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The Sting! MYSTERY SOLVED!
pantsy
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Alright folks, here's the deal.
It is universally known that SE++ is home to the greatest collection of criminal masterminds, devious card sharks, and brilliant con men. You are a clever and sneaky bunch.
That said, I am calling on you to help.
I present to you, The Sting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xWS3h-apmk
The Score
The gal and I just got back from a camping trip to South Dakota on last Thursday.
Yesterday (8/15), I set up our tent in the backyard and swept it out. Unfortunately, it began to rain almost immediately. This meant the tent had to stay out until it had a chance to dry. It rained all night, and I planned on putting it away later this morning. I was a little uncomfortable leaving it out, even making jokes about it getting stolen, but I felt I did not have much choice. Our neighborhood is pretty safe.
As you have probably surmised, we awoke this morning to find our beloved mobile abode gone.
I am asking you, SE++, to help me catch the bastard that took my tent.
"Just the facts, Ma'am."
The Tent
Stats:
REI Hobitat 4
Specifications:
Season 3-season
Design type Freestanding tent
Sleeping capacity 4
Average minimum weight 14 lbs. 9 oz.
Average packaged weight 16 lbs. 15 oz.
Average weight - metric 7.7 kilograms
Floor dimensions 100 x 86 inches
Floor dimensions - metric 254 x 218 centimeters
Floor area 60 square feet
Vestibule area Optional
Peak height 75 inches
Peak height - metric 190 centimeters
Doors 1
Canopy fabric Nylon taffeta
Floor fabric Coated polyester oxford
Rainfly fabric Coated polyester taffeta
Number of poles 4
Pole material Aluminum Combi 7001 / 6061
Pole diameter 14.5 / 13.8 millimeters
Packed size 25 x 15 x 8.5 inches
Retail Value: $250.00
This tent is the shit. Perhaps a bit overkill for two people, but we love it. We car camp mostly, so we don't have to fit it in a backpack. Tall enough for me to stand comfortably in (I'm 6' 2") and room to spare with a queen-sized air mattress in it.
Now, this is the most important part. I believe that this tent was stolen by one of my neighbors. At no point was the tent visible from the road. We are surrounded on all sides by other house, excepting the front which is on the street. Here is a diagram:
N^
|House|House|House|
| Yard | Yard | Yard |
| Yard |MyYrd| Yard |
|House|MyHse|House|
Street
This pattern continues to the east and west for several blocks either way. Ironically, my house and yard is one of the few without a fence. Most fences on the row to the north of me are tall wooden fences. Houses extending to the east and west are mostly short chain link fences.
In order for someone to locate the tent, they either saw it from their yard, or chose to enter my backyard.
Additional facts:
-The only people who knew we were leaving the tent out before night fell were immediate family members.
-I spoke with my two immediate neighbors to the east, as well as my neighbor two houses to the west. Two are men I am acquainted with and I have no reason to suspect them. The third is an elderly woman who is very nice (and not very mobile).
-Due to the rain last evening, I was unable to locate any concrete signs of the trespasser. There were some possible tracks in the grass, but nothing conclusive.
-The thief (or thieves) left one stake in the ground out of four.
-While there was a storm, the wind was not high enough to blow the tent away. Furthermore, if it were somehow blown away, it would have rapidly become snagged on one of the many fences in the area. It is large and has long tent poles. I can't see it traveling more than one yard away from mine (especially in 15 mph wind- the highest the wind got according to the National Weather Service).
-I have walked around the neighborhood and casually looked around as much as possible, but I have seen nothing to indicate the theft of my tent.
The Plan
Here's where I need your creativity and knowledge. I want your help to craft a plan that will catch the thieving bastard.
My current idea is to put up "missing tent" signs all over the neighborhood. I am also thinking I will put a note on the signs that I am willing to pay the thief for the return of the tent. IF he/she contacts me with an offer, I will accept and set up a meeting. At which point I will call the police and have them waiting with me.
I am also going to start calling pawn shops next week inquiring about tents.
This seems like a flimsy plan to me. That's why I need your help to make it into something better.
I am about to graduate with a degree in Criminal Justice. This means I know that my tent is probably gone forever. However, I am not about to let that stop me. I have filed the requisite report with the police, but I am not going to hold my breath. Unless I can go to them with something concrete, or some kind of evidence, they are not going to be any help.
