The unthinkable finally happened

Mathius · 06/11/2013, 11:55 PM

Over $500 worth of my game collection was stolen last weekend. I lost most of my Wii and 360 games. A few of my SNES games including Chrono Trigger. I lost Sinistron and Side Arms for the Turbo/PCE. Thankfully the rest of my Turbo/PCE collection remains. I didn't lose any systems either. I am deeply saddened by this because a family member is the culprit. He crept into my game room when he came over for Sunday dinner. Once I discovered what had happened I called around to the local game stores to see if I could locate anything. Good news is I did find where he hocked them, and I alerted the management there that the games had been stolen. Bad news is the only way I can get them back is to file a police report and send my brother to jail. I am going to go up there tomorrow to see if I can buy back what they paid for everything. They told me that he has been in there for the last two weeks selling my stuff so this isn't a new occurrence. I am heartbroken at this course of events mainly due to my brother's actions. Chrono Trigger is also a game that I cherish and seeing it's empty space on the shelf nearly gave me a heart attack.

I feel like I am rambling. I just need to get this stuff off my chest by sharing it with my friends here. Thanks in advance for listening.

Tatsujin · 06/12/2013, 12:14 AM

Oh wow, that sucks big balls

Didn't you find out much faster about the missing stuff,
after your mean brother came over? maybe the CT could have been saved.
how about sending him an invoice for the caused damage?
Best fitting together with a big buttkick.

Why did he just do such a thing to his own family?

Kinda fullretard!

Mathius · 06/12/2013, 12:28 AM

Funnily enough noticing the games missing didn't happen right away until I started going through my Super Famicom games. Macross and Parodius weren't in their assigned spots which started me thinking. I know my brother has been dealing with a terrible drug addiction but I never thought he would stoop this low during one of his visits. He doesn't know that I know yet. Tomorrow the shit hits the fan.

I can't afford to buy the games back but thankfully my mother has stepped in to loan me the cash to do so. If my parents weren't alive I would probably press charges but I don't have the heart to do so. They are dealing with enough as it is.

NightWolve · 06/12/2013, 12:55 AM

Wow, what an asshole! I have a problem with a clepto-sibling myself and became estranged with her (again) after she stole my ratchet set out of my car and other issues prior to that that I won't go into, etc. I had replaced the brake shoes for a neighbor's car, fixed the parking brake too, and he had come to me again for a tune up to replace the spark plugs. So I went to my car to find my ratchet set, but I couldn't find it! I spent like a half hour tearing it apart trying to find the damn thing! Then I remembered I had given the clepto my keys the day before or so when she asked me to find something in it. I should've walked with her to make sure, but I mistakenly showed her trust. Sure enough, I drove to her house, she denied it all, but by the end of it, with her own stupidity and absent-mindedness, I discovered where she had hidden it! She tried to grab it back from my hands, but I wouldn't let go and she went all fucking psycho! That was ~2 years ago maybe, I dunno, but I ain't talked to her since and don't plan to again either!

I say press charges if you can! Don't let him get away with it! Know that if you didn't actually see him steal the games (as a witness) and there's no, say, security video of him doing it, and if he denies it entirely to the police, they wouldn't be able to arrest him... He has to self-incriminate. So, pffft, in actuality, you probably couldn't get an arrest even if you really wanted to... Anyhow, that shit just pisses me off. To get set back like that by someone in your own family, bad enough if you got broken into by strangers who could give a fuck, but that it's your own brother and you were the one that let him in, etc...

MotherGunner · 06/12/2013, 01:44 AM

Bro, I'm so sorry to hear about this. I bet your gf was equally pissed. I hope you get your stuff back. Not sure if you want to share the exchange with your brother when you confronted him?

Arkhan Asylum · 06/12/2013, 03:23 AM

Invite him over to play Parodius and see how he responds.

That shit sucks. If any of my family members tried stealing my stuff, there would be hell to pay.

