Homeowner stops theft, gets attacked

I'm surprised the TD even reported it at all.

UPDATE:      http://www.timesdaily.com/stor...then-attacked,188220

Luckily he recognized one of them. They'll find him.

If it had happened at my house they could have simply gone down to the ER and looked for the guys getting the rock salt picked out of their rear ends...

My most glaring flaw is I HATE THIEVES!

Well, if we all weren't so mean and would just give them all our things they wouldn't have to steal now would they? Poor old thieves, going about their stealing business and this man attacks them. What a world when even a thief isn't safe.

It is a shame the homeowner  was not armed.  Law abiding citizens should be allowed to protect their property with deadly force.  Criminals have nothing to fear.  I would be willing to bet that the theif was out of jail on bond or paroled.

These thieves should make sure they have a good life insurance policy and that it's paid up and current. I have a feeling many people around here are sick and tired of thieves and thugs and having their property stolen. 

More than 80% of theft is to finance a drug abuse problem.

All thieves seem to suffer from a Lead deficiency...Rock Salt will cause their blood pressure to elevate, where as 00 Buck will lower it instantly, making it easier for law enforcement to find the perpetrator and simplifying the  LEO's  paperwork to a single testimony, Yours.... . 

I predict that the redneck varmints who did this will soon be apprehended, but how will they be prosecuted, if at all?  Will it be a case of the boat owner's word against them? They might make up some story to defend themselves with and since there were apparently no witnesses other than them and the homeowner, it could be difficult to prosecute the accused.

Then his fractured skull will have been for nothing?

Prosecution shouldn't be too hard with photo documentation of the scene and injuries along with the victim's testimony. Chances are this is not the first time they have stolen something. There is a good chance pawn records and such could lead them to more charges. One can hope anyway.

True enough. The man did say he knew one of them but what about the other one. They could always confess, but most likely will not unless backed into a corner with some good evidence. 

 Wright 35633 " There is a good chance pawn records and such could lead them to more charges. One can hope anyway."

Thieves don't go to pawn shops with stolen property where they have to submit a state issued picture ID and all the info is written on the pawn ticket..

Thieves go to dope dealers, scrap metal dealers, and anywhere they can sell with no ID (service station, barber shop, pool room etc ) That is why items taken in burglaries never turn up if they are not caught in the act or while the thieves still have possession of the stolen items. The pawnshop fable is from the 1930 B movies, it don't happen that way in real life. If people wanted to get top dollar for the stolen item Ebay would be the place. But thieves are supporting a drug habit and they have nothing in the item so a $500  TV for $50 worth of dope is a good deal for the thief, when the item is stolen everything it brings is 100% profit.  Thieves are out for quick cash, or dope and who better to trade with than their dope dealer he has what they want, he's dealing in an illegal business so he certainly isn't in a position the turn them in unless he gets caught and dealing direct saves time, quick and easy. Sometimes the dealer if places orders for what he wants or has customers for, like his supplier.

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That's odd, coming from you.

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Poor thieves. We should make it alot easier & put our things on the curb at midnight for them.

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 Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.

You may be unaware but I have been in law enforcement for 10 years. I see stolen items turn up in pawn shops more frequently than you would believe. Televisions no. Tools frequently end up at a pawn shop. Then we have the "such" part of my remark. Such being scrap yards and dope dealers "such." It is no fable and it does happen.

lol.... if criminals were smart, then there would probably be no need for police.. uh.. theives go to pawn shops all the time. actually that is one of the best ways to catch someone. is though pawn tickets...

Lee Smith of the Gun Runner & Pawn Shop has been in Law Enforcement over 10 years and his family has been in the pawn business over 40 yrs and I know they don't get percentage wise as many stolen items as dealers of other used merchandise.

I once had a insurance agent tell me the First National Bank financed 41 stolen vehicles in one years time, i ask how he knew that, and he said because he had insured more than half of them. So yes anyone dealing in used merchandise has a good chance to receive stolen items.

Pawnshops when they do get stolen items the thief is usually not who brings the item in, it's usually someone who bought the item secondhand in good faith, with no knowledge it was stolen or the item was stolen by a member of the family to support their drug habits and the family wants it back but doesn't want to press charges against their family member who stole the item, but wants their items back and want the Pawnbroker to suffer the lost not them or their drug abusing family members.

