Autumn

Autumn

Monday, August 29, 2011

The Great Salvation Army Raid

I was party to a fascinating sight yesterday.

My morning began with a trip to my son's home where Sweet Wife and me helped our son and daughter-in-law with a few minor home repairs. No big deal. I spent much of that time outside in temperatures which were well above 100 degrees....I was nothing less than a sweat rag.

On our return trip Sweet Wife and Little Bit (she came along for the afternoon) ordered me to stop at the local Diary Queen. I said no, I'm wet and want to go home. While sitting in the Dairy Queen parking lot, which is located in front of a Salvation Army store, I noticed a car drive by several times, park as the engine idled, then peel out and come to a quick stop at the donation trailer. The driver then quick like a fox jumped from his car, snatched a garbage bag bundle, threw it into his car and drive away. Weird, said I.

Until I noticed another truck do much the same. My camera came out. In the span of less than ten minutes I counted no less than twenty cars and truck jokey for position at the donation pile. This pile was huge. The thieves whittled that sucker down to nothing while I waited on my milkshake. One man, in a green stripped shirt, made six runs on the loot. Some cars would wait six to ten yards away while another man or woman had their turn at the donations.

Only two cars, as I waited, actually dropped off donations; one at the curb, the other at the pile stacked at the foot of the trailer. The thieves had the loot in their vehicles before the donors even had a chance to drive away.  Folks, it was fascinating to watch.

Above, democritter drives away with his loot as another takes his place at the pile. The flea market awaits.


Green shirt man's second or third trip to the booty pile. This is a Sunday, the store is closed.

The truck parked next the door of the building is a donor. Seconds after I snapped this picture, the smaller white truck moved in and grabbed the pile. My wife later said she thought perhaps these poor people were taking items for their family. I argued the selections of the criminals, the speed of the snatch, indiscriminate and blindly loaded objects, was nothing more than looting for the purpose of resell.

Granted, we all suffer from this mini-depression. I should not pass judgement. Perhaps these donations, even though placed after hours before the donation trailer, should be considered discards and labeled public domain, free for the taking. Yet, these people used stealth and were quickly in and out, which indicates to me they were guilty of their actions. You tell me.

Still, I laughed, and I've learned a valuable lesson. Always donate when the store is open for business.

Footnote: this morning I passed this same establishment and all, all, of the pile has disappeared. The store had yet to open.

Stephen

46 comments:

  1. I have seen the same here in Denver. And once even saw the same guy at the flea market the following weekend.

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  2. My first thought was drug dead-drop, but this sounds like purely banal petty greed.

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  3. I think I would have pulled out my cell phone and called the police.

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  4. 1) I think calling the police wouldn't help the situation.

    2) I think calling the police only attracts attention to oneself.

    3) Karma is going to get them. Really? Stealing from a non-profit that helps homeless people and then selling the stuff at flea markets? Those are the people that will rob their neighbors and kill them the first week of a grid down situation once they are out of food.

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  5. Flier389, I believe that's the case here too.

    Odysses, agreed. Thanks.

    Kris, it would have been a waste of my time. Our city cops response time is 30 minutes to an hour for none violet crime.

    Mudbug, I agree completely.

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  6. That's a sad and strange thing. What's the percentage in it? How much money do you think they can make selling discards? This is definitely fighting for the scraps.

    All in all, a bad sign indeed.

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  7. I was going to suggest not getting involved and just giving the video to the store manager. Then it hit me, if they were concerned they'd put a surveillance camera there themselves. What a lot of people don't realize is that most of these donations aren't coming in and going out, they are a real source of income for the non-profit. These people are really stealing from the pockets of the most needy. Karma, indeed. I wouldn't want to answer for that at some point.

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  8. Consider calling the media? They love stuff like this.

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  9. We need to can catch a rattle snake and put it in a suitcase and set it out there and film the show. Or maybe build a smoke bomb and put it in a bag.
    Duke.

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  10. Hmm. I hadn't thought about people doing this, but it doesn't surprise me. When I drop, I make sure it's when I can carry it into the store. And as for the other's thoughts on Karma, I wish I believed things played out that way. Most of the time, I see just the opposite. Bad guys catch the breaks, and the good ones catch the crap.

