Pumpkin drama all over again..... UPDATE page 4

[luvpooh]

I guess anything is possible. The only thing, an officer came out to our house on Sunday (when we made the call). The only other call, was the detective calling us. In that call, he said HE was going to drive by the suspected house, but said NOTHING about coming to my house, and even said that only if he found something would he bother to contact us back again. Thats why I thought it was over and done with. I just really want to know the origins of why the officer came to the house last night. If he was just checking up on us per the detective, why so late at night, KWIM?

I'm confused. On Monday night when you posted you said you didn't want to call the cops, but you already had done so on Sunday night?

 

[Becky2005]

I guess anything is possible. The only thing, an officer came out to our house on Sunday (when we made the call).

Ah...I didn't realize an officer had come out when you made the initial call. I missed that.

My thinking was call police, report it (no one shows up that day), then later detective calls for follow-up because who knows what *else* has been going on in the neighborhood & they are trying to link things. The in the meantime, Officer A has the original call come to him to just go do a follow-up to make sure all ends are squared away.

I was just trying to put a different perspective on it not realizing you had the first visit.

Hopefully, this is the end of it.

 

[Becky2005]

ITA! Whenever we have vandalism, we call and report it. They log it onto their books. If a pattern develops, they investigate.

That's exactly why we reported our Santa. We knew he was long gone but in case there was more stuff going on (or on the off chance it ended up in the lost goods locker at the police station! One of my boys took a tour for Cub Scouts, during the tour the guy showed us the HUGE locker of things people have turned in & haven't gotten claimed -- probably because no one thinks to call for a missing statue, etc...).

If the police see a big pattern, they usually put up a blurb about "Hey..you might want to be more vigilant about locking your car doors in the driveway, several cars in your area have had things stolen in them in the last 2 weeks" type of thing.

 

[momrek06]

OP, I think you already know my stance on this.....yup, it has not changed at all.....move on!!!

If the police calls tell them you have moved on.

If the detective calls tell them you have moved on.

 

[Angelhalo]

You people. You're just too much.

There is another thread floating around here in which everyone is opining WHY DIDN'T ANYONE SEE THIS COMING?? SOOOO MANY RED FLAGS!

Six months from now, when the OP is dealing with slashed tires, stolen patio furniture, broken windows etc etc, and thinks it's the same punk who stole her pumpkins last Halloween, all of you "it's just pumpkins" folks will be chastising her for not filling out a police report over the pumpkins to start a paper trail.

Document document document...right? That's the mantra of the know-it-alls here isn't it? Everytime someone has to deal with harassment. THIS instance may be small, but it could very easily become somethign big (or not). Make a report, keep a paper trail.

Agreed. I am baffled by the people who think the OP should do nothing. Doing nothing is exactly why crimes continue. "Oh well it was just a prank" When next the OP's tires are slashed...will it be a prank then? And what if any further incidents could have been stopped by simply reporting what happened which sounds like exactly what the OP did.

I don't understand why anyone thinks the OP did anything wrong. The OP is the victim. No, it may not have been a break-in or arson but the OP was still targeted and had their property trespassed on and items violated.

 

[momrek06]

Agreed. I am baffled by the people who think the OP should do nothing. Doing nothing is exactly why crimes continue. "Oh well it was just a prank" When next the OP's tires are slashed...will it be a prank then? And what if any further incidents could have been stopped by simply reporting what happened which sounds like exactly what the OP did.

I don't understand why anyone thinks the OP did anything wrong. The OP is the victim. No, it may not have been a break-in or arson but the OP was still targeted and had their property trespassed on and items violated.

You have your opinion and others have their opinion.

My opinion, as I have stated all along, has been to just move on from involving the police dept and the detectives offices about the missing pumpkins. OP has said herself she is not really sure that the house the pumpkins are at are the people that took them......that is my whole point......if you do not have the details than just move on. OP is not even sure who smashed the pumpkins in her front yard......if you do not have the details than just move on.

JMHO!

 

[Angelhalo]

You have your opinion and others have their opinion.

My opinion, as I have stated all along, has been to just move on from involving the police dept and the detectives offices about the missing pumpkins. OP has said herself she is not really sure that the house the pumpkins are at are the people that took them......that is my whole point......if you do not have the details than just move on. OP is not even sure who smashed the pumpkins in her front yard......if you do not have the details than just move on.

JMHO!

Who said anyone couldn't have different opinions? I just posted my opinion just like you did. My opinion is that your opinion baffles me, and I stand by it. No bashing. You're perfectly entitled to your opinion and I am perfectly entitled to be confused by it.

