 

[tank mechanic]

I wish I had my leek on me right now too.

 

[cdcmj]

Keep in mind this happended 2 hours ago..I only say I wish I had a weapon incase i was LUCKY enough to see these punks walking away with my board, so I would have something on my side (instead of just my fists). Since I am convinced this was a multi-person operation, and it was just me, things could have turned negative for ME quickly if I confronted them..(which i would have in a heartbeat)

 

[22-rimfire]

Sorry for your experience. I feel for you. I grew up not that far from there. Have you given any thought to what you might have done if you had a knife or gun on you when you confronted the suspected thieves? Great way to go to jail. Being from Pittsburgh (i.e. city boy) and a college student, you are the perfect candidate for the Somerset County Sheriff dept.

Kind of reminds me of being in a hurry and not locking your bike in the rack at school.

 

[BAT1]

Calm down

I left my new ladder in front of my house while putting up Holiday lights, went to the corner store, and it was gone when I got back. You gotta be careful these days, that's the way it is. You could of screwed up your future. NEVER, NEVER, shake a baby, and Never grab your gun in the heat of anger. They would of turned you in, and the law would take your gun, and jail you. They would order tests for you and ban you from owning a firearm. Or WORSE, some one could have been killed.

 

[Erebus]

Sounds like you might have done something stupid if you had a weapon on you.

Agreed, wishing you had a weapon on you at a time lie that says only one thing, you ;would have done something with it. And from the circumstances I suspect it would not have been something smart, legal, prudent, or productive.

Unfortunately we all have times we can look back and realize we did something stupid and just had to deal with the concequences.

Live and Learn.

 

[GDDYUP]

You do not use a firearm unless you need it to defend against grave bodily injury or death. Some idiot who stole your snowboard would not fall under that catagory. Had you confronted them, threatend and/or drawn a firearm in that situation, YOU would be the aggressor and would have ended up in jail.... or worse.

For a snowboard.... :banghead:

 

[Wes Janson]

Paranoia is the key. Don't leave valuable stuff lying around in public.

Reminds me of something I saw on campus last year: kid walks in to report his bike was stolen. Dispatcher says something like "When did this happen and where was it stolen from? And do you have any idea who might have taken it?" Kid replies back "It happened an hour or two ago, while I was sitting inside my room. I was looking outside, and this dude came up and walked off with my bike." Dispatcher: "Didn't you do anything to stop him?" "Nah, I just stood there and watched him take it."

*shakes head*

 

[Primersinmyshoe]

Excuse me, I have to take a leek.

This has been a very expensive lesson for you. Use it.

I'm glad for you that you did not have a deadly weapon.

 

[cdcmj]

Wes, that is all I am saying, I wouldnt have just let it happen like some sheep...I WOULD NOT have just vigilante style pulled a weapon on somebody I THOUGHT stole my stuff. All I am saying is that when I went searching for somebody carrying my stuff away, there was a reason I had a stiff metal pole in hand. Like insurance, which is my reason for owning an 870 in my home, is why I would have liked a weapon of some sort in retrospect.

P.S. being a college student currently...600$ isnt a simple item stolen.

 

[Manedwolf]

Anyways, the jist of the story is I put my 600$ snowboard down, outside, for about 30 seconds...Yep, it was stolen. I did the best i could to search the surrounding area for anyone walkin off with it, but not luck. Man am I pissed!

Lesson there. Don't leave your valuable stuff out of your sight. That hasn't changed in THOUSANDS of years. Leave it, someone will take it. I'm sure people five thousand years ago left something bulky outside a shop for "just a second" and someone took it. Thieves are. Period.

Anything I could have done differently, except for not leaving my board in the open like that....I am just so pissed right now. In retrospect I allso wish I had my Kershaw leek on me, and/or a ccw (not 21 yet though).

If you're that hotheaded, you should NOT carry a firearm. A firearm is only to be used as a last resort to stop a lethal attack. And NOTHING ELSE. You do not START anything or CONFRONT anyone because you're armed.

Or you will have it taken away from you by authorities, and you will have deserved it.

Anything I could have done differently, except for not leaving my board in the open like that....I am just so pissed right now. In retrospect I allso wish I had my Kershaw leek on me, and/or a ccw (not 21 yet though).

Then you would have been the one to escalate the situation, and if it led to the use of deadly force, you'd be in jail. Or even, what, you think your missed shots will stop magically, especially in a wide-open ski area with people downslope from where you might be? Wouldn't that be just great if you pursued them over a snowboard, shot at them, and hit a kid on the bunny slope half a mile away?

