Thiefs and Miami, or is it the other way around?

[Sans Peur]

A month ago my rental dept delivered two forklifts to a guy in a truck storage yard. The GPS trackers showed the forklifts left the yard and went to residentail street in Pompano for a night. Then to Hialeah in another truck lot for 2 nights and finally to a little shady ass forklift company in Hialeah where they set for 10 days before someone cut the power to the trackers.
Monday, Feb 27th, they came to me to let me know 2 forklifts were "missing". Before I found out All the info I called the company in Hialeah. "No English" so I put my service manager on the phone and they know nothing. Once he told them the tracker showed them there they suddenly remembered a guy tried to sell them but they didn't buy them. After he hangs up is when I look at the time line and see they had them for 10 days before cutting the GPS power. Now they know we know and I am sure they are gone.
I call the cops and of course they take a report over the phone but that's it. "call your insurance company." We Google the guy who "rented " the lifts and hit on a report of the same guy stealing 2 lifts in Pennsylvania. I start ccalling my competitors and find he also got 2 lifts in Jacksonville FL. and tried to get 2 from every other competitor in the ares, plus in Macon and Savanah GA. Same guy, same fake ID and Credit Card. None of my competitors have trackers.

While I am doing all this I find another competitor in Miami was hit last weekend for 7 lifts (6 new and one newer rental). We all start comparing notes and there are a ton of similarities. Plus all the different cops just take a report and file it. No investigating, no nothing.

I get pissed and now have the FBI involved as well as the FTC. We are talking interstate crimes, credit card and wire fraud as well as probably exporting stolen equipment.

Today, I am in my Tampa branch and get a call from Sunbelt Rentals. I had a forklift rented from them for a job in Miami. They went to pick it up and it has been stolen from the job site. We have video of them taking it at 12:30am and driving off with it. The thiefs took it down the street behind another warehouse and disconnected the GPS tracker.

I am out close to $60,000.(plus possibly $36,000 if I am on the hook for the Sunbelt Rental truck) the guys in Miami over $325,000. And the others I know of are at $60k to $80k each.

WTF???? And the cops don't do anything but take a report.they don't need guns. All they need is a friggin pencil.

[bluewaterposer]

I don't know how you do it, make America great and many people of no character shit on you for trying to make a living!
If no one starts businesses, who do they steal from them?
Good on you to keep fighting the good fight.

BWP

[Coastboater]

While in Phoenix I would rent a large diesel generator for our open houses. I’d park it behind our building. Guy comes out, sets it up, test it and everything’s fine. I mentioned that he better lock it up. He says nah, it will be fine.
I get there early the next morning, the first day of the open house, go out back to fire up the generator and it’s been stripped of every bit of copper they could steal.
Thieves suck.

[Tiretyme]

Sans, I’d hate to be in any rental business
My Dad had an Industrial Lift Truck business for many years
The rental division caught hell! No theft back then but they’d drive them off loading docks just for fun

[SeaCat22]

This this is terrible to hear.
FYI....
Many/most of the recent arrivals from Cuba have been raised in Communism. Stealing is the way of life there and that is all they know. It is rampant and almost acceptable. There is a saying they use....translated, “If you’re not stealing, you’re not surviving”. They steal food, fuel, livestock and anything they can get. They come to the US, the only employment they can get is low-paying manual labor jobs. They think, no way we came to the US for this. So they revert to their accustomed ways and start stealing, wheeling and dealing. Wherever the cash is being paid. Catalytic converters, Outboard motors, electronics, heavy equipment. They know the police can’t keep up and won’t put in the effort to prosecute non-violent crimes. Insurance will pay the owners and they escape the consequences.
Yes, Hialeah is a den of thieves and even I avoid the area.
Yes, I know the new age Commie Cubans well. Not the same as the hard-working folks of the 50’s, 60’s & 70’s that immigrated.
I can’t stand thieves.

[Billinfla]

TOS had lots of thefts of boats all going to Miami. Bold, brazen thefts. Towed 'em down the interstate in the middle of the nite. You'd think with all the thefts if the po-po saw someone towing ANYTHING expensive at 3am they would investigate it. But noooo.

Miami is basically a corrupt shithole

[Sans Peur]

I agree about the shit hole part. The ONLY time I stay overnight in Miami is for the boat show. Anyother time, I get in and get out. No overnighter.

Thanks for listening. I was just bitching.

[SIM]

Sorry to hear that Sans, that really stinks. Does your insurance cover any part of it?

[LFBB]

You say you're out X amount, can you not charge the people that rented these lifts from you the amount you lost while unable to rent them out? Can you also not make the renters pay for insurance on them?

[Sans Peur]

The renter guy is the thief. He uses 3 different aliases from what I have found so far. He has fake D/L's and stolen credit cards. With me he used an Echeck and that is from a stolen account number.The $3k he paid for the one month rental was pulled back out of my account as fraud.

I have submitted it to the insurance company. We will see what they do.

Personally, I if i didnt have the FBI involved, I would go to the lying piece of shit used forklift company and just take a couple of their forklifts in payment for mine. That is along the line of my usual response to things like this. It usually works pretty well. They don't want the cops involved any more than I do.

[Surfercross]

Imagine if we could hunt thieves.

[Sans Peur]

We can and do. Just not after the FBI is involved.

[OldPete]

You need to realize something.

