Last week I went to one of my washes to change my HP SS hoses from 3/8 to 1/4". I walked in sat my keys on my work bench at the back of the equipment room then grabbed a few wrenches, teflon, and ladder. Changed about 3 of 5 bays noticed this POS truck pull in but didn't think anything other then he's gonna make a mess probably spraying out his bed. Proceeded to finish the last two bays.
When I got done went into my equipment room looking for my keys to use my turn on locks to start the bays and check for leaks. I could not find them anywhere and I couldn't remember exactly where I put them. I checked my cameras to see where I put them when I first walked in and after scrolling through the footage for a few seconds seen some crackhead in the back of my equipment room. At this point im thinking WTF is this guy. I watched him walk in while I was working in my second bay and pocket himself a dewalt battery then look at my keys on the work bench and take those too. He left in that same POS truck. I have a push bar lock on my door and have always left it unlocked while I was there working. Of course the crack head does not have a license plate on his POS truck.
I call the police and immediately go into how am I gonna fix this mode then I quickly realize how many locks I exactly have since this location is only miles away from two others that are keyed the same. 23 medeco t handle locks, 66 cam locks, 8 medico plug locks, 21 American puck locks, 50 shackle locks. By the time the police arrived I had already spent about $2500 with KR on what they had in stock with NDA shipping and had all my front doors rekeyed by lock smith but wasn't even nearly a quarter of the way there to replacing everything.
I show the officer the video but with no plate and only pictures of the guy we really had nothing. He decided to send a group text to other officers as a last chance hope to identifying this POS. He sends the text and literally 5 seconds later his phone beeps. Another officer knew his name as he arrested him few weeks back. He goes to his car then comes back and tells me theres an address he's known to be at. He's gonna go check it out and let me know if he comes up with anything.
I go to another wash down the road and about an hour later my phone rings with private number. I knew it was the officer. I answered and he said NICK I GOT YOUR KEYS AND YOUR BATTERY TOO. I cant explain the relief I had as I was already preparing people for security at the washes all night until the new locks come in. Not only did he save me that headache but also saved me probably close to 10K replacing the locks. I was never so happy to see my keys. I dropped off a $300 black rock gift card to him the next day. I asked him how he got them and he said I told the stupid MF ill send him to prison if I dont get them lol
KEEP YOUR KEYS ON YOU AND NEVER GET COMFORTABLE.
My only regret other then leaving my door open and keys on the work bench is I missed a prime opportunity to use my new Glock 19x
I now wear my keys on my neck with lanyard
When I got done went into my equipment room looking for my keys to use my turn on locks to start the bays and check for leaks. I could not find them anywhere and I couldn't remember exactly where I put them. I checked my cameras to see where I put them when I first walked in and after scrolling through the footage for a few seconds seen some crackhead in the back of my equipment room. At this point im thinking WTF is this guy. I watched him walk in while I was working in my second bay and pocket himself a dewalt battery then look at my keys on the work bench and take those too. He left in that same POS truck. I have a push bar lock on my door and have always left it unlocked while I was there working. Of course the crack head does not have a license plate on his POS truck.
I call the police and immediately go into how am I gonna fix this mode then I quickly realize how many locks I exactly have since this location is only miles away from two others that are keyed the same. 23 medeco t handle locks, 66 cam locks, 8 medico plug locks, 21 American puck locks, 50 shackle locks. By the time the police arrived I had already spent about $2500 with KR on what they had in stock with NDA shipping and had all my front doors rekeyed by lock smith but wasn't even nearly a quarter of the way there to replacing everything.
I show the officer the video but with no plate and only pictures of the guy we really had nothing. He decided to send a group text to other officers as a last chance hope to identifying this POS. He sends the text and literally 5 seconds later his phone beeps. Another officer knew his name as he arrested him few weeks back. He goes to his car then comes back and tells me theres an address he's known to be at. He's gonna go check it out and let me know if he comes up with anything.
I go to another wash down the road and about an hour later my phone rings with private number. I knew it was the officer. I answered and he said NICK I GOT YOUR KEYS AND YOUR BATTERY TOO. I cant explain the relief I had as I was already preparing people for security at the washes all night until the new locks come in. Not only did he save me that headache but also saved me probably close to 10K replacing the locks. I was never so happy to see my keys. I dropped off a $300 black rock gift card to him the next day. I asked him how he got them and he said I told the stupid MF ill send him to prison if I dont get them lol
KEEP YOUR KEYS ON YOU AND NEVER GET COMFORTABLE.
My only regret other then leaving my door open and keys on the work bench is I missed a prime opportunity to use my new Glock 19x
I now wear my keys on my neck with lanyard
Im so relieved the police were able to get your keys back. Video surveillance was the only way to solve that mystery - PRICELESS!! Unfortunately, there seems to be more desperate POS just looking for an opportunity. Thanks for sharing your experience & lesson learned! 
