I had two guitars and some rack mounted effects stolen from my house back in the early 80s. Started doing my own detective work after I realized the cops were going to be useless. I start contacting everyone I know, and don't know, to put the word out. About 2 weeks go by and a music store owner contacts me and gives me a phone number of some dood who tried to sell a Les Paul to the store. He gives the store owner his number in case he changes his mind or knows someone. I call the guy and make arrangements to meet him and 'buy' the guitar. He also says he has another guitar and some other equipment. So I show up at this shit hole of a house and I'm sitting in a room with this meth head dood and 3 or 4 of his meth head buddies. Think Breaking Bad. One guy leaves the room to get the Les Paul. He comes back with the guitar. I open the case and play it a little. Sure enough it's mine. I tell them I'm interested in the other guitar and other equipment too. Their eyes light up cause maybe they can turn all this stuff into cash in one quick transaction. Guy goes into the other room and brings back my Strat and my rack mount stuff. I check it all out and it looks unharmed. So there I am with a bunch of meth heads and my stolen stuff. I am packing a Colt Python 357 with a 6" barrel. I am thinking to myself, do I leave and call the cops or should I take my stuff back at gun point? If I leave the house, I might never see my stuff again. I'm thinking I want to exit the house one time with my stuff and not have to make multiple trips. If I pull the pistol, one hand will be useless to carry stuff...it'll be busy with the pistol and I won't be able to carry it all. What to do? I decide I'm taking my stuff. As I tell them that all the stuff is mine and was stolen from me, I pull out the pistol and tell them I'm taking my shit back. The dirt bags were shocked and, luckily for everyone, very cooperative. After quite a few apologies they said got the stuff from some other dood and were selling it for him. I knew the other dood and suspected he was the thief, but couldn't prove it at the time, but I knew they were telling the truth. In the end, they helped me carry the stuff to my van and loaded it for me.
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
I'm interested in your stories. I bet you all have some good ones.