PCEngineHell · 06/12/2013, 04:32 AM

I would go for pressing charges. When he sold the stuff to the game store he should have been required to hand over driver license info or a state id in compliance with pawn shop laws. I would have a police report filed and inform them you know where the stolen merchandise is located. The store will be required to hand over the goods to the cops. Your brother could probably use the jail time to dry out, or maybe even strike a deal with the prosecution to enter a rehab program for a lighter sentence.

Not doing anything will just send the wrong message to your brother that you will put up with anything cause he is family. Addicts in families always do things like this because when their victim is close family they know the victim is less likely to do anything about it. He will end up stealing from others soon and after he has hit enough family with theft he will move on to friends, then just start robbing houses or other forms of theft to get money for his addiction, which will start putting others at risk.

soop · 06/12/2013, 05:02 AM

Oh man, I'm so sorry

This is horrible. I hope it works out.

majors · 06/12/2013, 08:33 AM

Quote from: Mathius on 06/11/2013, 11:55 PM... I lost ... Side Arms

NOOOOO!!!!

I feel some of your pain...I got broke in and lost all my Saturn games a few years back (left the SS console, but took the broke PS2...silly criminals). At least you have some hope of recovering some of the titles even if it will cost you. Josh and I will keep a eye out for Sidearms for ya'

PunkCryborg · 06/12/2013, 08:53 AM

matt do you know what all you lost?

PCEngineHell · 06/12/2013, 08:56 AM

You know, the whole break in burglary thing makes me really glad I chose to get out of renting a house and back into a apartment. Being on the top floor at the corner end of a building makes it impossible for anyone to break in here without using a ladder and making a big scene of it. The old house I rented had way too many exposed areas in the back of the house for someone to exploit. My old neighbor's house was the same and he would always ask me and my kids to keep a eye on his place when he had go on extended leave for work.

Tatsujin · 06/12/2013, 08:57 AM

Side arms or special?

esteban · 06/12/2013, 09:00 AM

Mathius, comrade, my deepest sympathies.

Clearly, there are no simple solutions that will fix things swiftly.

If it will cheer you up, I can send you some über-crappy Wii games (Hannah Montanna, Naked Bros.)... Just say the word

* The games are so bad, you don't actually need to play them. Instead, you will find new hobbies, such as scissor-sharpening, to occupy your time.

Nando · 06/12/2013, 09:10 AM

Damn

Hope your brother is able to recover and that you get your stuff back. What a crappy situation, sorry you had to go through it man.

DragonmasterDan · 06/12/2013, 09:12 AM

Sorry to hear that Mathius,

This has always been a worry of mine as well.

It's good to hear you'll be getting your stuff back, sorry it had to happen like that.

NecroPhile · 06/12/2013, 09:34 AM

Man, that sucks shit. I'd press charges - he's not going to stop on his own, but maybe he'll get the help he needs in jail; sweeping it under the rug makes y'all enablers.

Quote from: Mathius on 06/11/2013, 11:55 PMI feel like I am rambling. I just need to get this stuff off my chest by sharing it with my friends here. Thanks in advance for listening.

Nuttin' wrong with that. Just don't start telling us what you had for breakfast or your colonoscopy results, else we'll have to change your name to soopius.

[end levity mode]

Tatsujin · 06/12/2013, 09:45 AM

BigusSchmuck · 06/12/2013, 09:50 AM

This may be a little extreme:
http://www.amazon.com/Ubiquiti-Aircam-Mini-IP-Camera/dp/B008K7TF56/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371044956&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=ubiquiti+minicam
But you can hide it, set a schedule and even set motion detection. Sorry to hear about your loss otherwise.

JoshTurboTrollX · 06/12/2013, 10:02 AM

Matti!

I'm so sorry to hear about this man! As hard a decision as this seems to be, the BEST thing is to alert the authorities and go the route suggested:

Quote from: PCEngineHell on 06/12/2013, 04:32 AMI would go for pressing charges. When he sold the stuff to the game store he should have been required to hand over driver license info or a state id in compliance with pawn shop laws. I would have a police report filed and inform them you know where the stolen merchandise is located. The store will be required to hand over the goods to the cops. Your brother could probably use the jail time to dry out, or maybe even strike a deal with the prosecution to enter a rehab program for a lighter sentence.

