Gear Theft at Ginnie Springs

If some of you were at Ginne this afternoon and can remember anything strange I’m hoping you can help me.

Today in the parking lot at the Devil’s system at approximately 1:30 this afternoon I had to following stolen out of the bed of my truck:

-A pair of double OMS LP 112’s with an OMS Manifold. Grey in color. The initials JJB are written on the top of the tanks in marker. Last Hydro was 03/02. VIP Stickers from Tampa Adventure Sports.

-Mk16 (SN 0106674132)/G250 (SN0104602029) combo
-Mk16 (SN 0104574036)/S550 (SN 0104785143) combo
-Mk20/S550 combo (SN unknown--bought it used) stage regulator with gauges
-Mk10/R380 combo (SN unknown—bought it used) stage regulator with gauge
-2 Sequest Ventura Masks (1 clear with blue frame 1 all black)
-A pair of Mares Plana Avanti fins with spring heels-bright yellow
-2 Delrin Safety spool
-1 Safety reels
-1 Dive Rite composite backplate
-1 Dive Rite Classic wing with dump valve replaced with elbow
-Black Stahlsac mesh dive bag

I was in the bathhouse taking a shower and was only gone for 10 minutes tops.

The only thing I can figure is that someone pulled up next to my truck, threw my dive bag and cylinders into the back of their truck and drove off within a minute or so. They had to be in a hurry because they left my deco bottle, which I think would be much easier to move than a set of 112’s. My dive buddies were taking tanks out of the water and would have only been away from my truck for couple of minutes.

I’d like to think that it wasn’t a fellow cave diver, as I can’t believe that another diver would stoop that low. I think the more likely scenario was it was some drunk POS redneck that thought he could make a few bucks by selling stolen gear.

Connie and the staff at Ginne were exceptionally helpful once I brought this to their attention. They stopped vehicles leaving the park and checked them for my equipment as well as searched the grounds for my gear. Unfortunately I think the thieves probably hightailed it out of there before I could bring this to their attention.

That being said I’d like to ask all of you, especially you dive shop owners and tank fillers, to please keep an eye out for someone trying to use this equipment, sell this equipment, or get a fill with these tanks.

I wish I could give you more detail like serial numbers on the tanks etc. but I was not diligent in marking down those things. Mea culpa.

If you know anything about this please send me an email at Jason@bubblecheck.com.

Thanks
Jason Brauhn

You should be able to get serial numbers from the hydro tester's log. Some shops also keep VIP logs.

Wow,thats horrible.Id bet money it wasnt a fellow cave diver.There are professional thieves everywhere.It sucks for Ginnies reputation,but there in malls,airports,Wallmart parking lots,its crazy.Bums too lazy to work and probably hooked on crack or meth will risk getting the sh#@$t beat out of them or jail for fast easy cash.The problem with cave gear for them is its so specialized that pawn shops are probably their only outlet.And the two cities the closest are Gainsville and Jax.Vans and toppers are so much safer than open pickups,where they would have to break in.We had a zeagle escape[daughters]stolen at Blue Grotto a few weeks back,but thats nothing to yours.Im sure the thieves dont know about this site or the decostop,with possibly thousands seeing your list.I hope at least some of it turns up.Ill be insuring all my junk now.We all feel your pain,so sorry.

Sorry to hear that, man - that sucks! I'll certainly keep my eyes open. Good luck.

Brian

Wow you must be heartbroken and pissed! Sorry you had the experience.

Does Ginnie not have a surveilance system?

What was the Ginnie "patrol person" doing while the gear was lugged out of your pickup and loaded into another vehicle. They used to have "scuba police" watching for open water divers with lights. Good thing they were watching, or were they helping?

Ken

Well I wonder if we could come down to ginnie and lay out some good old bait? I am sure it will only take one low life getting medi-Vac'ed out and flown to Gainsville I.C.U. to let people know hey man dont mess with no gear the last few people here that stole gear was sent to I.C.U. the cave divers beat the living ShA!t out of them and left them for dead. I wiould be willing to hide out with a ball bat and wait it out. Hell I will even use some of my gear for bait.

Sorry dude I hope they are stupid enough to get rid of it to the write people I know if I see anyone with it you will read about me in the paper because I hate a thief more than anything.

