So my cell phone rings @ 4:00 am this morning....it's the police

SUMORADA

....they tell me that someone had broken into my store by smashing one of the glass doors with a baseball bat, but the good news is they caught him.....

Apparently a couple of bartenders who were leaving work from a beach bar a couple hundred yards west of me heard the breaking glass and came to investigate, when they arrived this guy was in the store or trying to leave so one the pulls out his cell phone and gets a closeup of the guys tag #,

Anyway it appears that they (the bartenders) must have startled this guy because he was in the showroom with a baseball bat and had pulled back the covers on three of the six showcases that contained jewelry. mint sets some slabbed stuff and some Spanish cobs,

the cases were untouched...... I owe these guys big time !

So the cops go to the guys house a mile from here and there sits the vehicle, engine is hot and license tag had been removed....he says to the cops "I,m glad your here...somebody stole my tag"

He is in jail as I type........evidently the police found some other items at the residence from some recent burglaries...he is denying everything but the police dusted for prints and they have at least two eyewitnesses...so this guy is toast IMO..

blu62vette

You owe them some serious beer!!! Great job on there part.

lordmarcovan

Here's a toast to some off-duty bartenders!

guitarwes

So glad no one was hurt, and really glad they caught the scum.

Those bartenders need a good tip next time you visit their bar.

mingot

you might want to start tipping these guys with morgans

pontiacinf

ah me likes happy endings

ricko

Great story... sorry about the damage, but all in all, not a bad ending compared to what could have been. Take those bartenders out to a nice dinner. Cheers, RickO

Ahrensdad

Happy to hear a good ending. I'm certain you will think of a nice reward for the bartenders.

georgiacop50

Glad the guy is caught! but I'd rather see him plugged.

Does the Castle Law in FL apply to your place of business as well as your home?

Lakesammman

Great story and a happy ending - just hope he didn't get any glass splinters, o/w you'll be getting sued for having faulty glass.

ThePennyLady

What great timing on the part of those wonderful bartenders, and especially that they had the mind to photograph the thief's tags! I would seriously send them each a nice collectible coin for their efforts!

CaptHenway

Good news!
When you get your glass back in, investigate a product that can line the inside of your windows with a clear plastic not unlike the plastic inside windshield safety glass. If somebody hits it from outside, it will still shatter but the plastic holds it together. The thief has to literally beat the glass out of the frame. Had it in a shop I worked at, and it was totally clear. Never had it tested, thank God!
TD

DorkGirl

Great story! And you do owe those guys a Morgan or two

AUandAG

Hang 'em high!

Get that front door redone with a plastic/glass sandwich!

bob

jmski52

This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Good ending.

fivecents

Glad to hear nothing was stolen and the theif was caught.



<< <i>When you get your glass back in, investigate a product that can line the inside of your windows with a clear plastic not unlike the plastic inside windshield safety glass. If somebody hits it from outside, it will still shatter but the plastic holds it together. The thief has to literally beat the glass out of the frame. >>

Great advice CaptH!

blue594

They make a security film that you can put on the glass. It works great. You can also use it on the first floor windows of your house.

John

gonzer

<< <i>Great story! And you do owe those guys a Morgan or two >>



Morgans? Give 'em a coupla cobs!

19Lyds

I'm really glad this bastage didn't get anything Eric.

bsshog40

Cool story. Hip Hip horay to the bartenders. Not enuff people in todays new world that even cares to get involved fearing retaliation nowadays. Sounds like a round for the tenders!!

Mar327

You had the right people there at the right time - I love happy endings and am very happy you didn't suffer a serious loss. Yes, you do owe those guys something!

Bochiman

Glad things ended as well as could be.
He was stupid.
People were around.
Cops actually showed up and went to find him and looked around.

metalmeister

Good thing I didn't catch the burgler/ thief! Thief is lucky he is in the USA. Try that in Saudi or elsewhere, he might be minus a few fingers.

DoubleEagle59

Great work bartenders!

I'm very happy for your fortunate outcome.

I must say though, that as I read your post, I had to laugh when the crook said to the cops "glad you guys showed up as someone stole my plates!"