I will likely have photos of the area and crime scene forthcoming. I will also post the police report when I get it.
While I would like to keep the amount of my personal information revealed to a minimum, I understand that some internet magicians may need more. Feel free to pm me if you have an idea that needs name/addresses, etc.
So, who's up for some crime solving?
It is universally known that SE++ is home to the greatest collection of criminal masterminds, devious card sharks, and brilliant con men. You are a clever and sneaky bunch.
That said, I am calling on you to help.
I present to you, The Sting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xWS3h-apmk
The Score
The gal and I just got back from a camping trip to South Dakota on last Thursday.
Yesterday (8/15), I set up our tent in the backyard and swept it out. Unfortunately, it began to rain almost immediately. This meant the tent had to stay out until it had a chance to dry. It rained all night, and I planned on putting it away later this morning. I was a little uncomfortable leaving it out, even making jokes about it getting stolen, but I felt I did not have much choice. Our neighborhood is pretty safe.
As you have probably surmised, we awoke this morning to find our beloved mobile abode gone.
I am asking you, SE++, to help me catch the bastard that took my tent.
"Just the facts, Ma'am."
The Tent
Stats:
REI Hobitat 4
Specifications:
Season 3-season
Design type Freestanding tent
Sleeping capacity 4
Average minimum weight 14 lbs. 9 oz.
Average packaged weight 16 lbs. 15 oz.
Average weight - metric 7.7 kilograms
Floor dimensions 100 x 86 inches
Floor dimensions - metric 254 x 218 centimeters
Floor area 60 square feet
Vestibule area Optional
Peak height 75 inches
Peak height - metric 190 centimeters
Doors 1
Canopy fabric Nylon taffeta
Floor fabric Coated polyester oxford
Rainfly fabric Coated polyester taffeta
Number of poles 4
Pole material Aluminum Combi 7001 / 6061
Pole diameter 14.5 / 13.8 millimeters
Packed size 25 x 15 x 8.5 inches
Retail Value: $250.00
This tent is the shit. Perhaps a bit overkill for two people, but we love it. We car camp mostly, so we don't have to fit it in a backpack. Tall enough for me to stand comfortably in (I'm 6' 2") and room to spare with a queen-sized air mattress in it.
Now, this is the most important part. I believe that this tent was stolen by one of my neighbors. At no point was the tent visible from the road. We are surrounded on all sides by other house, excepting the front which is on the street. Here is a diagram:
N^
|House|House|House|
| Yard | Yard | Yard |
| Yard |MyYrd| Yard |
|House|MyHse|House|
Street
This pattern continues to the east and west for several blocks either way. Ironically, my house and yard is one of the few without a fence. Most fences on the row to the north of me are tall wooden fences. Houses extending to the east and west are mostly short chain link fences.
In order for someone to locate the tent, they either saw it from their yard, or chose to enter my backyard.
Additional facts:
-The only people who knew we were leaving the tent out before night fell were immediate family members.
-I spoke with my two immediate neighbors to the east, as well as my neighbor two houses to the west. Two are men I am acquainted with and I have no reason to suspect them. The third is an elderly woman who is very nice (and not very mobile).
-Due to the rain last evening, I was unable to locate any concrete signs of the trespasser. There were some possible tracks in the grass, but nothing conclusive.
-The thief (or thieves) left one stake in the ground out of four.
-While there was a storm, the wind was not high enough to blow the tent away. Furthermore, if it were somehow blown away, it would have rapidly become snagged on one of the many fences in the area. It is large and has long tent poles. I can't see it traveling more than one yard away from mine (especially in 15 mph wind- the highest the wind got according to the National Weather Service).
-I have walked around the neighborhood and casually looked around as much as possible, but I have seen nothing to indicate the theft of my tent.
The Plan
Here's where I need your creativity and knowledge. I want your help to craft a plan that will catch the thieving bastard.
My current idea is to put up "missing tent" signs all over the neighborhood. I am also thinking I will put a note on the signs that I am willing to pay the thief for the return of the tent. IF he/she contacts me with an offer, I will accept and set up a meeting. At which point I will call the police and have them waiting with me.