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  11. dear friend Stephen, i am very sorry that you had to WITNESS something as awful as this - THIS is truly horrible.

    and as always, i will leave a long and boring comment because you have always made me feel so welcome to do so. but i hope that this comment in some way demonstrates why i am so horrified by this activity!

    my parents left one part of Canada, to live in another part of Canada when i was four and had 3 siblings. they drove almost 3,000 miles across the country, in november. and when we landed in the new place we moved in to a 2 bedroom apartment on top of a funeral home. yes, i said funeral home. and my parents were broke. my dad immediately found a job in the coal mine but wouldn't receive his first pay until after Christmas. however, during the second week of december, a few members from the Salvation Army arrived in their van and had a small, decorated Christmas tree, a hamper full of food (including a turkey and ham) and presents for all of us kids. my mother used to tell the story to us over and over every Christmas, and she would cry and cry with happiness.

    even though my mother was an ex-communicated Jehovah's Witness and my Father an atheist, they both chose to have us kids baptized at the Salvation Army when the time came to sneak me into school early by telling a lie about my birthdate on the baptism certificate (minor administrative details and such eh?).

    however, once we were baptized my father tithed the usual 10% of his yearly income to the Salvation Army - never forgetting what they had done for us.

    i was the only one who continued Salvation Army Sunday School, Brownies, Girl Guides, Pathfinders, and Junior and Senior Soldiers throughout my childhood and early teen years. i will never forget those times.

    and my husband and i continue to tithe to the Salvation Army even though we are not regular members as although we are believers in Christ and read our Bible regularly - we are simply not affiliated with any regular church.

    i felt the benefits of what organizations like the Salvation Army do firsthand as a child and the idea that "pigs" would stoop low enough to steal from these kind of organizations makes me sick - these people are so detestable that they couldn't lick the bottom of a pigs hoof.....

    i am so sorry that you witnessed this!

    your friend,
    stassja

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  12. If this is what it's like now then picture how things will be in a year or two. There'll be less people donating and those vultures will be arriving with bats and brass knuckles to get "their share".
    The rest of us will be buddying up to make donations. One to do the lifting and one to stand watch...

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  13. Sixbears, good point. They can't be making more than a few cents. Thanks for the comment.

    45er, agree. The store has very to no profit to begin with and security is mute.

    Matt, not a bad idea. But, then they'd slant it towards those poor Obama followers and place the blame for their 'sad condition' on us rich white folks.

    Duke, if you help me, it's done.

    A Kitchen Witch, you are so correct. Sad isn't it.

    Stassja, thank you for your story. Life has a way of molding and shaping our lives, indeed.

    Ausprepper, I so agree. If these lowlifes, brazen as they are before a SHTF event has occurred, just imagine the willingness afterwards to take down the weak and meek. It'd be a blood-fest. And, a target rich environment.

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  14. That's the damndest thing I ever heard of. Why would people just grab the bags without knowing whats in them. Can't they just go in the salvation army store and get what they want for free anyway? My wife takes a lot of stuff to Salvation Army but she has to go when they are open so we can get a receipt and write off the donation. It helps other people and it helps us.

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  15. Arsenius, this was a Sunday, the store was closed. No, Salvation Army resells the donations to raise money for the needy and to employ those rehabilitated from their alcoholism or drug related habits.

    They grabbed these items, I think, as fodder for the flea markets. Pure profit.

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  16. Stephen- I use to donate to that same Salvation Army all the time. People would walk right up to that trailer while you are dropping off and pick through it. I know- Unbelievable!

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  17. JUGM, I like Duke's idea. Want to join the fun.

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  18. COngrats on the Survivalblog mention for this link. It just shows the quality of your blogs.

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  19. Mudbug, thank you. I had no idea until you commented. This is the second time Mr Rawles has honored me. Humbling for sure.

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  20. In central Maryland, it is the illegal aliens that steal the donations to resell. They also mooch food, clothing, baby needs such as diapers and formula, and feminine products from the local churches. You can then find them selling most of the freebies at local flea markets on Saturdays.

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  21. Anon,these were locals I believe doing the same. Thank you for your comment. You are welcome back anytime.

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  22. Just found your blog, (nod to Mr. Rawles), wandered around it a bit, and added it to favorites list. I don't post much but I read alot. I like most of what I've read here and plan to be back.
    Reason for commenting now:
    I live in a small town in a high desert. I have seen similar acts here. A sign of the times? Sure. But more also. A sign of lack of pride in ones self and an entitlement outlook of life. Every week, on my way home from a club meeting, I pass a group of people waiting for a truck handing out free foodstufs. I know what hungry is like, I was on the streets a short time myself. But I recognized some of the people in the crowd. Some of them earn more income than I do. But the "Its free, gimme some" mentality is so pervasive in today's society.
    DesertRatJak

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  23. We had a garage sale a couple weeks ago. The most blatant 'shoplifter' we had was a older couple, nicely dressed with a so-so car.

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  24. Nice catch. Good time to have a camera. Amazing what people will do...and I am for some reason, still surprised how far they will go.

    Congrats on the link from SurvivalBlog (again).

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  25. Hmmmm. Why should I pay to have my trash removed? Perhaps I should drop it off early Sunday morning at the local S.A. and check back in the evening to make sure all my trash was stolen. In fact, I have a junk TV that my waste management won't take. Now I know what to do do with it muahahahaha!

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  26. I have done that....Took some REALLY disgusting garbage, double wrapped it in plastic, placed it in a box and GIFT WRAPPED it. Left it on the front seat of my car, windows rolled down and parked Downtown. Sure enough - returned to find it GONE!