I hope he definitely gets what's coming to him.

pf70collector

Maybe add some kind of iron gating/fencing outside the glass.

johnny9434

they deserve a good tip

alohagary

It is sad but people breaking in is happening everywhere. glad they caught the culprit. Thanks to the good samaritians.

notwilight

I would call the paper and get them written up as hero's with their picture in the paper. They can show that to their kids. --Jerry

etexmike

I also love the stories with the happy endings, and this is one.

for the good guys.


Mike

NotSure

Everything positive about these bartenders has been said...good thing it wasn't a slow night and they closed early!! I don't have to say how fortunate you were/are...you already know that! Though, looks like you'll just HAVE to go to the bar and run up a tab, and tip these guys WELL! I know it'll be a drag, but it's just something you'll have to suck up and do...

All kidding aside, I'm glad someone was around to thwart what SHOULD have been (and normally WOULD have been) just another bad story about a dealer getting ripped off. I'm happy for you, Sumorada, that this had a good outcome....especially seeing how, a mere 6 hours later, the SOB was already getting used to his new digs.

Plan to pay the 'tenders a visit VERY soon (like tonight, maybe?...lol)

SUMORADA

would call the paper and get them written up as hero's with their picture in the paper. They can show that to their kids. --Jerry

I have not been to this beach bar in years but a friend of mine knows these gentlemen and is checking to find out what nite they are working again, I think we have a couple days, my plan so far is to take some friends there (one of which owns the local beach paper) and say thank you to these folks...

one thought was to tip them with several $1 face silver eagles.?

These guys saved me several hundred dollars in showcase glass alone, and I'm sure several thousand dollars in inventory,

I'm looking for suggestions from you folks.........and I will get pics with them and post here......

Schatzy

I am glad we still have some honest people!!


Just one question.....Do you have video cameras in the shop?

jessewvu

Fantastic outcome. Sorry about the hassle you will probably end up going through to get back to pre-break-in status.

paladin

Glad things turned out OK. You might want to invest in a better security system though.

SkyMan

<< <i> would call the paper and get them written up as hero's with their picture in the paper. They can show that to their kids. --Jerry

I have not been to this beach bar in years but a friend of mine knows these gentlemen and is checking to find out what nite they are working again, I think we have a couple days, my plan so far is to take some friends there (one of which owns the local beach paper) and say thank you to these folks...

one thought was to tip them with several $1 face silver eagles.?

These guys saved me several hundred dollars in showcase glass alone, and I'm sure several thousand dollars in inventory,

I'm looking for suggestions from you folks.........and I will get pics with them and post here...... >>



If you do give them ASE, please make sure that they know that they are worth more than $1. A lot of people don't understand about the intrinsic value of the coin as opposed to the value stamped on the coin.

morgansforever

Glad to see a perp caught in the act.
Most important you weren't hurt, secondly no mechandise was taken.
The perp wasn't to bright, using his car to carry out a crime, good for you though

YogiBerraFan

Score one for the good guys

coindeuce

Another genius bungler takes up residence at the greybar hotel.
Ask Tony Tumonis about the mope who tried to break into his coin business; of all the possible names he could have given his business, it is titled "Glass Shoppe". Several years ago, a banger tried to enter his shop after hours on a weekend in broad daylight. This he attempted by putting his doo rag wrapped fist through a 6" X 8" pane of the front door. When he reached through the frame of shattered glass to flip the deadbolt, he severed the artery on the inside of his elbow and proceeded to spray paint the facade of the building with his good American red blood. He even left a pool of it on the sidewalk that Tony initially mistinterpreted as a paint spill. The genius staggered across a four lane thoroughfare in Tucson, and out into the desert as the casually responding cops determined by following the trail as it quickly diminished. They never found the perp.

clw54

I hope he dies in jail.

BlindedByEgo

Thank God for a couple of sober bartenders

atarian

<< <i>I hope he dies in jail. >>



I think this is a bit overkill. A good 30 or 50 yrs in prison would be fine.

Glad they got the people and your items were safe. Im sure youll find a way to thank the people who helped catch this guy. Its a good feeling to know there are still honest helpful people in this world who are willing to stand up for whats right. Not for what is easy.

SaorAlba

<< <i>I hope he dies in jail. >>



Ah what a good waste of what should be free labour cleaning up the state highways with chain gangs like in the days of old.