I liked my brother in law. Call it a "life lesson".

[Lelandwelds]

He died unexpectedly. I was volunteered to help clean his rented place and dispose of his stuff. It was a job as unwanted and depressing as it sounds.

Until, I opened an unmarked ammo can and found a big surprise. (Well, I was surprised.) He had several dozen of my lost pocket knives, CR123 flashlights, and four examples of my padlocks still in the factory box.

All this stuff was kept in my master bedroom. He had been invited to my house for many family BBQ and Thanksgivings. He would evidently help himself when he hit the bathroom.

I spent some time bending an elbow with his friends and family. They sheepishly admitted their knowledge or lack of surprise but didn't want to get involved. They thought I knew.

[Lelandwelds]

Several people posted that I should look at former employees. I wish I had taken that more seriously and included family in the suspect pool.

I am wishing I had recognized wisdom when I asked for some and saw it in black and white.

[sign216]

His actions are disgraceful. Sounds like a mental health problem. Compulsive theft, and not even for real personal gain.

Sad, all around.

[Lelandwelds]

Oh, he stole for profit too. He also repeatedly told some people that I didn't deserve my life/family/possessions because I was an ass hole who got lucky.

I am not collecting karma posts from people who agree B & E is wrong. This ends my mystery of the sightseeing thief! BiL and a friend used my stuff at will. I invited one of them in repeatedly. I didn't secure things once the bad guy had penetrated so far. I follow 5S at home just like work and group all my stuff together in the same place year after year. Once you find where I keep something, it is dead simple to collect new keys as I change locks.

I think nanny cams and layered security would have prevented this.

[billdeserthills]

His actions are disgraceful. Sounds like a mental health problem. Compulsive theft, and not even for real personal gain.

Sad, all around.

He was a kleptomaniac, it happens.
I had a friend who had the same problem--whenever I went over to visit I would sneak out to his workshop & steal back most of my stuff

[femurat]

This has been so upfront in my thoughts I forget other people don't know the backstory. Here's one of the times I complained before I knew who the two guilty guys were.



I (sightseeing thief)

The point I really want to make is keeping surplus locks in your sock drawer is not best practice. And, question your own assumptions. Suspicion is a good thing.