Be Careful Parking Work Vans In Home Depot

[Luigi's Girl]

Today in broad daylight a terrible thing happened to DH. My DD and I went to our local Home Depot in Hazlet NJ to special order two doors. We parked and went inside and my DH was going to meet us inside about 10 minutes later on his way home from work. He showed up, we ordered our doors, and we were out in about an hour. We got into our cars and I'm about to pull away when DH ran up to my window and shouted "they broke into my car". Sure enough his side window was smashed in and about $3,000.00 dollars worth of tools were stolen without anyone seeing or hearing a thing. We were so shocked and upset that this could happen and when the police came they said it been happening about 3 to 4 times a month. I am so mad. If this has been happening why isn't there better security or isn't there a way to let people know about this. The police dusted for prints but don't have any faith that anything will come of it. They said these kind of losers(my words) know just what they're doing, know how to get in and out fast and then go sell your tools on a job site somewhere.
My poor DH can't work at all without his tools. Now we have to figure out what to do next. Just thought I'd let people know to be careful, especially if you live in my area I guess.You need to park your trucks right in front with the side doors facing the store where people can see if someone is REMOVING things from inside. I still can't believe on a crowded Saturday that no one saw a thing. Thanks for listening, I just needed to get that out.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Sounds like he's self employed contractor? His insurance should cover it - provided he bought some.

Yes, we hear this type of claim often in our office.

Also, not knowing your DH's exact (employment) situation, it wouldn't hurt to see if your homeowners can cover any of it - subject to deductible of course.
I'm sure you'll be calling them anyway to report the damage to the vehicle.

Good luck.

ETA: I've had a client that this happened to twice over the years. Both times in early December -- just before Christmas. He received a nice check both times.

 

[bicker]

There's a big problem with break-ins at places where people are likely to have lots of expensive stuff in their cars. Larger places, like malls, can afford to have security roaming the lots, but single-stores, even big ones like Home Depot, it's not as practical. The worst around here are the health clubs, because folks know it isn't safe to bring, say, their laptops into the club (because of rampant theft in the clubs) so they leave them in their cars. We read about a break-in at least once a week either in Woburn or Lexington (not-so-much here in Burlington).

Theft is a very big problem. How to address it has always and will always be a big concern. Really, the ideal would be to get rid of the crime, not to interdict it as it happens. Resolve the issue at the source, at-it-were. Being careful, as the OP suggested, is probably the best we can do now: Simply don't leave yourself open to being a victim.

 

[Kahana-ri]

So sorry to hear this. I can't believe no one saw this happen. I also agree obviously they need some sort of security. My DH is self-employed with a work van and I shared the story with him. He said he will actually park in the loading area when he goes in during the work day. There is a lot more traffic and it is pretty open. I hope things work out for your DH.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Sorry to hear that happened.

I know a lot of WalMarts have security cameras on the parking lots. Does this Home Depot? If this is a high crime area, I would be surprised if they didn't. It sounds like the area isn't and this store doesn't, which is why the scum are striking there.

 

[dis4me]

Wow That is terrible but Thanks for the warning.We live in Hazlet and frequest that area often.I hope your insurance covers the tools and the losers get caught.

 

[Miller1412]

My husband owns a pool and spa company, and this happened to him at Home Depot too. Apparently, it is a favorite spot for thieves, because they know contractors will be there and all they have to do is help themselves. DH had boxes on the back of his truck that were broken into. When he reported it to his insurance co., he was told that it is very common.

 

[Gillian]

That's a shame! I hope he can find a way to replace them! It would be a great service to their customers for home depot to have security cameras like walmart.

I never thought of gyms as a risky place, but it makes a lot of sense. People going to & from work, with all their stuff, and staying inside for at least 30 minutes.

It makes me kind of glad I have a sedan with a regular trunk to keep things out of sight.

 

[EthansMom]

My BIL is a contractor and won't drive his work truck (with toolbox) to HD for this very reason.

to you!

 

[disneysteve]

While I'm sorry for what happend to the OP, this is just another reminder of something that my parents taught me 25 years ago when I started driving. NEVER leave anything of value visible inside your car. Put it in the trunk or glove compartment. Hide it under the seat. Or take it with you. Leaving valuables out in the open is just asking for trouble.

 

[HoneyPooh]

Um, I'm guessing the OP's husband had a bit more tools in his work truck than could fit in a glove compartment .

