I got the bum arrested

[The Great Ag]

As some know, I am a Realtor, but also I am the rental manager for the company, too. Between summer vacation rentals, year rounds, and sales, I am very busy this time of year!

My colleague leased a place to a fellow for 1 month last Thursday who paid with a personal check. Last Friday, we call his bank to verify if the check is good (standard procedure when a check is offered on check-in) and the check is from an account closed in December 2006. D'oh :shocked_ma:

My colleague goes down after work on Friday and leaves a note stating pay on Saturday or leave. Tenant says he is embarrassed and will pay on Monday with certified funds, a cashier's check. He calls me yesterday to say he is in DC, 2 hours away, and cannot make it to the bank in time. He has 1000 stories. By now I am very suspicious. I reply, "Great, then you can be here in my office by 10am Tuesday with the check?"

"Well, I have appoitments but can be there by 12:30."

"If you are not here by 12:30, you understand I will be contacting the police to file charges against you for fraud?"

"Yes, and I will be there, probably early," he replies.

Today, 12:30 comes and goes. By 12:40 I contact the local police, swear a complaint, show them the check for over $1400, and they follow me down to the rental where the bum is in bed with the blankets pulled up to his neck, and his wee little head sticking out.

He was claiming he had swallowed 40 vicadin and was committing suicide. Told the officer he has been trying for 2 years to kill himself. I could only be so lucky. He talked slow and would not respond to questions quickly. I have been trained in the mental health field, and worked in it for 6 years before switching careers, and he is as close to committing suicide as Ponce is to leaving his silver island (for those who do not know Ponce, the answer is never).

The police call an ambulance, and he is hauled away to a hospital. I tell the detective, he is not comitting suicide and the detective agrees and says he will be arrested.

I suspect, in less than a week, he will be free, but for 1 week, there is one less bum walking the streets.

The Great Ag

[foolsgold]

Maybe he wasn't loved as a child.:sarc:

[SilverCollector]

Good Job!!! A lot of landlords get pushed around, cheated, and manipulated by these dirt-bags. :congrats:

[R MacDonald]

Stomach pumping is a bitch too.

http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/nbe0074l.jpg

[The Great Ag]

Stomach pumping is a bitch too.

http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/nbe0074l.jpg

I was hoping they did that to him! :D Hopefully the police will confiscate his checkbook.

This is the second bum I have had arrested. 7 years ago a woman passed about 30-40k worht of bad checks and cashiers checks in the area. For some reason, no one wanted to arrest her? :confused_ma: Even the police were hesitant at first? double :confused_ma:

I wonder if he writes bad checks for the irs?

The Great Ag

[Akula]

Hopefully the guy was not in desperation mode because of the possibility of becoming homeless. I fully understand you not letting the guy take you for a ride however. I am sure the guy was maybe a lowlife and fully deserved it. I just cannot see us all hooting and hollering on someones dire situation that may end up being things yet to come for many of us. I am sure we may all think we are ready for whatever hits, but what if we are not and end up in a desperate situation.

Not saying this guy didn't have it coming, but the chest pounding has sort of turned my stomach a bit.

[R MacDonald]

I know what you mean, and I for one feel the same about this thread.

I was homeless for a little over 3 years after GW1. Homelessness brings a sad desperation that the "pretty people" are hopefully (IMO) going to know when TSHTF.

Most Americans are one or two paychecks away from homelessness themselves, including the pretty people.

[Atahualpa]

I would imagine the guy is fixin' to become homeless (or already was) and had nothing to lose by trying to pass a check from a old closed account. After he gets out of jail he will probably be on the streets with one of those cardboard signs pleading for help.

I wonder what the social situation will be in the coming years with the housing bust? I'm seeing bums at the interstate intersections everyday with their cardboard signs...they used to say "will work for food", now they say "please help- homeless and hungry".

[The Great Ag]

Hopefully the guy was not in desperation mode because of the possibility of becoming homeless. I fully understand you not letting the guy take you for a ride however. I am sure the guy was maybe a lowlife and fully deserved it. I just cannot see us all hooting and hollering on someones dire situation that may end up being things yet to come for many of us. I am sure we may all think we are ready for whatever hits, but what if we are not and end up in a desperate situation.