Why bother with "medi-Vac out and flying to Gainsville I.C.U. "? The standard for thieves is chaining to the bumper hitch and dragging them to Gainsville I.C.U.. That way no one can claim that you did not provide the Standard of Care that a reasonable person is supposed to provide.

Parking a car with the tires resting on ther hips is also supposed to be very effective.

Hope you catch em!

Michael

That sucks and the bad thing is your not the last person this is going to happen to. Keep your eye on EBay and hit the pawn shops to let them know so they can grap these guys if they try to bring something in. I have an extra set of 108's I can loan you if you need them.

Michael

I'M SHOCKED AT ALL OF YOU!!!
These people you so callously call thieves are fellow human beings and someones children and you talk of brutal retribution and killing them as though it were a Sunday picnic.
I believe these people are just misunderstood and have been screwed by the system for so long that I think if you all searched your hearts you would finally realize that since you all participate in this oppressive capitalist system YOU are the problem and you deserve to have everything you've worked for stolen.....er "redistributed" to those less fortunate than you. How do you sleep at night knowing that you spent $150.00 on a Trimix fill while there are people still living in FEMA trailers? You people selfishly spend thousands of dollars pursuing a frivolous hobbie that contributes nothing to society or humanity.
This so called thievery could be completely stopped by implementing national socialism and a complete redistribution of the wealth in this unfair and unjust country.
By allowing these oppressed people direct access to your valuable possessions you are doing a public service by cutting out the government middleman. By protecting what is supposedly yours through security measures and threats of violence you are essentially stealing food from the mouths of needy children and in my opinion guilty of crimes against humanity. FOR SHAME!!!! I DEMAND SOCIAL JUSTICE!!!!:smt013

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Originally Posted by Caveranger

I'M SHOCKED AT ALL OF YOU!!!
These people you so callously call thieves are fellow human beings and someones children and you talk of brutal retribution and killing them as though it were a Sunday picnic.
I believe these people are just misunderstood and have been screwed by the system for so long that I think if you all searched your hearts you would finally realize that since you all participate in this oppressive capitalist system YOU are the problem and you deserve to have everything you've worked for stolen.....er "redistributed" to those less fortunate than you. How do you sleep at night knowing that you spent $150.00 on a Trimix fill while there are people still living in FEMA trailers? You people selfishly spend thousands of dollars pursuing a frivolous hobbie that contributes nothing to society or humanity.
This so called thievery could be completely stopped by implementing national socialism and a complete redistribution of the wealth in this unfair and unjust country.
By allowing these oppressed people direct access to your valuable possessions you are doing a public service by cutting out the government middleman. By protecting what is supposedly yours through security measures and threats of violence you are essentially stealing food from the mouths of needy children and in my opinion guilty of crimes against humanity. FOR SHAME!!!! I DEMAND SOCIAL JUSTICE!!!!:smt013

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Caveranger,
You're a (Rule #6 - Edited by Chip 7/7/06)! Let's find this (Rule #6 - Edited by Chip 7/7/06) and drag him behing a car to the I.C.U along with the thief. hahahah

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Originally Posted by yeasty21

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Originally Posted by Caveranger

I'M SHOCKED AT ALL OF YOU!!!
These people you so callously call thieves are fellow human beings and someones children and you talk of brutal retribution and killing them as though it were a Sunday picnic.
I believe these people are just misunderstood and have been screwed by the system for so long that I think if you all searched your hearts you would finally realize that since you all participate in this oppressive capitalist system YOU are the problem and you deserve to have everything you've worked for stolen.....er "redistributed" to those less fortunate than you. How do you sleep at night knowing that you spent $150.00 on a Trimix fill while there are people still living in FEMA trailers? You people selfishly spend thousands of dollars pursuing a frivolous hobbie that contributes nothing to society or humanity.
This so called thievery could be completely stopped by implementing national socialism and a complete redistribution of the wealth in this unfair and unjust country.
By allowing these oppressed people direct access to your valuable possessions you are doing a public service by cutting out the government middleman. By protecting what is supposedly yours through security measures and threats of violence you are essentially stealing food from the mouths of needy children and in my opinion guilty of crimes against humanity. FOR SHAME!!!! I DEMAND SOCIAL JUSTICE!!!!:smt013

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Caveranger,
You're a RULE #6! Let's find this RULE #6 and drag him behing a car to the I.C.U along with the thief. hahahah

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Is yeasty a hacker....how does someone with one post get a 300 + regular rating....???