LEARN THE LAWS before you apply for anything, or your a__ is going to end up in a jail cell as someone's girlfriend.

 

[tank mechanic]

It has happened. They took your board. Let it go. A board is not worth going to jail for. Life sucks and you can do nothing about about it. Move on. Expect to take an amount of s*** along the way. The real test is if you can move on and accomplish anyways. I know this is what you do not want to hear but it is what you need to hear to move on and be successful.

 

[Cuda]

It's only a snowboard.. Calm down it can be replaced... And remember having a CCW doesn't give you the right to start something then cry self defense if you use a weapon..


JMO

C

 

[thebaldguy]

I hate to say this, but you need a portable board lock. They're just a bit bigger than a pack of cigrettes. I've got one and my skier friends always ask me to secure their stuff too. It's a cheap (20-30 dollar) investment to prevent theft of expensive gear.

On a similar note, laptop computer locks are a good idea as well.

There's always somebody out there that wants to steal your stuff.

 

[22-rimfire]

P.S. being a college student currently...600$ isnt a simple item stolen.

I hear you. I would feel the same way even if my parents gave it to me for Christmas.

I once was at a concert in Dallas and it was a mad house in the parking lot getting out after the show. Folks were downright rude which I chauk up to the yankee influx into the area. Anyway, things happened and I was so mad that I might very well have done something really stupid with a firearm. I'm so glad that I didn't have a gun with me. False courage. I have since learned to just relax and go with the flow.

 

[BobMcG]

As unpleasant an experience as this for you, you're young and will more than likely have worse experiences than this to deal with throughout time. Learn from this one though and you will have gained something from all this and not just lost something. Checking into homeowners insurance is a good idea that might work out.

You can't see it now but someday looking back on this you'll feel glad you weren't carrying. It doesn't really sound like you were in a totally rational frame of mind.

 

[chris in va]

Here in VA, if you start a 'fight' or other altercation and end up using a firearm on someone without yelling "I'm sorry...please don't hurt me" first, you go to prison.

Well, seriously...a firearm is a last resort for personal defense. You can't go waving it around to make a point or jump into a potentially bad situation feeling like a BAD MOFO just because you're packing. Bad bad bad.

Better read up on PA self defense laws. I'd hate to hear about you ending up in prison.

 

[Chindo18Z]

I feel for ya. Years ago I had my brand new (and expensive) poles taken off my locked skis. Had to go stand in long rental line to get a set of poles. At end of day (to add insult to injury), thief put the poles back in the same spot on public ski rack

If you've got a suspect, call cops or resort security; get renters insurance for next time (as a student living away from home). Post a reward at the food court in question (with photo). Or suck it up. $600 isn't worth a violent confrontation (unless you are absolutely sure that you can easily pluck the board out of the hands of the thief you see holding it).

I like to mark my skis with engraved name or identity marks and some kind of visible paint or sticker scheme. Also always locked up if I'm not standing next to them...period.

Sorry 'bout that...

 

[Run&Shoot]

Unfortunately, these days there is almost always somebody waiting to steal stuff. A house several blocks away had a guy walk into their garage during broad daylight with neighbors in the yard and rode out on a new mountain bike. One neighbor even stopped him and asked about it and was told he just bought it from the homeowner. I was running in the area and happened along just after it happened. We couldn't find the thief.

Many years ago my daughter walked home from elementary school and left her foot scooter locked to the bike rack. By the time I got home and discovered ("you did what?!") and walked back to the school it was gone and a cut chain was all that left.

Bottom line: life can suck because there are a few bad apples always lurking around for the slightest opportunity to take advantage of others. When you went looking for them you should planned to use your cell phone if possible to call 911 and just keep track of them. I understand though, that had you found them and a bunch of them threatened to jump you if you didn't scram then I wouldn't feel like slinking away either. Had they come after me and I was armed I would treat it like any other attack and defend myself.

If they just wanted to argue and try to flee then I would do the best I could to get identifying details memorized in hopes they could be tracked down by the police. Unfortunately many resort areas figure the visitors are fair game and they are not about to piss off the parents (voters) of the local hoodlums. Been there and had that done.

 

[BullfrogKen]

I'm sorry you were victimized by a thief. But, this is not an appropriate opportunity to pine over how you wish you were armed to deal with the situation.


I think you got good advice by the security department, and you've seen the dark side of man first hand. You've learned your lesson about leaving items you care about unattended. So, I'm closing this thread to keep the pile-on from furthering.