XBox Theft

[Nadia]

I was reading the Laconia Daily Sun today, as usual, and I stumbled across this article. I'm sure some of you came across it today.

Please return my son's Xbox, no questions asked

Friday April 14, 2006

To the editor,
This is a message to whomever broken into 8 Rhodes Drive Apartment 4, Belmont on Tuesday April 11. The article that was removed from my home was my 8-year-old son's Xbox and about 10 video games (his whole collection). I am asking, no, I am begging, whomever has done this to just return the Xbox and Xbox video games anonymously. My son is absolutely devestated, this was his life, his favorite toy, the only thing he really had of value and the only thing that he really loves the most. He won't stop crying. I am a single mother and I cannot afford to replace the $150 Xbox gaming system and I can in no way replace almost $500 worth of video games that were stolen from our home. Whoever has done this, I really hope you think and you realize that you are hurting a small child and I hope you can find it in your heart to just bring the gaming system to my doorstep and just leave it there or drop it off at any local pawn shop (all area pawn shops have been notified that this system is missing and they have my contact information). I will not press charges if I can just have my son's Xbox and games back. That's all I want. I just cannot afford to replace it and I hurt so badly to look at my son and feel the pain that he feels. Please, have a heart. Thank you.
Jocelyn E. Cote
Belmont

This makes me so sad. I have a real soft spot for children, and I have a real hard spot for people who do these types of things. Who just go through life stealing and hurting people. It makes me so angry. I just want to say go out and get a damn job and work for it yourself. It's hard to put it into words what I feel right now, but all day I kept thinking about the poor little boy. You know, when we're adults, and things like this happen to us, we accept it and just keep marching on. We know that life just isn't fair sometimes, and that there are people out there who are just ruthless--but a poor little kid. I can only imagine. Furthermore an innocent one, who doesn't deserve this.

My friend and I have been talking about this issue tonight. We have intentions of contacting this woman or maybe the Belmont Police Department to get an update on the case. I highly doubt the thief has any intention of returning the item--I would like to think that, but in my years on this planet I've learned that it usually doesn't work that way. I will certainly give it some time.

We want to raise money to buy this little boy an Xbox and 10 games to replace the ones that were stolen from him. The console is $150 and the games are $500, so $650 all together. The both of us think we can get this job done, and are willing to do all the leg-work required. Contact the woman and see what games he had, and if the Xbox has been returned or located. I myself am going to put up $100, and my friend $40, so that brings it down to $510.

Is there anyone else on this board who is interested in donating? Any contribution of any amount would help, and would be greatly appreciated, especially by this poor little boy. We all remember how much things like this meant to us when we were children, I certainly do. I can also perceive how this mother must feel knowing that she simply cannot replace this item, and I'm sure that hurts her the most. As parents we want to protect our children from all the harm in the world, but sometimes we cannot.

I am willing to give everyone receipts, keep any contributors updated on our progress, and certainly recognize anyone generous enough to donate. I will be certain to post all names on this board, and possibly send the information into the Laconia Daily Sun. I will also give your information to the family unless you wish to remain anonymous. If we don't make our goal by at the maximum one month I will buy the most I can starting with the Xbox first and then as many games as the money allows. I'm aiming for a time period of two weeks. So basically by the first of May.

If anyone has or your children have an Xbox that they don't use anymore or are willing to donate that would be wonderful too.

Anyone interested in donating to this cause can e-mail me or IM me at ChefNadia@aol.com - donations can certainly be dropped off or mailed to:

Nadia Corrado
c/o Nadia's Trattoria
1402 Lakeshore Drive
Gilford NH, 03249

PayPal payments to: MidnightJulliett@aol.com (Please include in the notes/comments area "Xbox Donation" and your name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address", unless you wish to remain anonymous.

My name is Nadia Corrado, I can be reached at 603-524-8688 during the hours listed above. Feel free to leave a message as well and I will get back to you. I have no intentions of raising anymore money than the $510. I will update this thread as often as I can with information regarding the situation. If the items are found I will certainly return the money--mark my words.

Thank you all for your time.

Nadia Corrado & Martin Bennett

[Pepper]

I'm in! I'll see you Wednesday on my way home from work!

[Nadia]

Hello everyone. Thank you for your responses and your e-mails. I am happy to announce that I did contact Jocelyn, and the Belmont Police Commision was nice enough to purchase her son a brand new X-Box! She thanked me very much for calling her and was delighted that the community was so responsive. I didn't get her call, she left a long message. She said her son was happy with the X-Box, and now they were going to slowly work on getting him some games.

I still want to help him out and my staff has already donated some money to put toward it. I called her this afternoon and left her a message asking her if she could get me a list of her son's top favorite 3-4 games. If anybody is interested in putting some money toward some new games let me know soon. I am aiming for Wednesday at this point.