I think there is a glitch in the rating system I notice that the last several new posters are coming up like that.

TJ where are you????

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Originally Posted by Caveranger

I'M SHOCKED AT ALL OF YOU!!!
These people you so callously call thieves are fellow human beings and someones children and you talk of brutal retribution and killing them as though it were a Sunday picnic.
I believe these people are just misunderstood and have been screwed by the system for so long that I think if you all searched your hearts you would finally realize that since you all participate in this oppressive capitalist system YOU are the problem and you deserve to have everything you've worked for stolen.....er "redistributed" to those less fortunate than you. How do you sleep at night knowing that you spent $150.00 on a Trimix fill while there are people still living in FEMA trailers? You people selfishly spend thousands of dollars pursuing a frivolous hobbie that contributes nothing to society or humanity.
This so called thievery could be completely stopped by implementing national socialism and a complete redistribution of the wealth in this unfair and unjust country.
By allowing these oppressed people direct access to your valuable possessions you are doing a public service by cutting out the government middleman. By protecting what is supposedly yours through security measures and threats of violence you are essentially stealing food from the mouths of needy children and in my opinion guilty of crimes against humanity. FOR SHAME!!!! I DEMAND SOCIAL JUSTICE!!!!:smt013

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Agreed. We will start by redistributing your wealth. :-D

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Originally Posted by bubblecheck

...
I’d like to think that it wasn’t a fellow cave diver, as I can’t believe that another diver would stoop that low. I think the more likely scenario was it was some drunk POS redneck that thought he could make a few bucks by selling stolen gear....

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I have an impression that tru redneck spots (like Telford or Charls) are actually one point safer than Ginnie. Incidents in Ginnie happen several times a year. I wonder how much would cost to buy and install cameras at least at Devil's parking. Looking at i-net home electronics shops it cost less than one annual pass to Ginnie.

Scuba tanks are used by plumbers and septic tank specialists to clear and test pipelines. Normally they don't go to scuba shop to fill it up, they use "contaminated" compressor. There are also "commerical divers" - those who look for odd jobs in marinas to clean up vessels and stuff in a water. This is kinda seasonal jobs wondering koyoties may take. Just a thought.

Sorry about your lost.

I say why give all the staff at the hospital all that work. A person in icu can be there a long time. (With no insurance) thats yours and my money. .Just give over to the undertaker 6 feet under....

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Originally Posted by Caveranger

I'M SHOCKED AT ALL OF YOU!!!
These people you so callously call thieves are fellow human beings and someones children and you talk of brutal retribution and killing them as though it were a Sunday picnic.

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????

you mean there are other things to do during a sunday picnic?

I think it is just like the old saying goes "why do you rob Banks? Because that is where the money is" There are going to be more people out and about during school breaks and there are going to be more things left open to be stolen. Most of these thefts are going to be by Gypsy troops that follow the tourist season to Florida each year. They pray on the Beaches, Theme Parks, and Hotels all up and down I-95 and I-75 Hence them hitting Ginnie this time every year. They roll in on Friday night and Spend Saturday blending into the background then Sunday they make their move and hit the road. Ginnie is a perfect place for these folks as they are usually camping or living out of Vans and old motor homes. That gear might turn up in Miami if they are on the south bound leg or who knows if they are north bound. I think the only way to stop this is diligence and maybe a sting to let them learn that Ginnie is a bad place for them to come next year.

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Originally Posted by DogDiver

What was the Ginnie "patrol person" doing while the gear was lugged out of your pickup and loaded into another vehicle. They used to have "scuba police" watching for open water divers with lights. Good thing they were watching, or were they helping?

Ken

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I was thinking the same thing. Yesterday, in fact I went diving there and there was no employee doing the spring watch ??? I thought that was very odd, especially being it was the 4th of July and was busy as heck

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Originally Posted by Jordan

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Originally Posted by DogDiver

What was the Ginnie "patrol person" doing while the gear was lugged out of your pickup and loaded into another vehicle. They used to have "scuba police" watching for open water divers with lights. Good thing they were watching, or were they helping?