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  27. Anon #1, thank you for the comment...and you're correct, it's the entitlement crowd that was stealing this day too.

    Anon, thieves come in varied packages...thank you and please return again.

    OJD, my friend, thanks...the camera I pack is a Blackberry, never leaves my side.

    Anon, #3, thank you for the comment and read Hobomatt's reply.

    Hobomatt, thanks and I'd of loved to seen the expression on the thief's face when he opened your gift.

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  28. Oh, and OJD, thank you on the comment about the mention on Survivalblog. Luck, and much appreciated.

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  29. Never be surprised at the lengths people will go to in order to "make it". We're all familiar with post-apocalyptic movies and books, but when we see what really is starting to happen (in the real world) we can't help but be a bit shock or suprised.

    But the truth is, this is just an inkling of what people are capable of. As times get harder, we need to expect even worse behavior.

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  30. FactPad, very true. Just over the horizon folks, get ready, zombies gather.

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  31. Someone should put a "God is watching" sign on the side of the donation trailer. If people are being surreptitious (and therefore KNOW they're guilty), perhaps just a little sign might influence someone to change their mind about stealing.

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  32. Anonymous, that is a very good idea.

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  33. Same thing happens on the FreeCycle mailing list (a place where you can give away stuff you don't need to someone who might need it). Lots of the offers get snapped up immediately by flea market types.

    Yes, a wildcat in a suitcase might be an excellent idea. The challenge is video taping it for S&G

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  34. wrm, welcome, and yes, I like the wildcat or rattlesnake idea a lot. Thanks.

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  35. While this is wrong in so many ways the thing people do that hurts charities even more is when people drop off trash and unusable junk that the charity then has to pay to have hauled away.That mostly happens in the off hours as well.

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  36. Glenn Kelley, good point. Thank you kind Sir.

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  37. And I thought possession is 9/10ths of the law.

    + + +

    I think you have a wrong impression of what most "charities" are.

    Most of these "thrift shops" are businesses. Even if they're so-called "non-profit", the owners and staff make a living off them.

    As for "stealing" -- in most cases it isn't stealing. I pass by the back of one of these places most days, on the way to the shops. They have a sign on the wall saying that the "donations" placed their are their property. I seriously doubt they'd be able to prosecute anyone.

    For example, if you saw some pots and pans there, and you were living in a one-room apt., and were unemployed, and in debt, and you just helped yourself -- and the police spotted you. More than likely they wouldn't bother. If they did, they'd probably just tell you to put the stuff back.

    And technically, legally, I'd say it was your property. For one thing, you could always say you left it there, then changed your mind. Besides that, it could be argued that someone left it there exactly for someone like you. And in spite of the store's sign, they can't just claim the right to anything left by their back-door. Especially since they have a big bin that most people don't actually leave their stuff in -- they usually ignore the bin and just set stuff down near the door.

    + + +

    As for the people who drive around in trucks picking up stuff from such bins, to sell it themselves at their own junk shops...

    That could be actionable. I guess just a restraining order to keep them away from the building, might be in order.

    + + +

    When I was a kid, gypsies would come around "offering" to pick up any junk in the house. If you didn't give them good stuff, they would throw some incomprehensible curse at you, with some hex sign, then some comprehensible swearing and curses, and the evil eye. So I have almost as much of a jaded view of small-time charity-scams as I do about the big-league charity-barons (Geld-Hof, Bono, Gates, Rockefellers, Carnegies, etc)

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  38. Brian, thank you for the comment, however I disagree. Once a donation is made to the charity, it is their property. If I as an individual give you my watch, it is yours. If you take property from a donation site, you're a lowlife thief. If I turn around after giving you my watch and sneak into your home and take it, you have the right to shoot me squarely in my butt. Of course, liberals and leeches that have the entitlement mentality with IQ's of oysters have a most difficult time understanding simple right from wrong.

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  39. If you're going to be insulting, and make stupid assumptions about politics and intelligence, then I'll just say that only a MORON would equate:

    (a) Leaving a cardboard box fill of old pots and pans on a sidewalk;

    with:

    (b) handing someone a watch, and saying, "Here, I'm giving you this watch as a gift. It's yours now."

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  40. Excuse me for a moment, Akira'a comments just reminded me to go wind up the cuckoo clock.

    I was going to ask if it really believes that horse manure it just spouted, but I went and looked at it's blog....

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  41. Brain, I tried to be as nice as possible...but please, go sale crazy somewhere else, we're all full around here.

    (line from the famous movie)

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  42. TROLL, TROLL IN THE DUNGEON.
    JUST THOUGHT YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW.

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  43. Matt, even with your kind warning I went and, well, you're correct. They live...

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  44. Mudbug, gosh, my first. Feel like a big boy now.

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  45. There's a Goodwill donation truck I pass on the way to work Monday morning- always someone there stealing.

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  46. staghounds, seems the norm now a days. Thanks and sorry for the late reply.

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