Going proactive: Single mom turns detective to track thieves
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PORTLAND, Ore. – They broke her car window, stole her purse, maxed out her credit cards and even took $500 in cash for this month’s rent, but a single mom is doing her own detective work to track down the criminals.
After just one day since the thieves stole everything, including her Social Security card, Michelle Hardy, discovered some video that might catch the thieves red-handed.
Hardy's car was parked was parked at Tryon Creek State Park when the thieves struck. Afterward, the single mom with two full-time jobs – taking care of her child and as a seamstress, canceled her cards, filed a police report and started digging by getting details from credit card companies on every address and time of purchase.
She was able to track a couple credit card transactions to a Shell gas station in Southwest Portland and to Maddy's, a deli, in Southeast Portland. After a little more detective work, she discovered there could be video of the thieves using her stolen cards.
"I decided to get proactive about it because these kinds of things are not OK," Hardy said.
She said she even spoke to employees who were working when the thieves came in. She hasn't had a chance to look at the video, but it could be the break in the case this mom turned detective needs.
"I just want to try to get some sort of justice for all that we've lost," she said.
Managers at both the Shell gas station and Maddy's deli said they're working on getting that video to investigators but said they couldn't show it to a reporter quite yet because it would be against company policy.
What people do not understand is that even if she does find the criminals that stole her items, she will either never get them back or be tied up in the judicial system so long that she ends up having to replace it all anyway. I had a Kingwood, Tx. couple, Randy & Tara Hartman Milam ~ who defrauded me for a small fortune, stealing all my earnings for that month. Not only were they business associates, but I also considered them to be friends. HUGE MISTAKE. Point is, I knew who they were ~ I reported them and filed a suit against them and they kept changing their company name and playing a shell game so I had to keep filing against them to the tune of thousands and thousands more dollars. When I finally won in court, all I got was a judgment and then they filed for bankruptcy. Justice DELAYED is Justice DENIED. And these creeps are purportedly still in the mortgage industry dealing with other peoples biggest financial transactions. So no matter how diligent you are, there is always some low life, lacking morals, ethics or a conscience that is lurking around the corner just waiting to rob you blind. So to those of you who blame the victim..... wait til it happens to you.Â
Why do these thieves think they have the right to break into someone's vehicle & take what isn't theirs?????
Whateever happened to Thou shalt NOT STEAL!!! If this lady isn't able to catch these thieves, God WILL catch em
& I wouldn't want to be in their shoes when HE does!!!
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"single mom with two full-time jobs â taking care of her child and as a seamstress"
Taking care of your child isnt an additional  full time job, its called life.
I have not problem with what she's doing - it's certainly more than the police will do. But the word "proactive" means action in advance to prevent a problem from occuring. That doesn't seem to me like what is happening here...Â
I hadn't quite realized that we are now in the era of do-it-yourself detective work.
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In other news, the Homeland Security folks busted people for smuggling cheese into Canada.
 @al_02 I hadn't quite realized that we are now in the era of do-it-yourself detective work.
So you were still at the ...What ?? Do I have to do-it-myself or what detective work.
Good point though.
Also you will never find a more determined detective then one who had their stuff stolen..
Just sayin...
 @cptmac11 So if I have to catch them myself, do I also get to be in charge of the "punishment and restitution" phase?
You go, girl!!!
Those twin reporters are hot! Show more of them.
Never carry your Social Security card around for ID unless you absolutely need it for something to do with SS or government. It belongs with your birth certificate in a safe-deposit box or fireproof security lock-box (hidden so in a break-in it won't be found/stolen)
 @whirledworld Yeah, I was doing things like that, that day, thats why I had it!
 @Mesha Mamacita  @whirledworld Michelle if this you ..
You should not have to worry about being single long.
You are Way to pretty to be single for very long
And that go get-um attitude well guys and I mean real men find that attractive.
Just my two cents .. Â good luck ...
And good hunting..Â
I'm sorry this woman was victimized but it soumds like she should have been more 'Proactive" in preventing the theft in the first place. People just make it too easy for those among us who are dishonest and looking to steal. Never leave anything in your car that is visible from outside. Preferrably don't leave anything in your car period. If you are going to a park or trailhead, plan ahead and only take what you can comfortably carry with you. A little prevention can save an awful lot of grief.
I'm pretty disheartened by the tone of these comments. There was a time in Portland not too long ago when most people didn't lock their houses and often left the car keys in the ignition. This plague of car bashing has almost it seems become acceptable..and as the perpetrators rarely suffer any consequences, it is almost fostered. It is not this woman's fault for being victimized. There needs to be real consequences and investigation of property crimes...and in Portland this is not a police or court priority.
The very first part of being proactive would have been to carry the items with you. Especially in parks, which seem to have a higher occurence of breaking and entering.
She will learn from this, and hopefully others will learn and be proactive, by keeping valuables secured.
It is always a bit too late to close the gate once the animals are already out.
You go Michelle! Track down and press charges against the thieves. You betcha that what they did was not okay.
Making some extra effort to protect you belongings would have saved you all this effort in tracking them down.
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That being said I admire your tenaciousness in going after these low lives and wish you the best at catching them.
Here's a better headline..
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Going Proactive: Single mom doesn't leave valuables in car, doesn't get ripped off.
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 @Annasthong my son goes to school there and I was away from my car for 5 minutes and could see it form where I was, Don't be a jerk, if you don't know the whole story!
annasthong,
Someone seems to have issues with this lady, who messed up, but is working hard to overcome.
While I understand her need to track them down, she'll never recoup her losses, sadly. on shing dao is a tool, but on this I agree, stupid move leaving cash, cards and your ss card in your car, at a park of all places. Boo, hard to have sympathy.
Ya smart move leaving ALL your things in your car.