In the last forty years in this area one pawnbroker has been arrested and sent to prison for dealing in stolen property  and one for his involvement in a thieft of government property that number is smaller than the number of law enforcement officers that have gone to prison in the same time frame and area, so to accuse pawn shops as fences for stolen property is not as accurate as to say Cops are Crooked. 

@FatRat who is accusing pawn brokers of being "fences?" I haven't written or read that. I said they buy stolen property more frequently than you stated. Just because a pawn shop owner buys stolen property inadvertently doesn't mean they are "crooked." You are right about having someone pawn it for them though. Those people don't generally take a charge to not tell on who stole it.

Wright35633, in your ten years in law enforcement how many stolen items have You  personally picked up from pawnshops ?

And Doc feel free to chime in with your personal total also.

I agree. Most pawn shops don't really know where or how you acquired what you are selling or pawning to them. How are they supposed to know that things are stolen? People don't always tell the truth. Without hooking someone up to a lie detector there is no way to know.  In these cases I would say the pawn shop is also a victim. 

That is a ridiculous request. There is no way to recall that mundane information. Three this week though.

You are exactly right. The pawn shops are secondary victims. In most cases, unless the dollar value is high, the victim reimburses the pawn shop and seeks a claim of restitution. In other cases the property is held until the case is disposed and restitution is paid unless the judge orders otherwise.

So your an investigator I suppose, because I never saw a Deputy or a Patrolman pick up the first Item and I seriously doubt any Pawnshop in the Shoals area averages 6 items per year.

90% plus of owners do not have the serial number or even a decent description the items on a loss of property report . Ladies Wedding Band , Mans Seiko Watch , misc hand tools some craftsman. Even if stolen items make it to any retail outlet the LEO's hands are tied because they seldom have anything to go on. Less than 15% of reported crime is solved by investigation. Over 80% of caught criminals, are caught in the act.

Since the victim stated he knew one of the perpetrators and your in law enforcement, when will we hear about the arrest of the known prep ? 

In the post from the TD it appears nothing was taken, but you state pawn tickets may help get the thieves  arrested. So I guess they pawn the items they didn't steal and you must be retrieving the same non existing items from your imagination..

FatRAt, I believe, he was alluding to the fact that this more than likely isn't the "perp's" first time stealing from people.  If the investigator in charge of the case does some follow up work he may find that the "perp" has pawned/ scrapped items related to other burglaries or thefts and may be able to close multiple cases.  Obviously one can't pawn what one has not taken...There's no need to be so condescending.

Huck, if he didn't come off as a reservist and wanna be I wouldn't have a problem. but my involvement with Law Enforcement started in 1955 and my first visit to a pawnshop was Moore's (now Larry's) in 1962, way before Wright had even heard of going 10-8 or a "Cup of Joe"  I venture I have a lot more time around both than a Sam Brown will ever be around Wright....

And I believe he's statements just do more harm than good since they are not based on fact, LEO's have enough problems without false misleading statements being offered to the public.

If the victim was attacked, his property broken into and the victim knew him, then finding crook sounds like the biggest problem in making an arrest. And yes this most likely won't prove to be the crook's first offense and unfortunately, nor his last.

How does he come off as a reservist or wanna be, with any of the statements he has posted here?  I don't know if you're currently in Law Enforcement, or if you've been out for a while but times have changed.  We have a good working relationship with the pawn shops in our area, and receive a lot of calls from them concerning stolen items.  Although you've been involved with Law Enforcement and know how things work don't knock wrights35633's experience.  I haven't seen any false or misleading statements in is current posts.  I'm not involved in the investigation so I don't know all the particulars as to why the crook hasn't been apprehended.  The investigator may have found out some information that doesn't quite add up with the statement of the victim and he may be sending it to Grand Jury.  Who knows?  

Wow FatRat, you really hate for someone to offer an alternate opinion to yours. To answer your question, I am a full time, sworn police officer. I will not reveal my assignment or department due to my wish for anonymity. I personally do retrieve stolen items from pawn shops. I picked three up this week as I stated. You are correct, a large number of people do not record serial numbers. The thing is, things are the same as they were in 1955. Life evolves and so do criminals. I have not said one negative word about you so I would appreciate the same respect. I simply offered a different opinion than yours. My statements were never false or misleading. I simply said I hoped that if they had committed other crimes, there was a paper trail to solve those crimes. Maybe you will soon realize I meant no harm nor ill will and cease badmouthing me?

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Thank you for putting your life on the line everyday to protect us all.........even for those that seem ungrateful. Stay safe. 

Thank you for the kind words semi.