 

[BARBARAAPPLE]

this not only happens at home depot it happens everywhere, because people are so busy and don't want to get involved when they see people taken stuff they just keep walking...
I work for home depot and yes we are targeted because we have contractors who run in on there way to a job and people sit and watch them then they take all they can in just a matter of seconds ..

sorry this happen to you husband

 

[Pam]

Um, I'm guessing the OP's husband had a bit more tools in his work truck than could fit in a glove compartment .

I agree! Those circular saws just won't squeeze in a glove compartment for some reason!

 

[disneysteve]

Um, I'm guessing the OP's husband had a bit more tools in his work truck than could fit in a glove compartment.

I agree. I was just making the point that leaving valuables out in the open isn't a good idea.

Years ago when I was a medical resident, one of the med students came in crying that her car had been "broken into" and they had stolen all her medical instruments. We all went out to her car with her. Turns out she had a Jeep with the plastic cover that just zips up. No glass. No locks. All someone had to do to steal her stuff was undo the zipper. And yet she left hundreds of dollars of equipment sitting on her seat. Certainly, whoever stole it broke the law, but the crime never would have happened had she protected her belongings.

 

[Beck's mom]

They said these kind of losers(my words) know just what they're doing, know how to get in and out fast and then go sell your tools on a job site somewhere.

So sorry to hear about your loss! My dh's truck was broken into a few years ago. I am surprised they broke a window - usually what they do is shove a screwdriver into the lock and break into it that way. It is super quick and they can clear out a truck in no time. He has been on jobsites where they come and try to sell the stolen tools. I think the guys try to stall them and call the cops but the losers never stick around long enough.
Now he has a locked box installed into the truck to make it more difficult, plus he has no signs on the truck to give away his profession (electrician).
His business insurance covered some of it and our homeowner's insurance covered the rest but he lost some tools he really loved (guys and their tools - whatever! LOL).
Good luck!

 

[Luigi's Girl]

Sounds like he's self employed contractor? His insurance should cover it - provided he bought some.

Yes, we hear this type of claim often in our office.

Also, not knowing your DH's exact (employment) situation, it wouldn't hurt to see if your homeowners can cover any of it - subject to deductible of course.
I'm sure you'll be calling them anyway to report the damage to the vehicle.

Good luck.

ETA: I've had a client that this happened to twice over the years. Both times in early December -- just before Christmas. He received a nice check both times.

Thanks for all the responses, I wasn't home all day and it's my first chance to respond. We're not really sure how this will all work out for us as my DH isn't self employed. This was his company's work van but mostly all his own favorite personal tools. Once he goes into work tomorrow we'll know what our next step is I guess. BTW he is a heating and air conditioning technician with many tools and some of them are quite large and there's no way to keep them out of sight in the van. Of course you would have to walk right up to the windows and peek in but criminals (nice word for them) know what kinds of things are in there. We being normal, kind , law abiding citizens, never gave a thought that this could have happened. Of course we would never leave valuables in our cars in plain sight but honestly we actually never thought of this scenario with hi work van. I guess you live and learn and try to be more aware so these kinds of things don't happen again.
Also there are cameras and they will be looked at on Monday but the police said the store is more concerned about the theft in store and not what goes on in the parking lot so the angle of the camera will make the difference . "That's business" is what he told us.
I also found out today that my BIL who is in the same field as DH just north of us, was given a letter from his company forbidding them to park their vans in Home Depot for just this reason. Personally I think if this is becoming so common at this store in particular, they should try to increase security or they may lose some customers. I'm pretty sure they've lost us for a while. We'll be going down the street in a town closer to us (Holmdel) to Lowe's right after I ask them if they've had this kind of problem in their parking lot. Just to be safe, we won't be bringing DH's work van anymore.

 

[Nancy]

It probably happens at Lowes too. I work in a store in a nice location, not high crime at all, but we always have cars getting stolen, broken into, purses getting snatched etc. Unfortunately crime is everywhere. We have cameras in the lot. We have security, but still it happens. We get lots of shoplifters in the store too, sometimes I am just amazed by what they try to get away with!

 

[bumcat]

Nah, it doesn't happen at Lowes. My husband works at a Lowes. They steal the whole car at his Lowes! It's happened several times. A customer was parked right beside him and they took her Ford Ranger truck over my husband's Ford Ranger truck. Having a standard probably saved him.