Not saying this guy didn't have it coming, but the chest pounding has sort of turned my stomach a bit.

Without knowing the situation, I can see where you are coming from, Akula. However, he is a small time con-man, have no doubts about that. He scammed a lady for about $1200 and a local bed and breakfast for $800.

His personality type is uses a "poor, helpless me" as a defense to deflect any crimes he may have committed. I have to say his performance was pretty good. Because of that, the judge will give him low bail, and he will be gone.

The Great Ag

[The Great Ag]

I know what you mean, and I for one feel the same about this thread.

I was homeless for a little over 3 years after GW1. Homelessness brings a sad desperation that the "pretty people" are hopefully (IMO) going to know when TSHTF.

Most Americans are one or two paychecks away from homelessness themselves, including the pretty people.

Agreed RMac. This guy was not hurting for food. The fridge was stocked and had high end beer, you know $7-10 for a six back. He is a con-man

Maybe his life situation gave him little choice, but does that excuse his behavior? If food and shelter were his primary needs, he now has that with 3 squares a day. There are other options, even in a resort area. I know of 3 churches that would take him in without question, and offer him counseling, if that is what he wanted.

Glad you found your way off the streets.

The Great Ag

[Akula]

Without knowing the situation, I can see where you are coming from, Akula. However, he is a small time con-man, have no doubts about that. He scammed a lady for about $1200 and a local bed and breakfast for $800.

His personality type is uses a "poor, helpless me" as a defense to deflect any crimes he may have committed. I have to say his performance was pretty good. Because of that, the judge will give him low bail, and he will be gone.

The Great Ag

I fully understand. Like I said I figured the guy was nothing but a low life. As I was reading I just felt, as RMac said, how close we all could be to being in desperate times. Just felt a little tinge of sickness and needed to let it out. Nothing against you for sure.

[The Great Ag]

Nothing against you for sure.

None taken, which is why my tone was not harsh, so I hope. It is difficult to detect tone in posts. :confused_ma:

The Great Ag

[Juristic Person]

As some know, I am a Realtor, but also I am the rental manager for the company, too. Between summer vacation rentals, year rounds, and sales, I am very busy this time of year!

My colleague leased a place to a fellow for 1 month last Thursday who paid with a personal check. Last Friday, we call his bank to verify if the check is good (standard procedure when a check is offered on check-in) and the check is from an account closed in December 2006. D'oh :shocked_ma:

My colleague goes down after work on Friday and leaves a note stating pay on Saturday or leave. Tenant says he is embarrassed and will pay on Monday with certified funds, a cashier's check. He calls me yesterday to say he is in DC, 2 hours away, and cannot make it to the bank in time. He has 1000 stories. By now I am very suspicious. I reply, "Great, then you can be here in my office by 10am Tuesday with the check?"

"Well, I have appoitments but can be there by 12:30."

"If you are not here by 12:30, you understand I will be contacting the police to file charges against you for fraud?"

"Yes, and I will be there, probably early," he replies.

Today, 12:30 comes and goes. By 12:40 I contact the local police, swear a complaint, show them the check for over $1400, and they follow me down to the rental where the bum is in bed with the blankets pulled up to his neck, and his wee little head sticking out.

He was claiming he had swallowed 40 vicadin and was committing suicide. Told the officer he has been trying for 2 years to kill himself. I could only be so lucky. He talked slow and would not respond to questions quickly. I have been trained in the mental health field, and worked in it for 6 years before switching careers, and he is as close to committing suicide as Ponce is to leaving his silver island (for those who do not know Ponce, the answer is never).

The police call an ambulance, and he is hauled away to a hospital. I tell the detective, he is not comitting suicide and the detective agrees and says he will be arrested.

I suspect, in less than a week, he will be free, but for 1 week, there is one less bum walking the streets.

The Great Ag

It's too bad suicide is illegal. You could have given the bum a .45 with one round and said, "prove it". :smokin:

[RiverRat]

:rolleyes_m: The world sprouts con men like weeds...I have met some exceptional ones.

The narcissistic ones I can handle,it's the scumballs who are basically evil and parasitic I can't abide.

Some are walking vampires out to scam and steal everything to keep from working...others get a bang out of ripping wings off insects and scamming the old and retarded...those are the worst.