Glad we cleared that up

 

[maddmike]

for all the OP haters...

if it was your child who was the blossoming delinquent, and you did not know. wouldn't you rather he/she was caught and corrected for such a small crime; rather than when they break a car window, and take an ipod, and then get caught?

The dollar amount for theft to be considered a felony is a lot lower now.

and it is not the dollar amount, it is the violation of personal space.

Mikeeee

If my child was smashing pumpkins or vandalizing someones property they better hope they get caught by the police and not me. The police will be much easier on them than I will be.

 

[mickey&minnie04]

So, the stolen pumpkins were sitting on the curb in front of a house down the street and you are sure that the occupants of the house took them? How can you be sure of that?

Also, didn't you say earlier the pumpkins were $70? Not that big a deal, but really - whether it's $60 or $70, the fact remains that pumpkins don't last forever. It is wrong that somebody took your pumpkins, but I think you're making a huge deal out of something you probably should have just blown off. JMO

I kind of thought the same thing.....I had a really nice wrought iron pumpkin out this year and someone stole that and I didn't bother calling the police. It was a gift from my mom but I know that it was in the $60 price range. I never called because really what is that going to do? I know I'm not going to get it back and makes me a little afraid to decorate for Christmas, but oh well I'm not going to let a few idiots get to me!

 

[wdwfan16]

I just want to say thanks to everyone who understands where I'm coming from. I came from a very nice very rich neighborhood, and we never had anything like this. I now live in a very nice, not as rich neighborhood, but still never expected anythig like this at all. I have to get going now, so I won't be posting, but let you know what I find out as soon as I know!!!

Thanks again guys, at least some of you made me feel better about all this!! HUGS!

Maybe this attitude is being seen by your neighbors.

Where did the other $10 in pumpkins go?

 

[Halloweenqueen]

OP, I'm so sorry this is happening to you. Just be careful. Things can escalate quickly.

Do what the PP said...document, document, document.

We had a neighbor problem years ago. One small issue, turned into years of abuse and harassment. We finally had an opportunity to move, thanks to a job transfer. Our house was on the market off and on for a year and a half. This neighbor would even stop by during showings and say things to potential buyers. Our realtor had several talks with him and we almost had to get a restraining order.

We ended up having to "stalk" our own house during showings to keep him away. Thankfully we sold it, but it was a very painful and stressful experience.

SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT...

Watch what you say on the internet. This neighbor found information about my family and even some of my posts on the subject. I handed it to him on a silver platter, thanks to having a myspace page at the time. Also he found a thread I posted concerning our situation with him. Just be careful!

 

[momrek06]

We had a neighbor problem years ago. One small issue, turned into years of abuse and harassment. We finally had an opportunity to move, thanks to a job transfer. Our house was on the market off and on for a year and a half. This neighbor would even stop by during showings and say things to potential buyers. Our realtor had several talks with him and we almost had to get a restraining order.

We ended up having to "stalk" our own house during showings to keep him away. Thankfully we sold it, but it was a very painful and stressful experience.

This post right here is why I have been saying to the OP to move on.

 

[lillygator]

I am sure this could happen in "rich" neighborhoods as well.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Yes, that's what I told OP in her first thread. Let it go. How I wish I would just ignored this silly neighbor from the beginning.

I learned a valuable lesson. My current neighbor is very nice, but will not allow her grown children to park their oil dripping, pieces of junk cars in front of her house. So of course they park in front of mine. The old me would have marched over there and said something. Now I just close the drapes. lol

 

[nutterbutter2010]

OP here. Still haven't heard anything from anyone yet. Not holding my breath. I'm sure they will call at some point, but I know that the detective was very busy today.

 

[nutterbutter2010]

UPDATE

The detective just called. He went over to the "perps" house (LOL) last night and spoke to the mother and the kids that live there. The kids admitted to going around the neighborhood with a wagon and asking people for pumpkins - they were 10 & 11. They admitted that there may have been a "mix up" (as the detective put it) with my pumpkins, and they just took them. We all know it wasn't really a "mix up" but whatever. The detective said that the mother was very apologetic, and offered to reimburse us the money. I said no, that wouldn't be necessary at all, and that I was just happy that the mother knows what happend, and that hopefully they will be punished accordingly. Hopefully with all that was done, some kids learned a lesson, and some parents learned that their little precious children aren't so precious!! LOL
Personally, I would march my kids over to the house to say sorry in person, but I doubt that will happen. I'm sure its the talk of the town today at school. Good thing its only a half day!! LOL
The detective said that he also asked them about the smashed pumpkin the next night, and they said they knew nothing about it. Who knows whats true at this point, but theres really nothing I can do about that.
Lastly, I asked the detective about the officer coming out to the house last night at 9pm, and he was kind of baffled about that, and said he would have to look into it further. He said that there was no dispatch put out for anyone to come to our house, so they have no record for it. Then he said that the officer may have just been at the wrong house, and I said no, because he said the call was about..... you guessed it..... PUMPKINS!! LOL Then he said that it was probably just a follow up visit because of the first call, which is kind of what we thought to begin with, but with all the stuff thats been going on, we really didn't know.

