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I just got back for visiting my grand kids in Mansfield. I went out to the shop and found the shop door busted out. My shop a mess, Three personal guitars, one commision that was to ship Monday, Two routers one hand drill all my socket wrenches and scokets and a few other hand tools all gone. The got into the other room where my tablesaw, bandsaw, and drill press are. I guess they were to heavy to mess with they are still there. The did get my bench grinder and my 10-20 drum sander. The 16-32 was in the wrong room so I assume they got scared by something. Cops on on their way over here. I am bitting my tong right now.

All the wood is ok my compressor and lphv paint equipment is all here. All my wood is intact and all my cases are still here. My shop is a wreck but thing just thrown around mot destroied.

got to go cops are here

I don't know what to say Michael.
I know the feeling, it just sucks.

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

Oh Michael....

I am really sorry to read this. I was mugged (wallet taken, cards used to buy stuff) during a teaching practice once in a Primary school, believe it or not, various break-ins during my University years, had three bikes stolen...and it's such a bad experience.

It really sounds like a junkie break in looking for stuff to sell for a drug habit.

Praying for you, and really hope that things will work out.

Farms round my locality have a guard dogs round their w/shops/barns, etc. Seems to work as a deterrant, too.

Sorry, Michael. That's terrible.

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Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger

Oh Michael, I am so sorry.



One of the reasons we bought the house that we did was that there was an alarm system is place. George had a wood shop in the detached garage that he had a motion detector in. Its hard to spot and you can't hear the alarm sound in the house while out there, which is a good thing in that it gives the cops times to show up.

I know this is a bit of barring the barn door after the horse is gone, but when things settle out, it's something to think about.

In the mean time, I hope the punk gets caught with all your stuff.

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Aoibeann

Michael,

I really feel bad about your misfortune. I am so sorry this happened to you.

I've been through a similar episode myself, though a while back. Its really a horrible feeling, and I found myself getting quite wrapped into the negativity and venom that was circling around in my brain. But these thoughts only make the situation worse. Easier said than done, but I recommend spending as much time as possible grateful for what was not taken, and any and every other thing you can find to celebrate.

They took some tools and some guitars, don't let them take the good feeling from life for longer than necessary.

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Gabriel Regalbuto
Carlsbad, California
Freedom 35!

Michael, I'm so sorry to hear of this...your homeowner's should go a long way towards "break even" for you at least financially...but the efforts of 3 guitars you've invested yourself into and just the plain violation of having strangers break in and ransack your property...the Old Testament in me says, "find 'em and stone 'em"...but of course I recognize the broken-ness in folks who do stuff like this...I'm glad you were away tho...I have a church friend who surprised a burglar who broke into his shop...a struggle insued, the guy had a knife...my friend subdued him but not before he took a few nasty wounds...in the end, stuff can be replaced and we're happy you're okay!

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

Feeling for you Michael,

Hope they catch the slimy scum and you get all your gear back in tact. Good advice about focusing on what did not get ripped off, clean up the deluge putting things back in order and then have a look at the situation.

Lots of crap in the world and lots of good too. Here's hoping for a good outcome for you.

Kim

Real sorry to hear this Michael.

Let's just hope the thugs get caught and your stuff returned.

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Frank

Michael my friend I too am very sorry to hear this news.......

Hopefully you have a policy from Heritage supplementing your home owners insurance and specific to Lutherie concerns.

Based on your description of the theft it sounds like more then one person to me. I would also be interested in anyone who recently had access to your shop. There is a bit of a flavor here that they knew what they wanted or knew what you might have. You might want to discuss with the police the folks that have been there and are not paying clients in say the last 6 months.

Let us know if we can be of help Michael - remember you have a ton of friends here pulling for you.

I know how that feels, Michael. And I am very sorry. I hope the bad guys are caught.

Very sorry to hear this

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Build log

I too am sorry to hear this. That's got to be one of the worst feeling. Let us know how things are progressing. Perhaps the police can find some of the stolen items.

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

They know you have good stuff, and that you might have good stuff again, so you need to get a dog and put it in the garage, along with video cameras etc...they are not that expensive.

I just sold alot of video supplies to people in what are turning into illegal-alien infested areas south of me, the crime behavior stories are unbelievable.With the ecomomy/dollar in a nosedive, this will happen more and more.

I would also recomend a hand gun and training, and post some of the targets outside your shop.

Crime is a horrible violation, and theft and break in will take some time to get over.

good luck.

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Here is what a Parlor Guitar is for!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEa8PkjO6_I

dude that sucks

dude that sucks

Ouch, that is no good! Hope things turn around for you and dumb as it may sound in this situation, often things happen for a reason and even as something as bad as this could be a blessing in disguise. I've run into this situation as well, though not with guitars and tools, but my car stereo system and all my fishing equipment which was in there. Not nearly as bad as your theft, but it was easily over $5000 between the the stereo system and fishing equip. It was rough and it happened in a nice neighborhood which blew my mind because I spent many a year in some bad areas and never had any problems, but once I move into a nicer area, bam!

Again, just try to stay as positive as you can manage. I can imagine much of the rough part is the guitars including the commision one, I can see them being tough to get over compared to a tool. Sorry and hope maybe the cops can find a link to the thieves and your tools through one of your personal guitars, ya never know. Jason

Oh Michael, I'm feeling your pain and heartache. I also know the feeling of being violated. Maybe neighbors might have saw or heard something.

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

I'm sorry to hear this happened to you. I hope you can recover your things.

Ron M.

Sorry to hear about the B&E... In addition to checking the local pawn shops, you may want to check the classifieds in the local paper for bargain priced tools & guitars. In a similar story, I was at a house today where a 75 yrs old gentleman had his place broken into as well. Not near as much taken, but he was most concerned about the 1946 hand made guitar he had. Can't recall the name (shame on me), but he was devastated.

Good luck and remember, it's just stuff.

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Jamie M

Wow.. that's lame... I hope the cops can track down whoever did this. I agree about checking local pawn shops and such. From what you describe it seems more like a random break-in than something premeditated. The best of luck to you.

That truly sucks! Check out your local CraigsList for the tools and the guitars.

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Jim Howell
Charlotte, NC

Sorry about that!! And on Father's day! I hope they catch the basturds.

Mike

!70 hp gixxer (87Gsxr11)
I loved to think my 230 lbs manhandled
Five years ago
Poof gone;
Dark angry thoughts!

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