Quote from: guest on 06/12/2013, 09:34 AMMan, that sucks shit. I'd press charges - he's not going to stop on his own, but maybe he'll get the help he needs in jail; sweeping it under the rug makes y'all enablers.

It's a "I'm doing this for your own good" moment and if you let him get away with it, it WILL happen again. Maybe to you or someone else.

A short stay in Jail could be the wake up he needs or it could do nothing, but chances are if he gets away with this one the next time will be more extreme and could land him a longer stay in Jail or worse. He needs help.

Again, I'm very sorry to hear about all this. Let us know if you need anything.

chany60126 · 06/12/2013, 10:25 AM

Sorry to hear about that incident, Matt. I hope he didn't take any of your Neo Geo stuff, that would be killer for me.

I agree with everyone else, I think you should alert the authorities. Not so much for getting your games back without having to rebuy them, but for his own good. If he's capable of doing this to his own family, imagine what he might to do to others. It will only get worse. He needs a wake up call, and I think a short visit to jail might do the trick.

I hope things turn around for you.

soop · 06/12/2013, 10:32 AM

It depends on the jail. I think rehab is a great idea, but some jails are worse for drugs than regular life.
After all, there's not a lot to do in jail, and it's usually full of bad people who know other bad people.

Flare65 · 06/12/2013, 11:21 AM

Sorry to hear this happen.

Our collections take YEARS to complete and someone destroys it in a heartbeat. Not cool. I hope you are able to recover what you lost.

FiftyQuid · 06/12/2013, 11:33 AM

Damn, I mean... damn.

I feel your pain Mathius. My mother stole nearly $17K from me. I won't go into details, but when I confronted her about it and she finally broke down and told me the truth I collapsed in the parking lot and nearly threw up. Dry heaves came fast and heavy. I thought for sure I was going to puke all over myself. Being screwed over by someone you know is bad enough, but when it's family it just knocks the living shit out of you.

I have to agree with the Professor. Reporting him is the way to go. Doing nothing is not going to help resolve this. It's a terrible decision to have to make, but if he's too deeply into drugs then you'll need professional help to help pull him out of it.

RoyVegas · 06/12/2013, 12:01 PM

I'm going to have to agree with all of the other members who opted for the press charges option.

Mathius · 06/12/2013, 12:22 PM

I can't express fully my appreciation to all you guys. It means more than you know.

This is a very complicated situation for me as I am trying to do what is best for myself, my brother, and my parents. My brother is the Guinness Book of World Records holder for the number of times he has been in jail over the last 25 years. Jail time just doesn't work for him. My mom and dad are in their 70s and I want their remaining years to be as peaceful as possible. But if my brother dies from his addictions....well you can see my dilemma.

Chany, the Neo goods are safe.

It appears the only way that I am going to be able to get my stuff back from the game store without a police report is for my brother to accompany me into the store to confess his crime. I can guarantee that won't ever happen. My brother is violent, defiant, and defensive.

EvilEvoIX · 06/12/2013, 12:24 PM

So sad to hear, the loss, the addition in the family. I hate addicts but I guess they are victims them selves. They just justify in their heads it's OK to steal from loved ones and if you press charges it's your fault for not loving them enough.

I'd press charges, if your sibling ever recovers he'll thank you later. Hopefully the judge will put him in treatment then a half way house, it's the only way for sure.

nectarsis · 06/12/2013, 12:41 PM

I gotta agree with the police intervention. If a family member (especially one so close) does this to you, guaranteed he does it elsewhere....which could have even worse results.

PukeSter · 06/12/2013, 12:59 PM

Wow, that is very low for your brother to do. I feel saddened by this news. If my brother did that to me, I don't know what I would do. :'(

On the bright side, at least you know who committed this crime, and it wasn't a random burglar. I hope everything goes ok.

esadajr · 06/12/2013, 01:10 PM

My best wishes to you and your family.