I am also going to start calling pawn shops next week inquiring about tents.
This seems like a flimsy plan to me. That's why I need your help to make it into something better.
I am about to graduate with a degree in Criminal Justice. This means I know that my tent is probably gone forever. However, I am not about to let that stop me. I have filed the requisite report with the police, but I am not going to hold my breath. Unless I can go to them with something concrete, or some kind of evidence, they are not going to be any help.
I will likely have photos of the area and crime scene forthcoming. I will also post the police report when I get it.
While I would like to keep the amount of my personal information revealed to a minimum, I understand that some internet magicians may need more. Feel free to pm me if you have an idea that needs name/addresses, etc.
So, who's up for some crime solving?
pantsy on
0
This discussion has been closed.
Posts
Dear satan I wish for this or maybe some of this....oh and I'm a medium or a large.
:^:
but its not winter so the pun we've all heard before isn't even relevant.
Yeah, the thread has pretty much peaked right here
:winky:
he didn't get a discount on it either
The thief sure did.
One of the five-finger variety.
a van
a player piano
scuba equipment
a man dressed as a hobo (not an actual hobo)
two adjoining, identical hotel rooms
twelve duffel bags full of newspapers
8x10 autographed glossy of Kristen Bell
three shotguns
a commercial sized roll of aluminum foil
a 2-liter bottle of Fresca
a set of fraternal twins
a sassy Korean woman
a box of pre-sharpened #2 pencils
174 paperclips linked together in a chain
piano wire
5 sets of ski goggles
17 prepaid wireless phones
Plan destined to fail.
give us more information about where you live. (Maybe this is well known but I don't so vOv)
College town? More urban or rural? Proximity to homeless?
However, the ring will never leave your finger, and you will be unable to ever describe to another living person what you see.
:v:
Dear satan I wish for this or maybe some of this....oh and I'm a medium or a large.
Oh, that reminds me.
I'll also need a striped polyester necktie and an old episode of Win Ben Stein's Money recorded on VHS.
This is like the first time I have ever seen the thumbs down
Don't forget the duct tape.
Or sleep with them.
...giggity.
The tent has been recovered.
So, I went out to the yard to do a little snooping. Originally, only 1 stake was still in the ground. I walked around and stepped on another lying half-buried in the grass. I then proceeded to do a standard spiral pattern search, which turned up ALL of the missing stakes.
They were not in their original positions, or near them. Rather, they were scattered about in a trail leading up to a back corner of the yard where you can pass through a gap and then hop a short fence. This immediately made me suspect someone to the north of me.
So, I grabbed my trusty camera and went for a walk to the street on the far side of those houses.
As I was passing a house 2 spots down from the one directly behind me, I noticed a man messing about in his front yard. I approached him and asked him if he had seen/heard anything strange in the night or had anything stolen from his yard.
He asked me "Like what?" to which I replied my tent had gone missing. He smiled and opened his garage door. There was my tent, all wrapped up and in good shape.
He stated that he found the tent, still constructed in his front yard this morning. He thought it was because of the storm that blew through last night.
However, the tent was secured to the ground, and in order for it to get to where he was (in a straight line as if blown by wind) it would have had to detach from the ground, get through a stand of trees, hop a four foot chainlink fence, a six foot wooden fence, and fly over two houses. During this trip, it would have needed to stay fully constructed without falling apart or snagging on anything.
"Yeah fucking right..." thinks our protagonist.
Anyhow, he happily relinquished the tent and I carried it home.
My conclusions:
The god damn wind did not move the tent. I can't see it happening unless a small and extremely localized tornado showed up.
I believe that someone came in from the back side of the house, pulled the tent up, and hoisted it over the chain link fences, getting out to the street to the north. At that point, they either decided it was too unwieldy (its a big fucking tent) to carry and did not want to break it down in the open, or saw a car coming and ditched it in the guy's yard.
So. I have my tent. It is a tent.
However, the ring will never leave your finger, and you will be unable to ever describe to another living person what you see.
EDIT: Good man.
put a phone receiver in the tent so you can go Taken on them next time someone takes it
you just call the Tent
"I will find you, I will get the tent back, and I will punch you in the face"