Something was stolen from you, but the value of the stolen goods was less than $50?

Depends. If it was any material item that, if reported, might help police identify a thief in the area, then yes (i.e. bike).

Yes

Absolutely, especially if you are certain that it was stolen. It's funny how many times the local band of thieves visit my house to take, and later return, various spousal items.

Thanks all.

It was definitely stolen, and it was definitely deliberately stolen.

I wanted to do a reality check, because the item had HUGE sentimental value to my husband.

It was a flag that I had specially made for him for his 1st Father's Day. It was a Cubs "W" flag and now you can buy them in any Walgreens, but in 2003, you could not just buy them, so I had a flag making company make him one. It was really quite nice - the W was sewn on, not silkscreened, etc. And for 5 years, he has religiously taken it down at least two hours before the game and put it up as necessary. When he goes out of town, I have to do the same. I swear, he could pick his flag out of a line up of 25 W flags. He claims it was the best present he ever received as an adult (the Deathstar Space Station receives that prize for his childhood)

It's hard to describe our feelings since W flags are a dime a dozen today (and I have to imagine the thief has no idea that it was so special to our household), but he's very angry and also very sad.

It was definitely a premeditated theft because instead of just taking the flag, flagpole and all, they clipped the little plastic zip ties that held the flag onto the pole and left the pole itself (nice of them, huh?).

Anyway, when I called the flag company to have them make him another one (he was very proud of the quality of his flag and wouldn't be happy with a Walgreens one), I realized the total cost with shipping was only $50.

That's when I started to rethink the police report. But, I think I will have him go ahead and file one.

A couple of summers ago we had something similar happen...my son had a very nice pirate flag - you know, the kind with skull and crossbones - that also had some significance (a souvenir of a special vacation with his uncle), and he flew it proudly out front. Well, it was the summer of one of the big Pirates of the Caribbean movies, so pirate flags were kind of in demand, I guess. That's not why my son was flying it, though.

Anyway, one summer afternoon I went outside to get the mail and realized it was gone. Not just gone, but the thieves had moved one of our outdoor chairs directly under where the pole had been, presumably to reach it, and left the chair there. This happened in broad daylight, and I'd gone out to get the paper only an hour or so before and the flag had been there then.

We did file a report. We knew it wouldn't make a difference, but still we wanted the police to know something had happened in that block, just in case other things turned up missing at neighbors' houses.

We never found it, although my husband did have an embarrassing moment a few months later when he was out on a walk and noticed someone flying a pirate flag that looked just like the one we had lost, and he actually asked the owner if there was any chance it wasn't actually his....well, it was just a bit uncomfortable.

Argh.....that's too bad Scribbler.

Report it. You'll not get it back, but the cops will know to watch this area, particularly if there are multiple thefts being reported in your area. Also, the reports in the blotter will jar your neighbors to be on the look out.

Just have him make it through September, he won't need the flag in October.

Post a picture of it so we can all keep an eye out for it. If it's unique, we might just see it flying.

Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of it.

It's a 3 x 5 W flag, the W is sewn on instead of printed and it's 5 years old, so a bit worn. I think it has a small hole somewhere on it, but I don't know for sure.

I'm thinking of writing our last name in Sharpie on the new one somewhere where it will not be readily noticeable. That way if it gets stolen again, we could easily identify it.

And scribbler . . . that really stinks . . . that's scary that the two situations are so similar. And trust me, if my husband sees it flying, he WILL knock on the door.

I just don't get it. I think it must have been a teenager, but wouldn't a teen's parents question where s/he got a W flag that is noticeably worn?

And if it's a malicious Sox fan (which was tossed around at my office), well that would suck because we're a mixed marriage (husband is Cubs fan, I root for the Sox) and it hurts me too.

Hey thief: if you are reading this - BRING OUR FLAG BACK!!

quote:

I just don't get it. I think it must have been a teenager, but wouldn't a teen's parents question where s/he got a W flag that is noticeably worn?

Chances are the teen's parents will never see it...it's probably in the back of a car or in a garage or at someone else's house. And honestly, if my teen came home with a flag - particularly a "W" flag that, as you said, can be bought anywhere, cheaply - I don't think I'd care enough to inspect it and see that it appeared less-than-new.

But I must add, as the parent of a teen who's a good kid, as are his friends - you don't know for sure it was a teenager, do you? Adults can be just as stupid. As can preteens. And really tall Kindergartners.

As a reformed juvenile delinquent (don’t’ tell Scotty) there is a high probability it’s on its way to a college dorm. Probably a U OF I student…

You're right scribbler, I was stereotyping. It could have been anyone.

I take that back.

We're cool. I just sometimes feel as if it's my personal duty to defend the reputation of teenagers in general, because they do get such a bad rap and personally, I know so many good, responsible ones.

Exactly what I was thinking, Perplexed. I'm sure a lot of dairies place their annual carton orders in mid- to late August.

quote:

Originally posted by scribbler:
We're cool. I just sometimes feel as if it's my personal duty to defend the reputation of teenagers in general, because they do get such a bad rap and personally, I know so many good, responsible ones.

You should write a book about being a great mom.

quote:

Originally posted by middlein87:
Exactly what I was thinking, Perplexed. I'm sure a lot of dairies place their annual carton orders in mid- to late August.

I just want to state that mine came from Cee Bee's not McChesney & Miller.

LOL Perplexed...

And mine were from Kohl's/Eagle...

quote:

Originally posted by perplexed:
As a reformed juvenile delinquent (don’t’ tell Scotty) there is a high probability it’s on its way to a college dorm. Probably a U OF I student…

What is it worth for me not to tell your kids!