How did your 21st of May go?

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Thu, 21 May 2015 20:57:54 -0400

Sooooo this is how my day went. Spent all day grading speeches. on my hour lunch, I had to go the the ATM machine get money for my 14 yo's year book. I insert the card and when i remove it, it flies out of my hand. This is a DRIVE UP ATM... So once I retrieve the card, get the cash and drop it off to My 14 yo's school, I drive over to the Trophy Shop to pick up 11 yo's Straight A's all year trophy because the school literally TAPED A PIECE OF PAPER on it for a the name plate. Run back to the base and finish grading speeches.

Right before I leave I get a text from my wife saying my 14 yo lost (stolen) her cellphone at school again! Being the good Dad I am, I go home, pick my 14 yo up and ask her who she thinks stole it. She says it is likely [REDACTED]. My 14 yo did the right thing and notified the cop at the school and filed a police report. I pull up the locator app and trace the phone to a specific house here is Bossier, lock the phone and put a lost/stolen notice on it. We drive to the house and I have my 14 yo walk up and knock. Low and behold, who's house is it? [REDACTED]!!! The step dad ask about the phone to the daughter who denies having it and says she was asleep the last time the phone pinged. I told the guy, I don't want to press charges, I just want the phone back. The step dad says he doesn't go in to the step daughter's room (totally get that) but took my name and number to pass to the mom when she got home. I told the guy, I don't want to press charges, I just want the phone back.

I drive back to the house and a few minutes later the mom calls and says the daughter says she doesn't have it, but she doesn't believe her and to call cops on here. She calls back a few minutes later saying she tossed the girls room and found the phone and wanted me to call the cops and press charges.

Sooooooo, after a quick phone call to the Bossier Police, they find my 14 yo's report and said meet them at the address in 10 minutes.
This is where things get fun. The cop brings out the phone and we verify that it is in fact my 14 yo's. Once I unlock it, there are tons of pictures of the girl who stole it HOLDING THE PHONE!! But wait...there is more! On KIK there is a picture of her holding the phone where she tells someone else she stole it from a girl in school. Add to that, there is an iMessage msg to another girl where she states she stole it. Seriously, how dumb can you be?!
So the mom wants charges pressed, the cop says that I should press charges, so reluctantly, I consent to press charges. Because of the value of the phone, it is a felony and they hauled the girl off and booked her. Now my 14 yo and I will have a court date in a few months.

Seriously, I can't make this stuff up.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2015 9:02 PM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 May 2015 21:02:46 -0400

No "reluctantly" to it... I'd have pressed charges in a heart beat. Lessons NEED to be learned!

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made May 21 at 2015 9:19 PM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Thu, 21 May 2015 21:19:30 -0400

Apparently, better than yours TSgt Joshua Copeland! :-)

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made May 21 at 2015 9:22 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Thu, 21 May 2015 21:22:03 -0400

It was my anniversary so my wife and I went out SANS children for a change

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2015 9:25 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 May 2015 21:25:20 -0400

Hummm, guess I had a good day.

Response by SSG Trevor S. made May 21 at 2015 10:56 PM

SSG Trevor S. — Thu, 21 May 2015 22:56:33 -0400

Rough day. I hope tomorrow is better.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2015 11:00 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 May 2015 23:00:22 -0400

I see a couple morals to the story.

1. Thieves (especially young ones) are stupid. They just can't stand to not brag about their exploits.
2. Your daughter should consider how she secures her phone. Undoubtedly there are a lot of things stored in there she'd prefer the world not see. And it should have been password protected so it couldn't have been used as easily. Sounds like she was well coached on letting the right people know. The use of the word "again" indicates that this has come up before.
3. Interesting that the thief's parents were so aggressive suggesting that charges be pressed. I would take from that that the little perp has had quite a few issues previously, and the parents jumped at the chance to have you stand in as the bad guy. I'll bet they are their daughter's "friend".
4. Watch out for social retaliation against your daughter. The perp probably has friends in her orbit who might try to make your daughter the bad guy. Be vigilant.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2015 12:31 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 May 2015 00:31:28 -0400

Well, I just got back from taking my 6 year old daughter to the emergency room with a broken arm, but up till about 1945, my day had gone pretty good. Broken bones heal, I'm thankful it wasn't anything more serious.

Response by PVT Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2015 8:15 PM

PVT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 May 2015 20:15:08 -0400

What a day.