Stuff can be recovered with hard work, but trust can't.

PCEngineHell · 06/12/2013, 01:20 PM

Quote from: Mathius on 06/12/2013, 12:22 PMI can't express fully my appreciation to all you guys. It means more than you know.

This is a very complicated situation for me as I am trying to do what is best for myself, my brother, and my parents. My brother is the Guinness Book of World Records holder for the number of times he has been in jail over the last 25 years. Jail time just doesn't work for him. My mom and dad are in their 70s and I want their remaining years to be as peaceful as possible. But if my brother dies from his addictions....well you can see my dilemma.

Chany, the Neo goods are safe.

It appears the only way that I am going to be able to get my stuff back from the game store without a police report is for my brother to accompany me into the store to confess his crime. I can guarantee that won't ever happen. My brother is violent, defiant, and defensive.

I know its rough but go to the cops then and get it over with. You and your parents, among others, will be better off for it. A temporary pain followed by a nice long stint of peace and quiet. I mean you really have to ask yourself this, who is my brother stealing from today? He's already hit you up and you were family, who knows who else he is robbing or what all he is caught up in. If you stand by doing nothing knowing he is out there stealing, it will hurt worse when eventually you do find out he did a lot more/a lot worse and you could have helped stop him.

EvilEvoIX · 06/12/2013, 01:58 PM

After 25 Years I'd cut him off completely, out of your life.

420GOAT · 06/12/2013, 05:12 PM

GUYS he cant send his own bro to jail! itll just kill his mom and dad to see the siblings acting such right before their time on earth is up. i think you should tell him, but dont let him in your pad anymore, if your parents ask why, tell them.

CGQuarterly · 06/12/2013, 05:13 PM

Quote from: PCEngineHell on 06/12/2013, 01:20 PM
Quote from: Mathius on 06/12/2013, 12:22 PMI can't express fully my appreciation to all you guys. It means more than you know.

This is a very complicated situation for me as I am trying to do what is best for myself, my brother, and my parents. My brother is the Guinness Book of World Records holder for the number of times he has been in jail over the last 25 years. Jail time just doesn't work for him. My mom and dad are in their 70s and I want their remaining years to be as peaceful as possible. But if my brother dies from his addictions....well you can see my dilemma.

Chany, the Neo goods are safe.

It appears the only way that I am going to be able to get my stuff back from the game store without a police report is for my brother to accompany me into the store to confess his crime. I can guarantee that won't ever happen. My brother is violent, defiant, and defensive.
I know its rough but go to the cops then and get it over with. You and your parents, among others, will be better off for it. A temporary pain followed by a nice long stint of peace and quiet. I mean you really have to ask yourself this, who is my brother stealing from today? He's already hit you up and you were family, who knows who else he is robbing or what all he is caught up in. If you stand by doing nothing knowing he is out there stealing, it will hurt worse when eventually you do find out he did a lot more/a lot worse and you could have helped stop him.

Yeah, right. If he's stealing games from you, what's he doing to your 70-year-old parents?

Aside from that, I wouldn't let him in your house anymore, and I'd install a lock on your game room door. I've thought about doing that myself, just in case of a random intruder.

Chris

Mathius · 06/12/2013, 05:18 PM

I just got back from the game store. I reacquired Alundra, Super Mario Wii, Super Mario Galaxy, Parodius, Macross, and Super Bonk 2. No sign of Sinistron, Chase HQ (Sat), or Side Arms. I'll need to search the local pawn shops. Chrono Trigger is also MIA.

I am probably going to ask around here to see if anyone has a used Chrono Trigger before I hit eBay to replace it. Sinistron and Chase HQ (Saturn) are going to be harder to come by.

Guys, if it was a situation where I could charge my brother with theft I would have already done it. I certainly have the power and right to do so, but it would cause a rift in my family. I know it sounds ridiculous...and it most certainly is.

EvilEvoIX · 06/12/2013, 05:42 PM

Well if you don't charge your brother then his activity will continue, you are almost condoning it. As Jibbajaba posted I would keep him out of your house.

