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Lawnmower larceny plagues city
Published Wednesday, June 11, 2008
NATCHEZ — After letting the day’s heat pass by, Jimmy Guercio went outside to do some yard work last week, but one thing stopped him — his lawnmower was gone.
The mower was stored in his open garage at his Washington Street house.
“I have no idea if it was a daylight, walk up and take it or a nighttime thing,” Guercio said.
Guercio is not alone in having his lawn equipment stolen and said he knows several other people who have had it happen to them.
Spencer Trazell, who owns a professional lawn service had two $400 weed trimmers stolen from him last summer while working downtown on Washington Street.
“They were on racks, they weren’t locked, but they fit on there and I wasn’t expecting anyone to take them,” Trazell said.
Unlike Guercio, Trazell did not report the incident to police.
Chief Mike Mullins said that it is fairly common for things such as mowers and tools to be stolen this time of year, but that he would not call it a “rash” of thefts.
“The larceny generally increases during the summer because more people are outside,” he said. The best way to prevent these things from happening is to keep things locked up.
“As a general rule, if you live in an area with a lot of foot traffic don’t leave Weed Eaters, lawnmowers, bikes and other power tools outside because thieves will walk by and steal them,” Mullins said.
However, keeping things locked up does not also keep them from being stolen. Recently, the maintenance shed at Natchez High School was broken into and a red Exmark mower was taken, along with a utility trailer. The riding mower is valued at $5,900. And Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for information. To report information, call 601-442-5000.
Another lawnmower theft was reported on Myrtle Drive and a weed trimmer theft was reported on Washington Street. Guercio said he also know of several other thefts that were not reported.
Comments
Posted by texasranger (anonymous) on June 12, 2008 at 12:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Put a couple of lawnmower theives in the ground,and the thefts will slack up,instead of turning them loose as soon as they get locked up. People work hard for their money only to have theives take the fruits of their labor. The only way to stop them is to elimanate them. That,s the only think the dopers,theives and thugs understand.They all laugh and snicker at our society because we are so lient and stupid.
Posted by lookingout (anonymous) on June 12, 2008 at 12:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
my husband just got a new lawnmower but i tell you if he catchs them trying to steal it the police wont have to worry about locking them up they will prably find them laying in the yard...then the police wanna get mad they need to do something with the people committing little crimes cause they will turn into big crimes eventualy
Posted by ProNatchez (anonymous) on June 12, 2008 at 5:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dead offenders are better than repeat offenders.
Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on June 12, 2008 at 6:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah! Line them thieving culprits up against a wall and mow them down.
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on June 12, 2008 at 6:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's that time of the year and it's a total shame you can't put anything down! I just had to go into a pawn shop the other day, I had to rush to pay a bill, otherwise I don't go in them, I can't stand pawn shops, but while there, I couldn't help but notice the big shelf of chain saws, tree bark fresh in the chain, weed eaters, etc. I could only think, I wonder how many of these belonged to someone and was stolen?
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on June 12, 2008 at 6:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Prob ALL!
Posted by oldschool (anonymous) on June 12, 2008 at 7:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
FORGET 911 I call 357. Learned the hard way! So if you value your life stay away from my HOUSE!!!! :) I work too darn hard for a LOW LIFE THIEF to take my stuff. SO consider this your warning!!!!!
Posted by meluvcookies (anonymous) on June 12, 2008 at 8:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As much as I really HATE there are such disrespectful, careless and cruel people in this old world, it may be somewhat helpful to get a piece of paper and a pen and write down everything you own that comes with a model and/or serial number and keep this piece of paper in a safe place like a fireproof safe-box, and should the need ever arise, at least you'll have the information needed to identify your belongings. Speaking, of course, if they're ever found!
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on June 12, 2008 at 8:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
meluv...that's what everyone says AFTER their stuff gets stolen. I've gotten in the habit of registering my new-bought stuff, or keeping the papers on it. (That won't do me a bit of good if my house burned down though.)
It's a shame we have to lock our stuff up to keep fools honest. And sometimes they'll break your lock! Ain't nothing sacred anymore. I don't know if killing theives is the answer, but cutting their hands off would be acceptable. And what should cops be able to do to a suspect who runs? Shoot 'em in the legs!!!!!!
Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on June 12, 2008 at 9:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
kpage going old testament this morning. lol
Posted by wifetoone (anonymous) on June 12, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I want them to come to my house, James Lee will pay me a visit. I"m Like you oldschool I know how to shoot REAL well, up close or at a distance take your chances when coming to my house.
Posted by iamnobody (anonymous) on June 12, 2008 at 11:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hey wife and oldschool,,
all guns are loaded and ready at my house,,the dog will trip them first and then they are an easy target,,,
just make sure you fire two shots,,one for the target, and one for a warning,,,lol,,no one will beable to tell which was first,,,and for those who think locks will keep you safe,,they only keep an honest man honest,,
but really people all kidding aside,,if you own a gun, please practice gunsafety, attend a class,,etc,,and yes i too like s&w lady 357,,and a springfield 9,,,,so any idiot feels froggy,,hope you can outrun hollowpoint.
Posted by drawpaintsing (anonymous) on June 12, 2008 at 11:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Iamnobody, you are somebody. LOL! I always wanted to say that to you.
Posted by overthehill60 (anonymous) on June 12, 2008 at 12:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We shouldn't have to be afraid to sleep at night. Once they are in your home you have the right to protect youself & your family so if that means using protection do it. I bet they wouldn't think twice of blowing you away.
This block of Vidalia has been bad for years but now it's even worse. I'm sure there are good decent families that live there that don't deserve this either. Maybe Copeland will do something. Now is a good time for him to prove he is really wanting to make Vidalia a better town.
Posted by natchezsouthside (anonymous) on June 12, 2008 at 1:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope you all remember last winter when that guy who was also going to protect himself shot and killed an intruder--only it wasn't an intruder, it was his wife.
Posted by texasranger (anonymous) on June 12, 2008 at 2:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
One of the pawnshop owners told the Vidalia police that he believed several riding mowers that he had purchased,after checking them out were stolen. Vidalia PD told him they didn,t have time to check or rundown stolen mowers,It wasn,t there job. So he just kept them for resale. Go figure.
Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on June 12, 2008 at 3:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I know a kid down the street that had 5 bikes stolen last summer. And guess what, school wasn't out a week and he has had 1 bike stolen already this summer. They steal them and spray them black or solid color. When you see these kids tooling around on a sprayed bike, 90% are stolen.
Posted by peachpit (anonymous) on June 12, 2008 at 4:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If you can't find your stolen, metal items at the pawn shop, just check the side of Hwy 84 at Pac-man outside Vidalia. Some of these people will pick up anything metal for sale there. There must be 30 truck and trailors lined up every morning there. lol
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on June 12, 2008 at 10:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Natchez Enema...tell that kid to put his bike in the house!
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