Busted
- Thread starter evilcat
- Start date
It just gets really scary when you mix organized crime into the mix. Its normal in Russia to advertise 'like new' items on their equivalent of eBay and only when someone buys an item they order that item from a legit store in the west with a stolen credit card and deliver it to the original customer in Russia who is none the wiser about it being fraudulently acquired goods.
Well done, that is some real colombo work there!!
I hate tool thieves with a passion. Stealing another man's living [mad]
I'm very worried about someone stealing my tools, has taken me a lifetime to put together and would destroy me if they got stolen :'(
I hate tool thieves with a passion. Stealing another man's living [mad]
I'm very worried about someone stealing my tools, has taken me a lifetime to put together and would destroy me if they got stolen :'(
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2013
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- 3,574
Looked up some statistics:
Less than 6.5% of stolen tools are ever recovered. (toolwatch.com)
60% of thefts are 'inside jobs' (true for jobsites, not for retail thefts)
Couldn't find a statistic on what percentage of workers are forced out of business after a major tool theft.
Less than 6.5% of stolen tools are ever recovered. (toolwatch.com)
60% of thefts are 'inside jobs' (true for jobsites, not for retail thefts)
Couldn't find a statistic on what percentage of workers are forced out of business after a major tool theft.
Wooden Skye
Member
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- Mar 6, 2012
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- 1,145
I looked at the website and is a good idea, however it appears there is some limitations. The first being that law enforcement needs to have a report of a theft, and then actually find the thief. The second is that they mention that the mark could be seen using a black light, a thief could find this information out in 5 seconds, and then avoid taking to a pawn shop or a used tool dealer. I still think it is a good idea, just seems like improvements should be made for actual tracking.
I know this is a bad comparison, but when I bought my dog, they implanted a microchip, that can be tracked if she was lost or dog napped. I just don't know if it would be feasible to have this function in the cop dots.
I know this is a bad comparison, but when I bought my dog, they implanted a microchip, that can be tracked if she was lost or dog napped. I just don't know if it would be feasible to have this function in the cop dots.
Wooden Skye said:
I disagree. The items can be logged in your copdots account. If they are found anywhere in the U.S. the police can contact you. You register your COPDOT number on the website.
Also during a traffic stop. If the officer can see the number and look it up he'll know it has been stolen. Pawn shops can look the number up. It is very hard to see, difficult to remove. If you think most drug addicts check their loot with a black light, well they don't. It is the best thing out there so far. And very affordable.
http://copdots.com/Default.aspx
Here is the link to Cop Dots. It looks like the maker is detected with UV light and there is even a service for pawn shops.
As with any technology there are those who will not utilize it.
Lowes sells the marker good for 50 markings for $26.00.
Engraving one driver license number along with the state might help. Florida and Illinois have unique driver license numbers generated from the drivers name and birth date, and a method for handling issues if there is a duplicate ID generated.
I do not think there has to be a police report of the theft for the police to take action. If the police officer stops the perpetrator on suspicion of theft and finds property that is clearly not his/hers and follows up on the ownership, the police officer might find out about an unreported crime and could then take further action as needed.
As with any technology there are those who will not utilize it.
Lowes sells the marker good for 50 markings for $26.00.
Engraving one driver license number along with the state might help. Florida and Illinois have unique driver license numbers generated from the drivers name and birth date, and a method for handling issues if there is a duplicate ID generated.
I do not think there has to be a police report of the theft for the police to take action. If the police officer stops the perpetrator on suspicion of theft and finds property that is clearly not his/hers and follows up on the ownership, the police officer might find out about an unreported crime and could then take further action as needed.
Here is another advantage of the copdots.
CopDots™ enables Law Enforcement to go from suspicious to probable cause. So many times law enforcement will stop a criminal that has just committed a crime, the stolen property is right there in plain view, a stash of tools or electronics, but there is no way to connect the property to the owner, even though the officer has a suspicion, by law he cannot detain the individual or the property…. now if the officer detects CopDots™ on the property, they have probable cause, and can hold the suspect to investigate and call the owner attached to the CopDots ™ PIN on the property
CopDots™ enables Law Enforcement to go from suspicious to probable cause. So many times law enforcement will stop a criminal that has just committed a crime, the stolen property is right there in plain view, a stash of tools or electronics, but there is no way to connect the property to the owner, even though the officer has a suspicion, by law he cannot detain the individual or the property…. now if the officer detects CopDots™ on the property, they have probable cause, and can hold the suspect to investigate and call the owner attached to the CopDots ™ PIN on the property
Sparktrician
Member
One item I noted in the CopDots FAQ is this - "CopDots cannot be applied to automobiles, boats or large or industrial machinery." This makes me wonder about long-term durability in the kind of environment that we encounter daily. I'd think about taking a cover off and marking the inside of a portable tool as well as putting a marker on the outside of the tool to counter the wear factor and in case a rip-off artist has access to a UV light. I have a call in to the local PD to see if they know about the technology or have any experience with it.
Sparktrician said:
Ok, just leave your tools in the back of your truck and don't mark them. That is the BEST approach to tool theft and security. Why bother locking your truck? It only takes 5 seconds to pop the door handle and steal you blind.
I don't mean to sound rude but man, lets nit pick and argue about the silliest details. I use it. I don't want my tools stolen. But if they are I want a CHANCE that they might be recovered.
Sparktrician said:
CopDots is a consumer product. CopDots is part of a larger protective system, DataDot, that addresses raw materials, paper or fiber products, etc. See DataDot What can be protected for more information.
High end automobile manufacturers have been marking component parts of cars for a number of years. There is a fair amount of work in maintaining a list of component parts for a given car. But if enough cars had tracing tags beyond the vin tags chop shops might have a harder time selling in the U.S.. Exported stole cars are a different matter.
They even have products for marking items in a warehouse that marks a suspect if they touch the material.
Sparktrician
Member
Sparktrician said:
As a follow-up, I called the company and asked about the quote mentioned above. Turns out that CopDots is primarily for light-usage, homeowner stuff. The company also has an industrial-strength product that uses dots in a similar manner. The DataDot DNA looks like a much better product for protecting tools, computers, cameras and the like that see regular usage.
From their website:
"Your DataDotDNA® Crime Stoppers Personal Protection Pack includes:
Coded PIN DataDots with easy brush on application
Application Guide
Warning identification sticker
This kit contains enough DataDots to protect 4-5 items"
All this for $36.95.
Wooden Skye
Member
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dpeagles said:
I agree that it gives you a better chance of getting your tools back which is great, and better than nothing. Also it is an affordable protection measure. But not every cop is going to have the ability to check on the spot, as their website says, police can request a kit, and I would be surprised if the majority of law enforcement have the kit or knows about this product. I may be wrong or insulting cops with my next statement, but I doubt they care if they recover your tools, or else the recovery rate would be a lot higher than it is.
I just think with where we are with technology, the system can be improved upon, which was my main point, with actually being able to track, so the odds of getting your stuff back increases even more.
evilcat said:Earlier this week I saw a local add up for a new festool of2200 at $525. I called the guy and talked to him. He told me he won it and that he only had the router. No sustainer or small parts. I made arrangement to go pick it up at a local bar. I then called the local dealers and Lee Valley seemed real interested. I gave them all the info. A while later I got a call from a police detective. We'll long story short they busted the guy. LV got their router back and all is well. I went into the store yesterday and talked to the manager on duty and they seemed real happy and shook my hand a couple times. Feels pretty good.
It is super to see a good honest person do his civic duty. Well done - we need more people to think twice about some of the 'rare bargains' that they enjoy without a second thought about the victim.
Thanks evilcat.
Peter
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