Pepper thanks for your response, I'll make sure I'm there for you!!! Happy Easter everyone!

[GTO]

I was once the victim of theft at an early age. I had a 10 speed bike, that I had purchased with my own paper route money, stolen from my parents back yard. They had to climb a fence, open the shed, toss the bike back over the fence. All I had left was the tire marks left in the dirt as it was driven away. Theft happens everyday, everywhere.
Does homeowners insurance not cover such a theft as the XBox? When I had my car broken into and things taken years ago, I got to collect on those items, if I produced a receipt.
Also, I would have to be nervous these days about donating with all the hoaxs going around. A lady recently claiming she had cancer and everyone in her town rallying and collecting thousands of $$. Guess what, she never had cancer. And the lady that claimed she was going to have sextuplets. Her town raised thousands of dollars, even bought her a new van. Guess what...all just a hoax.
Nadia/Pepper,no matter what it is, its good to know there are still some good people like yourselves out there.

[Weirs guy]

Originally Posted by GTO

Does homeowners insurance not cover such a theft as the XBox?

Good point, but single moms tend to not be able to afford insurance.

[Woodsy]

I am sure Homeowners would cover it... I doubt the value would exceed the deductible though. Then there is the inevitable rate increase because you had a claim... all in all not worth the hassle!

Glad the story had a good outcome!

Woodsy

[Nadia]

GTO, I understand your concern as I was a bit weary about the issue at first. When I left her the initial message I didn't disclose what I was calling about. I think if it was a hoax or she was a dishonest person she would have said that she would take donations even if the Belmont Police had replaced this item. I grew up in the city, I know how some people operate!! Its terrible. People sponging off the generosity of others--it happens frequently. After I spoke to this woman any doubt that I had was gone. As you get older you can sort these people out 90% of the time by instinct alone. Using deductive logic, I highly doubt this is any kind of a scam. She's not asking for a lot of money, actually, she's really not asking for anything but the property to be returned. I've had enough fast one's pulled on me in my lifetime! One good thing comes out of getting screwed, you learn how to avoid it again!!

The woman does not own a home, she rents an apartment as you can see in the article. Rental insurance would probably cover the theft, but with her financial situation as a single mother I doubt she carries it. Furthermore, what is the deductible? I think she may consider purchasing it! Yet most of us residents in this area feel considerably safe in our persons and property. I grew up in the city, its a completely different story up here. Up until recently I felt almost 100% secure without added measures of security. Now everytime I read the paper there's robberies, car thefts, arsonists and so forth, right here in the Lakes Region! I haven't checked out any statistics, but the crime rates seem to have jumped dramatically, in a very short period of time...

And Woodsy I agree with you. If she has rental insurance they would probably give her a hard time and increase her premium. Putting in a claim with insurance companies that you have been robbed or something has been stolen from you puts up a lot of red flags. You are just as much a suspect as anyone else because of fraud--

I completely understand your concerns and your comments, and I appreciate them. These issues did cross my mind and I was a bit weary, but considering the circumstances, I am confident in my predictions that this is a legitimate family that really got screwed.

[Nadia]

Hello Everyone,
I spoke to Ms. Cote today, she actually left me a message. She relayed to me her son's favorite three games, and I went and got them for him today! They are already in the mail! I stopped at this neat place up in the Gilford Plaza called Game Stop. I myself don't play video games so I was kind of lost...the gentlemen was very helpful. They had new games but he assured me that the used one's they had were in excellent condition inside and out, and were much less expensive. I figured why not, more for the money? So I bought him 4, and off in the mail they went. He'll be a happy little guy.

Don't fret Pepper even so, I'm sure they might love a Waldo's gift certificate! Mom and son have been through an awful time lately. A day out for lunch might be a nice change.

Ms. Cote said that she is very proud and happy to live in the community of the Lakes Region, and she says a big thank you. The community has responded more than she ever expected, and its wonderful to be part of such a generous and helpful place.

Belmont Police are also making progress on the robbery--

[Pepper]

Nadia - thanks for updating! Great news all the way around, eh? Indeed it is true that we live in a place where people are generally kind, thoughtful, and giving. Ain't it great?

I'll come by tomorrow after work and get the address from you.

[Lakewinniboater]

I will send you a check tomorrow

[dpg]

Now if the community can only nab the thieve(s) and bring them in for a public stoneing.

[Dave R]

Nice happy ending. Gotta like that.

My favorite things growing up were my bike, my Jon boat and my fishing gear. Times sure have changed.

[Nadia]

Hi Guys!!
Like I said to another board member, your more than welcome to send money my way. I will put it into gift certificates for the game store and send it over to her, just make sure you give me your name so she knows who to say thank you to. She will, she's very appreciative. I'd post her address up here but I don't know if she wants that publicity. I'll ask her. Stay tuned for another riveting report. LOL.