Mark W
Well-known member
Saturday before Father's day, my son was golfing and returned home around 8:45. He and a couple of buddies came inside and had some pizza. Garage door was closed about 9:30 pm.
Next morning (Father's Day) I walked into the garage to put our clubs in the vehicle to play golf with my son only to find them not in their usual place. It was at this time I realized the clubs had been stolen.
To say this was upsetting is a vast understatement. This is the 4th time we have been vandalized in the past 4 years or so. We do not live in a place where one would expect crime to be a problem. My son is on the high School golf team and plays golf everyday to get better for next year. Now he is without clubs. If you are a golfer, you will not be surprised to learn that between two sets of clubs, over $6,000 was stolen from my that evening not to mention the time and anguish it has caused my family since.
I sent a list of exactly what was stolen to all the local outlets where clubs like this could possibly be exchanged for cash. I also alerted the neighborhood about this theft via our home owner association alert system.
Thursday I get a call from the local police saying that a kid had attempted to sell one set of clubs to a nearby Play it Again sports store. The alert employee immediately recognized the clubs and went in the back room and called the police who came and intervened. Clubs were returned to my police department and I picked up the clubs that afternoon. Still missing one set of clubs.
That evening, a neighbor was on a walk and noticed a black car parked outside my house with 2 kids in it. It should be mentioned that the night of the theft, some neighbor kids saw a black car pull up our street, turn its headlights off and park in front of our house. This neighbor, brave soul that he is, went up to the kids and asked if they needed any help. Kids said they were just waiting for a friend. When the neighbor asked what the name of their friend was, the ids didn't know and peeled off. Neighbor got a partial license plate number. Cops were called again. I was now wondering if these kids were coming back to do harm as they had been caught earlier. My first thought was wondering if I needed to get my shotgun out of the basement. My family was that worried.
Friday while at work, I get a frantic call from my 15 year old son saying that cops were all over outside. As he was telling me this, a cop came to the door. Seems that my golf clubs had suddenly appeared outside the neighbors garage. Not 15 minutes earlier my son had mowed that area and had not seen any clubs. I came home to find the cops and my clubs gone. A call to the police department to find out what was happening went unanswered at this time.
I get a call later that day saying that my set of clubs had been recovered. Guess the kids came back to return my clubs after realizing how much trouble they were in. They watched my son mow the yard and when he went into the back, they put my clubs next to a neighbors garage. Two of the kids wanted to return my set of clubs to me in person and say how sorry they were for all the trouble they caused. One kid said that they would probably have the crap beat out of them by me if they went this route. Smart kid and at least one good decision was made.
Police had interviewed two of the four sets of parents prior to me getting a call. The cop said he had never heard parents who were as upset as these were. He jokingly said he thought he might be returning to a dead body call in a couple of hours.
To make a really long story short, 4 kids were involved. 3 minors and one 18 year old. None had been in trouble prior to this but had admitted to stealing stuff out of garages prior to stealing from me. They just hadn't been caught.
The kids have not been arrested nor charged with any crimes at this time though a written confession is in the possession of the police. The crime pending is first degree felony burglery or felony theft I can't recall which one but it is a serious offense.
I was asked what I want to do as I have a choice. The cops can go and charge the kids with the felony, or, if I want I can participate in a program called Restorative Justice. I guess this allows me a chance to speak to the kids and tell them what this has done to me and my family both financially and psychologically. I also get to chose the punishment I think is appropriate. If the kids then do as I wish, they do not get a felony charge on their record.
According to the cop who has been working with juveniles and juvenile crime for 18 years, he believes 3 of the 4 kids are scared stiff and the parents extremely upset and disappointed. He believes that if given a second chance, these kids will not be repeat offenders. The 4th kid he is fairly certain will also not offend again but is not completely sure.
When I was younger, I made mistakes and was given a second chance. It was from these mistakes I made in my life that turned me around. I never did anything as bad as what these kids have done but I was no angel either. I believe these kids deserve that chance and am going to participate in this program Thursday evening. My decision, and thus the note, is what would you ask in return for this second chance?
All my stuff has not been returned to me from the golf clubs. I am asking for the money to replace what is missing. This amounts to about $600. I am also asking to be refunded for the pizza party I threw for the staff of the play it again store and the gift card purchased for the kid who actually called the police. Because of this last theft, we are installing motion activated lights, a video surveillance camera and a couple of security signs. My opinion, that is different than my wifes, is that this too should be put on the financial reimbursement restitution request. I do not know what this will cost but expect it to be well north of $500.
I am also requesting a letter of apology be written to my family, the Woodbury Police, and the Play it Again sports store. I don't ever want to see these kids on my street again, nor do I want them to ever discuss any of this with their friends. It is very likely my son knows the three minors and I want no harm to come his way after all this is settled. The detective suggested I assign 20 - 40 hours of community service time to each of the criminals and require them to serve this time individually, not together. I get to chose the service they are to complete.
What else would you do? What would you say to these kids when you meet them and their parents Thursday? What would be a fitting punishment for what these 4 kids have put my family through?