RoyVegas · 06/12/2013, 07:02 PM

Quote from: EvilEvoIX on 06/12/2013, 05:42 PMWell if you don't charge your brother then his activity will continue, you are almost condoning it.

Saying he is condoning his brother's activity is pushing it pretty far. They guy just doesn't want to create a wave in the family. The thing Mathias has to remember is that his brother already created tsunami, I'm not sure a little wave would hurt things any worse.

Maybe the best thing to do is talk to mom and dad, let them know what happened and ask their opinion. Maybe they wan't to help him too and this might be that catalyst?

EvilEvoIX · 06/12/2013, 07:33 PM

That is not my intent, I just hate addicts so much. It destroys so many people around them. If I misspoke then I am sorry, just such an avoidable issue.

I agree however that nothing short of complete cutting off would be acceptable. Stealing from family members to support a habit, a 20+ year habit non the less, should be met with complete and total silence until corrected.

Tatsujin · 06/12/2013, 08:08 PM

I also think that the best would be to drag this issue down within the own family. means of involving all concerned members and decide what would be the best solution for all.
As Math already stated, he is and was a shit doer for the past 25 years, so this probably wouldn't be such a heartattack giving surprise.

But we're all not in the knowing what all happened during all these times, and therefore we are also not in the right position to judge of what would or should be the best way to wipe this issue off the table.

Sparky · 06/12/2013, 09:24 PM

Quote from: Mathius on 06/12/2013, 05:18 PMI just got back from the game store. I reacquired Alundra, Super Mario Wii, Super Mario Galaxy, Parodius, Macross, and Super Bonk 2. No sign of Sinistron, Chase HQ (Sat), or Side Arms. I'll need to search the local pawn shops. Chrono Trigger is also MIA.

I am probably going to ask around here to see if anyone has a used Chrono Trigger before I hit eBay to replace it. Sinistron and Chase HQ (Saturn) are going to be harder to come by.

Guys, if it was a situation where I could charge my brother with theft I would have already done it. I certainly have the power and right to do so, but it would cause a rift in my family. I know it sounds ridiculous...and it most certainly is.

Mat that's terrible news to hear & what a horrible situation, your own brother. F@ck he must be out of control if he in jail that much and drugged up and stealing like that. Chin up my friend and hope as a family you can decide on the next coarse of action, something has to be done, you know that and the family

Big Hugs

PS: hopefully you did not have to pay to much to get your goods back?

PCEngineHell · 06/12/2013, 10:21 PM

I watched my ex-inlaws go through this situation with my ex wife. Its a rough thing to have to cope with. They kept dropping the charges on her even after she was caught red handed constantly thinking she would change. The solution to the problem finally, was to move half way across the country thinking my ex would find them. It didn't really matter by then because my ex was wanted for child abuse warrants at that point, and yeah, she found them, paid them a visit and had to flea when the cops were called. Its a rough situation indeed. Can anyone guess where my worthless ex wife stayed for a few years? Mother fucking New Jersey. Shit you not.

Mathius · 06/12/2013, 10:29 PM

Quote from: guest on 06/12/2013, 09:24 PM
Quote from: Mathius on 06/12/2013, 05:18 PMI just got back from the game store. I reacquired Alundra, Super Mario Wii, Super Mario Galaxy, Parodius, Macross, and Super Bonk 2. No sign of Sinistron, Chase HQ (Sat), or Side Arms. I'll need to search the local pawn shops. Chrono Trigger is also MIA.

I am probably going to ask around here to see if anyone has a used Chrono Trigger before I hit eBay to replace it. Sinistron and Chase HQ (Saturn) are going to be harder to come by.

Guys, if it was a situation where I could charge my brother with theft I would have already done it. I certainly have the power and right to do so, but it would cause a rift in my family. I know it sounds ridiculous...and it most certainly is.
Mat that's terrible news to hear & what a horrible situation, your own brother. F@ck he must be out of control if he in jail that much and drugged up and stealing like that. Chin up my friend and hope as a family you can decide on the next coarse of action, something has to be done, you know that and the family
Big Hugs

PS: hopefully you did not have to pay to much to get your goods back?

