calanneh Report post Posted October 16, 2008 (edited) I live on the east side of Houston, Deer Park to be exact. Hurricane Ike went RIGHT OVER our heads and messed some homes and shops up pretty bad.... including the local Tandy!! Part of the roof was separated from the back wall, it rained into about a 1/3 of the store...lots leather and books and other inventory got destroyed. With the A/C broken and power unreliable for another week, the humidity in the store was horrible, MOLD started growing behind the walls and ON lotsa leather.... Needless to say, they lost tens of thousands in inventory and then over $50k in business jsut the last few weeks in Sept. Oct is no better as they are having to rip down walls and remove the mold, etc, etc.... They they get broken into....TWICE! Last Saturday night or Sunday morning, somebody threw a big @$ rock thru the glass on their door and stole a stereo that doesn't work, a change jar (maybe $5) and a handful of Bowie knifes (in custom sheaths) that were behind the counter as displays. The broken piece of glass was probably more expensive than what was stolen.... Yesterday morning, Tena (Tandy manager) comes into the shop and a smaller window had been broken and the bastards stole a stack of COWHIDE RUGS!! The most expensive items in the store...... I can't believe how people can be such bastards.... They are now putting bars on the windows and door. Tena is so stressed from everything that has happened I offered to help her husband install the bars and sleep in the store with my gun until the bars are up!! They aren't officially open because of the reconstruction and mold, but they are still fully staffed and are serving their loyal customers.... Tena even taught a basic leather work class to a Girl Scout Troop OUT IN THE PARKING LOT!!! She just didn't want to disappoint the girls!!! I know they will never catch the bastards unless somebody turns them in, but if they do...I want to skin and tan them, then hang their hides on the store wall as a deterrent!!! Ok, done venting..... cal Edited October 16, 2008 by rdb Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rdb Report post Posted October 16, 2008 I don't think comments will help, but at least you know everyone here agrees with you. For now though, I'm editing the Topic Title, until I get overuled by the top dogs. Just to keep it family friendly. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
calanneh Report post Posted October 16, 2008 For now though, I'm editing the Topic Title, until I get overuled by the top dogs. Just to keep it family friendly. No prob bro! I understand! I will be heading to Tandy's in a bit and will give an update as to whether they got bars yet or not.... cal Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rdb Report post Posted October 16, 2008 Tina sounds like trooper. good on her. Sounds like there should be some "overnight " parties at the store for few nights..Bring all the Big Dogs, Rotweillers, Pitbulls for "company". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bree Report post Posted October 16, 2008 Cal... Sounds like a TX CCW and a good .45 ACP pistol might be a real good idea given the situation down there. They broke in while you weren't there. What happens when they come in while you are there? Leather is replaceable. You aren't. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
calanneh Report post Posted October 16, 2008 Cal... Leather is replaceable. You aren't. Snicker...my wife tells me I am..... Thanks Bree! LOL Yeah, Tena is a trooper.... She is sending the bid she has up to corporate for approval today, so if they get it signed off fast, she should have the bars up by Saturday evening!! cal Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TexasJack Report post Posted October 17, 2008 Cal... Sounds like a TX CCW and a good .45 ACP pistol might be a real good idea given the situation down there. They broke in while you weren't there. What happens when they come in while you are there? Leather is replaceable. You aren't. You don't need a CCW to protect your store in Texas. In fact, 'ventilating' burglars is encouraged by Texas law. I live just north of Houston and spent many years working in Pasadena and Galena Park, both right next to Deer Park. (Pretty decent Italian restaurant over there.) For those outside the area, that's where most of the refineries and chemical plants are around Houston. Cops are still overwhelmed and broken lights and such from the storm give the low-lifes all the encouragement they need. You have to feel for the folks that run that store. They work pretty hard to make a few bucks and provide us with a local place for supplies. To get beat up by the storm and then by these oxygen thieves is pretty sad. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pip Report post Posted October 17, 2008 good luck to the store. Thoughts go out. Some people are just a tragic waste of skin, fancy robbing a hurricane victim....... makes your blood boil. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
calanneh Report post Posted October 18, 2008 Update.... They have plywood coverig the inside of all but one window now. It will be at least next week b4 they get the bars installed. Luckily nothing else has happened. Thanks for the support guys, I will pass it on to Tena! cal Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
calanneh Report post Posted October 21, 2008 UPDATE... Three hours after my last post...they got robbed AGAIN!! Last Saturday night, just after dark, with several other stores in the strip center still open, two SOBs broke out one of the large panes of glass not covered by wood (only had two left) and TRIED to rob Tandy again.... This time, they were spotted! The owner of one of the other stores spotted them and called the cops! After about a 20-minute chase thru neighborhoods and running just about every stop light in Pasadena and Deer Park, they caught em!!!! In a borrowed truck no less!!! The police are not sure if these are the same folks that robbed the store twice last week or not, but they will be going away for a good bit. The man has a nice log record and was drugged up when they were caught, he will get ten years in the state pen if the judge throws the book at him....2 years if they go easy. The woman that was with him should get at least 2 years. Don't know if she has priors or not. The local DA is going to drive home the point to the judge that this has caused a mountain of stress on the employees of the store and that Tena's doctor stated she should be in the hospital because of what this has done to her blood pressure. Considering these folks didn't live in the area at all, but came to one of the area's worst hit by Hurricane Ike to find places to rob, the judge WILL NOT go easy... Tandy approved the bars for the window (which was already in progress) and Tena is having them installed this week so hopefully this will not happen again. William Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bree Report post Posted October 22, 2008 What a bunch of losers! Glad they are behind bars. Maybe things will calm down now. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