Ken

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I was thinking the same thing. Yesterday, in fact I went diving there and there was no employee doing the spring watch ??? I thought that was very odd, especially being it was the 4th of July and was busy as heck

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i spent the whole day there last friday and never did see any Ginnie employees near the springs. i thought it was odd to not have a "blue shirt" watching and checking divers.

Let's think seriously...


What are your real suggestions?

I could see offering a substantial reward for theft from divers. Put up a reward, get Ginnie to post some signs and back it up. And there are "plants", video and getting Ginnie to look harder.

There are $ to support this idea. And has anyone talked with Ginnie? Police suggestions? I suspect if someone is caught it could even be arranged for them to pay a posted reward instead of criminal charges.

And are there any lawyers out there? Oh......, I'm married to one!!! Back to you guys.

But what do you really want to do?

And where's the NSS/CDS, and NACD? Seems like this is an opportunity for them to really help cave divers.
So why are we not asking them for help?

Come on! You guys have a lot of influence. I'm constantly impressed with the things you do. Why not really try to resolve this problem.

Richard
Tallahassee

I think everybody hates thieves and liars.The two go hand in hand.And all the violent comments about what we might do to them poor desparate youths are warranted.The first thing Im gonna do if I see em is hollar HEY!!!and then their gonna take off and Im gonna take off after em.If I happen to get a hold of one of em their gonna put up a fight,and things could get real nasty.Or I could hollar HEY!!! and run over to see what they left me,while dialing 911 with a vehicle discription.That would probably the safest option but I know me,so their gonna haft to run.

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Originally Posted by Caveranger

I'M SHOCKED AT ALL OF YOU!!!
These people you so callously call thieves are fellow human beings and someones children and you talk of brutal retribution and killing them as though it were a Sunday picnic.
I believe these people are just misunderstood and have been screwed by the system for so long that I think if you all searched your hearts you would finally realize that since you all participate in this oppressive capitalist system YOU are the problem and you deserve to have everything you've worked for stolen.....er "redistributed" to those less fortunate than you. How do you sleep at night knowing that you spent $150.00 on a Trimix fill while there are people still living in FEMA trailers? You people selfishly spend thousands of dollars pursuing a frivolous hobbie that contributes nothing to society or humanity.
This so called thievery could be completely stopped by implementing national socialism and a complete redistribution of the wealth in this unfair and unjust country.
By allowing these oppressed people direct access to your valuable possessions you are doing a public service by cutting out the government middleman. By protecting what is supposedly yours through security measures and threats of violence you are essentially stealing food from the mouths of needy children and in my opinion guilty of crimes against humanity. FOR SHAME!!!! I DEMAND SOCIAL JUSTICE!!!!:smt013

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Well lets start out this way. Do not say anything to me untill you walk a mile in my shoes. My Mom worked for $3.50 an hour in 1975 to put three kids through school and was not able to bye us alot of things that others had and I remember eating goverment cheese and thought it was the best. I remember eating rice for breakfast lunch and dinner for months at a time in the winter when we could not raise a garden. The only meat we had was from me at 13yrs old killing wild game to eat meat. When I was 15 I was working in the coal mines not stealing so I could make easy money. Let me tell you I have not lived an easy life but I also have not given up as to say well I can steel something from someone and sell it for something to eat. I would come up to you and say hey man can I cary those tanks to the truck for you I am broke and need a beer or a sandwich. I call bull$hit and I do not ever want to hear someone tell me I do not care about the poor or needy. I help fund a bike rally for less fortunate people for Christmas and I help the darkness to light foundation. I have so many people come into my studio asking for money for gas and food and whatever but they want money for beer or something. I take them to eat or get the something to eat. I have an account with a rest. that I call and tell them I am sending a person by with a note and desribe them to the owner and they put it on my tab at a discounted price. I will do without to help someone so point your finger at someone other than me cause I do not feel that someone that can lift those tanks can lift a damn bag of food so get a job at a store or auto parts place or Wal-Mart come on man. I think they were just looking for easy money cause they saw easy money I do not think it was a less fortunate person if so where did the get the money for the vehichle they were driving or the gas to put in it or did they steal it also. So you are saying everyone that has it rough should be alowed to do what they want and I have to work my a$$ off for what I got? So what I have friends that have alot more than me and I do not feel upset at the world cause they have more. I thank God I have what I have but what I do have I worked for it by the sweat of my brow I promise you that and it pi$$es me off to think that I have to work for something for someone to steal it from me and I should just roll over and say well he is less fortunate hey man how about since you are here to rob me why don't you steal my car so me and my wife have to walk to work cause we have a job and you are less fortunate than us. We will keep paying the payments, I mean hey why you are at it why dont you just come live in my house I will sleep on the street so you wont have to work I will pay all the bills cause you are less fortunate.