So far it hasn't been too bad. The guy at the store knows me to be a loyal customer of his and is giving me to the option to buy the stuff back in sections.

Quote from: PCEngineHell on 06/12/2013, 10:21 PMI watched my ex-inlaws go through this situation with my ex wife. Its a rough thing to have to cope with. They kept dropping the charges on her even after she was caught red handed constantly thinking she would change. The solution to the problem finally, was to move half way across the country thinking my ex would find them. It didn't really matter by then because my ex was wanted for child abuse warrants at that point, and yeah, she found them, paid them a visit and had to flea when the cops were called. Its a rough situation indeed. Can anyone guess where my worthless ex wife stayed for a few years? Mother fucking New Jersey. Shit you not.

Good lord, Prof! I have read and appreciated the previous stories by other members in this thread, but yours is by far the most F'd up.

TheClash603 · 06/12/2013, 10:32 PM

I had a family member with a gambling addiction open a credit card in my name and ruin my credit for 7 years.

The killer is, I had to claim I couldn't pay it, put it to collections, and then I still had to pay thousands of dollars to pay off part of the debt so that I could retain some credit. Essentially I had to admit I was a deadbeat, when I in fact was not.

Thankfully that is all behind me, but 7 years screwed me in a big way. If it ever happened again I would press charges, but I didn't the first time because I guess everyone makes mistakes? Blood is stronger than credit scores.

PCEngineHell · 06/12/2013, 11:06 PM

Mathius, you will get through it either way. If nothing else consider it a lesson learned. Just don't have your brother over anymore, and as suggested prior, invest in locks, and possibly ED-209.

Tatsujin · 06/12/2013, 11:09 PM

DIY consumer version:

PCEngineHell · 06/12/2013, 11:14 PM

I'd buy that for a dollar.

Mathius · 06/12/2013, 11:18 PM

Lesson learned. Locks are already in the plans. I am looking for a house but even with that in mind I am going to get locks until I can move.

I don't see an "Order Now" button on your ad, tats. I'll squint at it again.

Tatsujin · 06/13/2013, 12:10 AM

I remember when I was around 15 someone stole some gameboy games from me, which weren't even mine (borrowed from another friend).

When I found out about the missing, I instantly had that particular "friend" in mind who was the only prime suspect. Sure I had no 100% prove it was him, but he came over the otherday and after that they were missing.

So I confronted him and made up that story, that few games that we recently played together suddenly were missing and that I had rented them from a shop, and if I can't find them back I would have to pay the full price to that shop and that it would financially completely ruined me.

Seemed that I really touched a weak nerve on him, because he suddenly offered to help me to find the games back, but that he first have to go home to do some stuff and come over to my house to help search the games later on.

When he came over, I said that he can go to my room while I would get me some juice from the fridge, when he went into the room, I spied him out what he's doing and I saw him crawling under my desk doing something there (lol). So I was letting him play his game.

When I entered the room, he was looking around at several places pretending to finding the games and eventually he's crawling back under that desk and yells with a big suprised voice that he just had found the games lying there behind the desk.

I didn't took any further action against him, but was innerly ubersatisfied that my plan of getting the games back came together with a full success.

OLOLOLOL!!!

Mathius · 06/13/2013, 12:14 AM

Do you still know this chump?

Tatsujin · 06/13/2013, 12:26 AM

lol, not really today. that was like 23 years ago. but I shortly met him once on face book some time ago. turned out that he's still into gaming but using mostly emulation and other pirate stuff, and that he's broke due to long term unimployment.

Mathius · 06/13/2013, 12:32 AM

Quote from: Tatsujin on 06/13/2013, 12:26 AMlol, not really today. that was like 23 years ago. but I shortly met him once on face book some time ago. turned out that he's still into gaming but using mostly emulation and other pirate stuff, and that he's broke due to long term unimployment.

Seems his morals got him far in life.