So all in all, thats whats been going on in my neighborhood since Sunday. WAY to hectic, especially seeing that Monday evening a house on the same street (someone I work with) cough on fire!! They all got out fine thanks to another neighbor who saw the flames and ran over there. Hopefully by next Halloween I'll feel safe enough to put out decorations, but I doubt we will be getting so many pumpkins!! Also, they were $.49 a pound. We got them at a pick-you-own place, which tends to charge more than the regular farm places, but its a nice experience for the kids, and thats why we do it. Next year - A&P!! LOL

 

[AndreaDM]

Well I know I'll sleep better tonight now that this crime has been solved!

 

[nutterbutter2010]

OP, I'm so sorry this is happening to you. Just be careful. Things can escalate quickly.

Do what the PP said...document, document, document.

We had a neighbor problem years ago. One small issue, turned into years of abuse and harassment. We finally had an opportunity to move, thanks to a job transfer. Our house was on the market off and on for a year and a half. This neighbor would even stop by during showings and say things to potential buyers. Our realtor had several talks with him and we almost had to get a restraining order.

We ended up having to "stalk" our own house during showings to keep him away. Thankfully we sold it, but it was a very painful and stressful experience.

SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT...

Watch what you say on the internet. This neighbor found information about my family and even some of my posts on the subject. I handed it to him on a silver platter, thanks to having a myspace page at the time. Also he found a thread I posted concerning our situation with him. Just be careful!

Yes, that's what I told OP in her first thread. Let it go. How I wish I would just ignored this silly neighbor from the beginning.

I learned a valuable lesson. My current neighbor is very nice, but will not allow her grown children to park their oil dripping, pieces of junk cars in front of her house. So of course they park in front of mine. The old me would have marched over there and said something. Now I just close the drapes. lol

OK, so in one post you say "Do what the PP said...document, document, document." but then in your next post you tell me to "let it go." How is one supposed to document it, but also "let it go" at the same time??

 

[bumbershoot]

Six months from now, when the OP is dealing with slashed tires, stolen patio furniture, broken windows etc etc, and thinks it's the same punk who stole her pumpkins last Halloween, all of you "it's just pumpkins" folks will be chastising her for not filling out a police report over the pumpkins to start a paper trail.

Document document document...right? That's the mantra of the know-it-alls here isn't it? Everytime someone has to deal with harassment. THIS instance may be small, but it could very easily become somethign big (or not). Make a report, keep a paper trail.

Agreed.

if it was your child who was the blossoming delinquent, and you did not know. wouldn't you rather he/she was caught and corrected for such a small crime; rather than when they break a car window, and take an ipod, and then get caught?

The dollar amount for theft to be considered a felony is a lot lower now.

and it is not the dollar amount, it is the violation of personal space.

Mikeeee

Agreed.

You have your opinion and others have their opinion.

My opinion, as I have stated all along, has been to just move on from involving the police dept and the detectives offices about the missing pumpkins. OP has said herself she is not really sure that the house the pumpkins are at are the people that took them......that is my whole point......if you do not have the details than just move on. OP is not even sure who smashed the pumpkins in her front yard......if you do not have the details than just move on.

JMHO!

She called the police ONCE. They came over on Tuesday after the fire to ask more questions. Then someone showed up, at 9pm, saying they were with the police. She wants to know why this person came by; it's kind of creepy to me, too!

Calling once and dropping it seems like letting go. Should she have NOT told the detective about the hinky happenings right before a house caught fire? Should she have kept it to herself, that there was someone in the community who didn't seem to care about the belongings of others?????

Calling the cops every day would be not letting it go. I don't know what else the OP should do, er, NOT do, to meet the definition of letting it go...

Maybe this attitude is being seen by your neighbors.

Where did the other $10 in pumpkins go?

What attitude??? She's just describing how she grew up. And she says that her current neighborhood is just as nice. The street I grew up on was a very very POOR neighborhood. Most of my friends lived in very wealthy neighborhoods. No one had attitudes about it, but we certainly are allowed to describe the differences.


She already explained the 60 vs 70.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Yes, document to prove a pattern if things got worse. I started videotape every time the guy would stand in front of my house and just stare at it. He would stand there for a 30 minutes, just staring.

He was on the sidewalk, so I doubt anything could have been done about it, but those tapes would have helped us if we pursued a restraining order.