This is South Florida. The liberals control EVERYTHING. You are a rich business man and you have insurance for your rich business assets. These poor people are just trying to survive. That is what most of the people that surround us here believe. They are garbage and it is going to get A LOT worse before (if) it ever gets better.

And the cops? Please. Don't make me laugh. The cops don't give a shit because they know that it is a waste of time. They know who the person is - they know where he is, and if not, they can find him in less than a day! The problem is that it doesn't matter. He will be back doing it all again the moment he is released.

My MIL was mugged, they knew EVERYTHING about the people, had them on video, etc. etc. etc... what happened? NOTHING.
Then, much more minor than your issue - package theft from doorsteps - we LITERALLY gave the police the people's name, address, Instagram, etc. etc. etc. THEY DO NOT CARE.

But, can I tell you the part that burns my ass to no f'ing end?!?!?!?! You had a fortune stolen from you, my MIL was mugged, thieves are driving around the neighborhood stealing, people loot if they don't like something, BLM, etc. etc. etc.... but... but... but... get this.

Go ahead a let your grass grow too long or leave your RV in the driveway too long! Go ahead. You will get 10 letters in the mail. notices posted on your door, threats of fines, etc. etc. etc. THAT they have TONS of people to run around and harass the community with. It's amazing and it's infuriating and it's the reason that I'm starting to really have an unhealthy disdain for the place I call home. I hate these people - they support all the wrong things and shun all the right things. They'll lien your HOUSE for a RV in your driveway... but people can rob and steal and harm you all day long... and NOTHING happens.

Pigs.

Thanks for letting me have a place to rant.

[Billinfla]

Pete, why do you stay? Sell the friggin' place for a profit and move somewhere safe.

[KMac]

You need to realize something.

This is South Florida. The liberals control EVERYTHING. You are a rich business man and you have insurance for your rich business assets. These poor people are just trying to survive. That is what most of the people that surround us here believe. They are garbage and it is going to get A LOT worse before (if) it ever gets better.

And the cops? Please. Don't make me laugh. The cops don't give a shit because they know that it is a waste of time. They know who the person is - they know where he is, and if not, they can find him in less than a day! The problem is that it doesn't matter. He will be back doing it all again the moment he is released.

My MIL was mugged, they knew EVERYTHING about the people, had them on video, etc. etc. etc... what happened? NOTHING.
Then, much more minor than your issue - package theft from doorsteps - we LITERALLY gave the police the people's name, address, Instagram, etc. etc. etc. THEY DO NOT CARE.

But, can I tell you the part that burns my ass to no f'ing end?!?!?!?! You had a fortune stolen from you, my MIL was mugged, thieves are driving around the neighborhood stealing, people loot if they don't like something, BLM, etc. etc. etc.... but... but... but... get this.

Go ahead a let your grass grow too long or leave your RV in the driveway too long! Go ahead. You will get 10 letters in the mail. notices posted on your door, threats of fines, etc. etc. etc. THAT they have TONS of people to run around and harass the community with. It's amazing and it's infuriating and it's the reason that I'm starting to really have an unhealthy disdain for the place I call home. I hate these people - they support all the wrong things and shun all the right things. They'll lien your HOUSE for a RV in your driveway... but people can rob and steal and harm you all day long... and NOTHING happens.

Pigs.

Thanks for letting me have a place to rant.

Or, actually get fed up and protect your property the next time it happens.. Oh boy... You are the scumbag criminal, not the actual criminal.. No, they are the victim.. Laughable.

[OldPete]

Believe me, my wife and I want to leave. You guys know my story, we're not afraid of change or moving. The situation comes down to my kids. My son has a deal that people from around the Country try to get and my daughter has a shot at something almost as great.

So I'm stuck.

The real problem is that I LOVE where I live geographically. I just can't stand the ruling powers. Between the RV and the boat, I can make it a "base" and do what I want.

The real concern is that we all know, sooner or later, the libs destroy everything thing and it will start to turn. I think it's a LONG way off... and I think the State will take places like Broward over before it's allowed to happen (which is only a temp fix).

It's a tough one. We love Stuart - and it's always at the top of our list.

The other side of the coin is, I could step up my game as I retire and start to rock the boat and try and leave my print in the area. I do think we're seeing a slight push toward the right as crime, etc. gets worse. As usual, the woke trash ruin things and then the libs turn elsewhere to try and get it fixed. LOL.

[IWant2Fish]

Move to west Davie. Where we live there are no HOA’s and acreage. Everyone out here has boats and Rv’s, plus less crime. Not as convenient as the east side, but it’s only a 20 minute drive if you don’t go at rush hour.

[Billinfla]

Was in Stuart last week. Stuart has been discovered and traffic is horrendous. The railroad is royally fucking it up. Roosevelt bridge to be open 15 minutes/hour plus all the rail construction and traffic. Airport sux. I moved away at the right time.

Start considering options...just sayin..

[SeaCat22]

We live in a great neighborhood in SW Miami. All of the neighbors know each other, have each other’s phone and watch each other’s homes. Been here over 30 years. Dug in like a tick. My next move will be in a wood box.
The crime out there...I never see it. It doesn’t bother me. Not going to let it ruin my party. Saw a lifetime supply while on the FD.
Besides....who would feed my crazy Coots. I’d have to train new ones if I move.