Sounds pretty fair to me TGA...the guy was obviously smart enough to pull a check con so he's far from stupid.

I'm sure in your line of work this was a minor irritant compared to some you have saw over the years :>)

At least you had him removed before he trashed the place...I could tell you a few horror stories about owning rental property myself.

He's a modern career bum...even the homeless Hobos during the great depression had higher moral standards.

:yes::yes:

[chewy]

I know what you mean, and I for one feel the same about this thread.

I was homeless for a little over 3 years after GW1. Homelessness brings a sad desperation that the "pretty people" are hopefully (IMO) going to know when TSHTF.

Most Americans are one or two paychecks away from homelessness themselves, including the pretty people.


I don't think I'm a mean guy, but I have a bit of 'compassion fatigue' sometimes. We all are making our bed in one way or another and then we gotta lie in it.

Good or bad my situation in life is a result of the choices I've made, your's too, and everyone elses as well.

[RickyJ]

Without knowing the situation, I can see where you are coming from, Akula. However, he is a small time con-man, have no doubts about that. He scammed a lady for about $1200 and a local bed and breakfast for $800.

His personality type is uses a "poor, helpless me" as a defense to deflect any crimes he may have committed. I have to say his performance was pretty good. Because of that, the judge will give him low bail, and he will be gone.

The Great AgAs long as you got him evicted why do you think it would be a good thing for him to be in jail over a petty crime such as this? You may be the "bum" getting evicted soon yourself so be merciful so you will receive mercy.

[RickyJ]

My colleague leased a place to a fellow for 1 month last Thursday who paid with a personal check. Last Friday, we call his bank to verify if the check is good (standard procedure when a check is offered on check-in) and the check is from an account closed in December 2006. D'oh :shocked_ma:

My colleague goes down after work on Friday and leaves a note stating pay on Saturday or leave. Tenant says he is embarrassed and will pay on Monday with certified funds, a cashier's check. He calls me yesterday to say he is in DC, 2 hours away, and cannot make it to the bank in time. He has 1000 stories. By now I am very suspicious. I reply, "Great, then you can be here in my office by 10am Tuesday with the check?"

The Great Ag

Wow, you got swindled out of FIVE days of rent, BIG DEAL!!! If the guy does off himself how the heck will you feel then? :thumpdown

[Juristic Person]

Wow, you got swindled out of FIVE days of rent, BIG DEAL!!! If the guy does off himself how the heck will you feel then? :thumpdown

It's not Great AG's problem if the guy is homeless or suicidal.

What should he have done instead? Let him stay?

[Kahlil Gibran]

The guy wrote bad checks on a closed account. Hard to feel sorry for a con man...

[RickyJ]

It's not Great AG's problem if the guy is homeless or suicidal.



No, it's not his fault. But posting on public forum about getting a "bum" arrested for a petty crime and hoping he goes to jail for it is not exactly being merciful to a guy obviously just looking for a place to stay for few days. If he goes to jail how much do you think that will cost the taxpayers? The guy obviously needs some mental help and a job so he can afford a place to stay. I doubt someone would do this just for shits and giggles. It's not like he trashed the place or anything.

[RickyJ]

The guy wrote bad checks on a closed account. Hard to feel sorry for a con man...Who lost anything of significance here? The owners of the property lost FIVE days rent, that was it! Not exactly a very good con-man, more like a desperate man that needs a place to stay and very well might be close to suicide.

[R MacDonald]

I don't think I'm a mean guy, but I have a bit of 'compassion fatigue' sometimes. We all are making our bed in one way or another and then we gotta lie in it.

Good or bad my situation in life is a result of the choices I've made, your's too, and everyone elses as well.

Compassion is what separates us from the animals. Without it, we are lost.

I never minded being homeless. In fact, I was happier and more free then, than any other time in my life up to that point.

There are different situations of homelessness. Mine was that of a fresh off the boat combat vet of three conflicts that made it almost impossible to re-adjust to civilian life.

I still fight that fight inside. The VA finally threw me some "crazy pay" after a long struggle, but I would give it all up, for nights with no bad dreams, no drugs to get to sleep, etc.

My wife and my new son is helping replace my memories, thank God.

