Gear Theft at Ginnie Springs

[bubblecheck]

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

[Al]

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

[stairman]

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.

[brianstclair]

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

Brian

[Arnold Mesiser]

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

Does Ginnie not have a surveilance system?

[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

[jammer]

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.

[michael-fisch]

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

[cavdiver2]

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

[Cave Ranger]

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!!!!