No thank you I am not going to let anyone run over me. I mean heck man he didn't get caught stealing a can of food from the dive shop or anything cause he was hungry. I say work for it I have had to nobody has gave me a dang thing in this world but I am not angry over it.

why bother redistributing the wealth? In a couple of years, the same people will have it all back anyway. wealthy people are wealthy for a reason, and at the risk of offending the bleeding hearts, vice-versa. sorry about your gear. but take comfort in knowing that while you are peering longingly through the Hinkle, the lowlife who took it will be looking longingly through a bar covered window. call it fate, or karma, justice, whatever, he/she will eventually get caught and even if they don't, they'll never be able to afford your lifestyle anyway.

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Originally Posted by Tegg

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Originally Posted by Caveranger

I'M SHOCKED AT ALL OF YOU!!!
These people you so callously call thieves are fellow human beings and someones children and you talk of brutal retribution and killing them as though it were a Sunday picnic.
I believe these people are just misunderstood and have been screwed by the system for so long that I think if you all searched your hearts you would finally realize that since you all participate in this oppressive capitalist system YOU are the problem and you deserve to have everything you've worked for stolen.....er "redistributed" to those less fortunate than you. How do you sleep at night knowing that you spent $150.00 on a Trimix fill while there are people still living in FEMA trailers? You people selfishly spend thousands of dollars pursuing a frivolous hobbie that contributes nothing to society or humanity.
This so called thievery could be completely stopped by implementing national socialism and a complete redistribution of the wealth in this unfair and unjust country.
By allowing these oppressed people direct access to your valuable possessions you are doing a public service by cutting out the government middleman. By protecting what is supposedly yours through security measures and threats of violence you are essentially stealing food from the mouths of needy children and in my opinion guilty of crimes against humanity. FOR SHAME!!!! I DEMAND SOCIAL JUSTICE!!!!:smt013

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It is true that there are pathetic people who really think like what is stated in the above paragraph.

Agreed. We will start by redistributing your wealth. :-D

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DOH!!!!! :-D


Well since some of you missed the fact that what I wrote was tongue in cheek and some guy named "Yeasty" already wants to drag me behind a truck I think I'd better take off my wire rimmed glasses, turn off the John Lennon CD's and revert back to my true "intolerant" nature.
These scumbag pukes who steal should be hung upsidedown and split from crotch to earlobe with a dull idling chainsaw!!!! :chain:
I get so sick of these bleeding hearts who want to coddle criminals and try and understand their behavior. I had $400 worth of dive gear and a Martin guitar stolen in Orlando from my locked truck about 5 years ago. Fortunately I had already taken my tanks, regs, and b.c. up to my hotel room. I miss that guitar. :(
I hate thieves and if I ever catch one in the act there will be nothing but a pile of goo for the cops to haul off to jail.
I'm sorry about your loss Jason. It sure puts a sickening knot in ones stomach. Maybe a baited ambush at Ginnie is in order.
I'll be up in Suwannee the last week of this month and I'll keep an eye peeled for your gear.

Hey Caveranger,I had a feeling you were just turning up the flame on the already bubbleing pot of stew.Glad you redeemed yourself.

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Originally Posted by CaveDivingCop

Is yeasty a hacker....how does someone with one post get a 300 + regular rating....???

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Fixed!

Jason,

I am sorry for your loss. Have you checked Ebay to see if anyone has tried to sell it online?

Tom