[RossL]

Who lost anything of significance here? The owners of the property lost FIVE days rent, that was it! Not exactly a very good con-man, more like a desperate man that needs a place to stay and very well might be close to suicide.

If you condone fraud then you are as big a loser as the check-fraud bum. A desperate man could seek help instead of ripping people off. :thumpdown

[RickyJ]

If you condone fraud then you are as big a loser as the check-fraud bum. A desperate man could seek help instead of ripping people off. :thumpdown
I think we have established that the guy has problems, that isn't being debated here. What I have a problem is with a guy sitting in a jail cell for petty crime while murderers and drug smugglers are roaming the streets. It does cost tax payer money to have someone like him in jail, much more than he was conning people out of.

[RickyJ]

Compassion is what separates us from the animals. Without it, we are lost.
Absolutely. For those that give no mercy, none shall be given to them by the Lord.

[lhslancers]

The guy wrote bad checks on a closed account. Hard to feel sorry for a con man...

I disagree. I think the great ag should just open his door to the public and let everyone stay for free. :bath:

[AMforPM]

But if you are broke you don't need to write a $1400 hot check. There are places like the Salvation Army to sleep if you are totally broke, your car or pick up if you have one, or even outdoors in decent weather. If you can only get a little money together (been there in college days) you can rent something very modest, and split rent with room mates.

Even in a very bad economy there is generally some work available. Bussing tables or washing dishes got me through one summer when jobs were pretty thin. And I was not too proud to eat clean leftovers I was getting paid so little. I guess that sounds nasty, but I was washing dishes in a very nice steak house and some top quality steaks reached me with half of them untouched. Generally more than one plate each night had half a new york strip or rib eye sitting there uncut. People cut bites off steak so I figured it was clean enough. I ate them gladly. I sure could not afford steak otherwise that summer.

Now in the Great Depression there was sometimes no work, and if you are handicapped that is different as well. But anyone able bodied does not need to write hot checks that size in today's mediocre economy.

I do not mean to sound hard hearted, and I hope I'm not, but I do not think his actions reflect a guy just down on his luck.

[RossL]

Absolutely. For those that give no mercy, none shall be given to them by the Lord.

Mercy is letting the low-life out of jail after a few days. And not whipping him in public.

[Camp Bassfish]

But if you are broke you don't need to write a $1400 hot check. There are places like the Salvation Army to sleep if you are totally broke, your car or pick up if you have one, or even outdoors in decent weather. If you can only get a little money together (been there in college days) you can rent something very modest, and split rent with room mates.

Even in a very bad economy there is generally some work available. Bussing tables or washing dishes got me through one summer when jobs were pretty thin. And I was not too proud to eat clean leftovers I was getting paid so little. I guess that sounds nasty, but I was washing dishes in a very nice steak house and some top quality steaks reached me with half of them untouched. Generally more than one plate each night had half a new york strip or rib eye sitting there uncut. People cut bites off steak so I figured it was clean enough. I ate them gladly. I sure could not afford steak otherwise that summer.

Now in the Great Depression there was sometimes no work, and if you are handicapped that is different as well. But anyone able bodied does not need to write hot checks that size in today's mediocre economy.

I do not mean to sound hard hearted, and I hope I'm not, but I do not think his actions reflect a guy just down on his luck.

Exactly!! I'm reading this thread for the first time right now and I was screaming everything you said as I scrolled through.

AG isn't in the hand-out business, let the con-man find someone who is, or has he burned those bridges long ago??

[skirnir]

Even in a very bad economy there is generally some work available. Bussing tables or washing dishes got me through one summer when jobs were pretty thin. And I was not too proud to eat clean leftovers I was getting paid so little. I guess that sounds nasty, but I was washing dishes in a very nice steak house and some top quality steaks reached me with half of them untouched. Generally more than one plate each night had half a new york strip or rib eye sitting there uncut. People cut bites off steak so I figured it was clean enough. I ate them gladly. I sure could not afford steak otherwise that summer.


Bring some Tupperware and a large bag and shave that much off the grocery bill...back when I was broke, my favorite tactic was to walk around the part of the grocery store with a few things in there and clean out their free samples. Then, just buy what one would have anyway. No one noticed.