As always, thanks for listening and thanks for all suggestions.
Mark W
Next morning (Father's Day) I walked into the garage to put our clubs in the vehicle to play golf with my son only to find them not in their usual place. It was at this time I realized the clubs had been stolen.
To say this was upsetting is a vast understatement. This is the 4th time we have been vandalized in the past 4 years or so. We do not live in a place where one would expect crime to be a problem. My son is on the high School golf team and plays golf everyday to get better for next year. Now he is without clubs. If you are a golfer, you will not be surprised to learn that between two sets of clubs, over $6,000 was stolen from my that evening not to mention the time and anguish it has caused my family since.
I sent a list of exactly what was stolen to all the local outlets where clubs like this could possibly be exchanged for cash. I also alerted the neighborhood about this theft via our home owner association alert system.
Thursday I get a call from the local police saying that a kid had attempted to sell one set of clubs to a nearby Play it Again sports store. The alert employee immediately recognized the clubs and went in the back room and called the police who came and intervened. Clubs were returned to my police department and I picked up the clubs that afternoon. Still missing one set of clubs.
That evening, a neighbor was on a walk and noticed a black car parked outside my house with 2 kids in it. It should be mentioned that the night of the theft, some neighbor kids saw a black car pull up our street, turn its headlights off and park in front of our house. This neighbor, brave soul that he is, went up to the kids and asked if they needed any help. Kids said they were just waiting for a friend. When the neighbor asked what the name of their friend was, the ids didn't know and peeled off. Neighbor got a partial license plate number. Cops were called again. I was now wondering if these kids were coming back to do harm as they had been caught earlier. My first thought was wondering if I needed to get my shotgun out of the basement. My family was that worried.
Friday while at work, I get a frantic call from my 15 year old son saying that cops were all over outside. As he was telling me this, a cop came to the door. Seems that my golf clubs had suddenly appeared outside the neighbors garage. Not 15 minutes earlier my son had mowed that area and had not seen any clubs. I came home to find the cops and my clubs gone. A call to the police department to find out what was happening went unanswered at this time.
I get a call later that day saying that my set of clubs had been recovered. Guess the kids came back to return my clubs after realizing how much trouble they were in. They watched my son mow the yard and when he went into the back, they put my clubs next to a neighbors garage. Two of the kids wanted to return my set of clubs to me in person and say how sorry they were for all the trouble they caused. One kid said that they would probably have the crap beat out of them by me if they went this route. Smart kid and at least one good decision was made.
Police had interviewed two of the four sets of parents prior to me getting a call. The cop said he had never heard parents who were as upset as these were. He jokingly said he thought he might be returning to a dead body call in a couple of hours.
To make a really long story short, 4 kids were involved. 3 minors and one 18 year old. None had been in trouble prior to this but had admitted to stealing stuff out of garages prior to stealing from me. They just hadn't been caught.
The kids have not been arrested nor charged with any crimes at this time though a written confession is in the possession of the police. The crime pending is first degree felony burglery or felony theft I can't recall which one but it is a serious offense.
I was asked what I want to do as I have a choice. The cops can go and charge the kids with the felony, or, if I want I can participate in a program called Restorative Justice. I guess this allows me a chance to speak to the kids and tell them what this has done to me and my family both financially and psychologically. I also get to chose the punishment I think is appropriate. If the kids then do as I wish, they do not get a felony charge on their record.
According to the cop who has been working with juveniles and juvenile crime for 18 years, he believes 3 of the 4 kids are scared stiff and the parents extremely upset and disappointed. He believes that if given a second chance, these kids will not be repeat offenders. The 4th kid he is fairly certain will also not offend again but is not completely sure.
When I was younger, I made mistakes and was given a second chance. It was from these mistakes I made in my life that turned me around. I never did anything as bad as what these kids have done but I was no angel either. I believe these kids deserve that chance and am going to participate in this program Thursday evening. My decision, and thus the note, is what would you ask in return for this second chance?
All my stuff has not been returned to me from the golf clubs. I am asking for the money to replace what is missing. This amounts to about $600. I am also asking to be refunded for the pizza party I threw for the staff of the play it again store and the gift card purchased for the kid who actually called the police. Because of this last theft, we are installing motion activated lights, a video surveillance camera and a couple of security signs. My opinion, that is different than my wifes, is that this too should be put on the financial reimbursement restitution request. I do not know what this will cost but expect it to be well north of $500.
I am also requesting a letter of apology be written to my family, the Woodbury Police, and the Play it Again sports store. I don't ever want to see these kids on my street again, nor do I want them to ever discuss any of this with their friends. It is very likely my son knows the three minors and I want no harm to come his way after all this is settled. The detective suggested I assign 20 - 40 hours of community service time to each of the criminals and require them to serve this time individually, not together. I get to chose the service they are to complete.
What else would you do? What would you say to these kids when you meet them and their parents Thursday? What would be a fitting punishment for what these 4 kids have put my family through?
As always, thanks for listening and thanks for all suggestions.
Mark W
