Thieves Who Underestimate the Weight of The Loot

Fortunate circumstances save the day

For the past 6 years I have been deploying a Digital Roadeo Scoring system for local and statewide bus driver Roadeos. These events have been conducted for several decades in some states and test the driving and bus operating skills of professional drivers. Traditionally, the scoring of the contestants has been on paper, lots of paper and involve several score handlers to tabulate the results. My system does all the counting via hand-held tablet computers, a WiFi router and an onsite data server.

Each of my events involves 3 or 4 days on the road and sometimes six. My stays in roadside motels always introduces the opportunity for someone to break into my vehicle and steal vital components of my trade. I have been fortunate to never have had a loss during a Roadeo trip either going to one or coming home. This was to change in July of 2022.

My worst fears of equipment loss for my Roadeo scoring system has come to pass. It occurred at the “best” possible time. That is, after my last scheduled Roadeo for the year, in my driveway and not on the road to or from an event. Someone took two of my aluminum cases containing the tablet computers from the back of my van. Thirty-six units in all. I will have to replace them at some point, but not in any hurry.

The more irritating part was getting all the registrations canceled and reported as stolen so they devices are useless to any black market purchaser. The replacement units will all have to be initialized which will take several hours of tedium.

Fortunately, I chose low cost tablets at the start so the financial loss is not outrageous. The irony is the rubber cases were almost as expensive at the computers themselves. I purchased the units in bulk and got some big discounts when first stocking up on the hardware. Replacement costs will be higher.

I filed a police report. I contacted Amazon to see about getting the account I used to register the tablets. They were quite helpful in canceling the account, de-registering the 36 units and disabling future registrations because I reported them stolen. Now more than before the thief got nothing of trade value.

My concern now is that I can obtain and configure about 15 replacement units before some transit entity calls me to do a Roadeo. The lack of next Roadeo is both good and bad. On one hand I won’t be forfeiting a job. On the other hand I don’t have a next Roadeo.

The total financial loss is about $2,750. The insurance coverage has a $1,000 deductible. With only about $1,750 to work with I can only get about 20 replacement units. Twenty units will be amble for a normal single course Roadeo. One of my client organizations, Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) Roadeos do two concurrent courses that require 36 units. The next CTAA Roadeo is nearly a year away.

Friday after reporting the theft, I went out to the street to check if mail had been delivered. It wasn’t. I turned to see a County Police SUV up the street at my next door neighbor’s driveway. The officer was taking to the woman who lives there. In a minute he got in his vehicle and drove off. She came walking toward me as I approached her.

She said she found some cases containing computers in the bushes by her mailbox. With surprise and delight I told her it was as my stuff reported stolen on Monday. We tried to wave back the departing officer without success. She gave me the report info he left for her. He was driving off with my stuff.

A long story short I called his number and he brought my cases back. Retrieving the equipment saved me the $1,000 insurance deductible.

We deduced the thief abandoned the two 25–30 pound cases when one of the case handles came off. Trying to carry the case under one’s arm would be extremely difficult.

The thief arrived at the end of a quarter mile cul-de-sac apparently on foot and tried to leave the same way. If he had had a vehicle he’d have tossed the cases in the back and driven away. For anyone who didn’t live on my street it was a long walk carrying two heavy cases. This raises my suspicions.

I’m satisfied I got all my stuff back and did not have to replace it. Onward! To my next Roadeo event.