 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Stephen
Date: 2000-05-30 00:03
For christmas I recieved a $1000 Buffet Crampon E-12 clarinet. About 3 months ago, my clarinet was stolen out of the band room at school. Once I noticed it was gone, We searched the band room, and then the school, with the help of our assistant principal. Our principal wasn't doing a thing, even though he thinks he helped, he didn't. There wasn't a thing that I could do to get it back. We collected insurance from our home insurance but was still mad about it. Of course I had a few suspisions of who could have taken it, but no evidence. After the shock of the whole thing had started to blow over, one night, while I was searching ebay for some R-13s I came across an add that read E-12 clarinet near new. I figured, what the heck I'll look for old time sakes. When the window opened up and the pictures for the item adjusted, I noticed that it was mine, it had all of my stuff in the case and everything. We got a supena signed by the district court judge and found out the person selling it was in huntsville, which is where I live. The police went to the pawn shop at which it was sold to and found out someone sold it to them. They got the name and address of the person that did so, and went over to there house. And as it turns out the person that sold it to them got it from her brother. Which just happened to be the in school suspension person. They took him into the principals office and questioned him. He said that he thought it was the schools property and that he was just "borrowing it" (yeah right). They took him to jail, and I don't know the outcome of the case just yet. I want to hear what you think of this TRUE story!!
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Author: Kim L
Date: 2000-05-30 01:32
I think its a miracle that you found your valuable instrument. If my R-13 were stolen, I'd have nervous breakdown!
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Author: C. Hogue
Date: 2000-05-30 01:38
Congrats on helping nab the perpetrator!
I'm really sorry you had such an awful experience. It's pretty distasteful and disheartening with school officials involved.
I had my bike stolen twice when I was in college and, amazingly enough, got it back twice. Thieves are often a less than brillant lot.
Will you get your horn back? Do you have to send back the insurance money?
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Author: Allen Cole
Date: 2000-05-30 05:20
Great story! Surfing E-Bay was a great idea, and anyone who suffers this sort of theft should give it a try.
I'll give you a similar story. The band that I worked for in 1980 suffered a large loss of equipment from the leader's apartment. The only suspect that she could think of was the paperboy, since her keys had disappeared following the last collection. On the next collection day, she took a look at his car and found two of her hotspot monitors in use as stereo speakers. Her boyfriend blocked the car in its parking space and the police were called. Happy ending.
Here's hoping you get your B-12 back soon, and that they throw the book at the thief!
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Author: Eoin
Date: 2000-05-30 11:13
If your legal system is anything like ours, this guy will be out of jail in thirty seconds flat! He'll be back at work and everyone except you and him will forget the incident. Prepare yourself mentally for the shock of this.
It is unlikely he will steal your clarinet again, but you really need to look after your instrument more carefully.
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Author: Lelia
Date: 2000-05-30 12:12
Congratulations on catching the crook(s)! The one who ran the eBay ad was a nitwit, posting a photo with all your identifiable stuff still in the case, but if you hadn't persisted, he would have gotten away with this lame scheme. Even if the courts don't do much to this bozo, the school will probably sack him (saving your classmates from more of the same), so you've done a good deed for the school and at least you have the satisfaction of finding your clarinet and knowing what happened and whodunnit. Good Sherlocking!
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Author: Stephen
Date: 2000-05-30 13:35
I did get my clarinet back. It just feels more used????
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Author: Stephen
Date: 2000-05-30 13:37
thank you for your comments. They did fire the teacher, and if he does not get at least 1 year of jail, I want to press charges.
Sincerely,
Stephen
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Author: paul
Date: 2000-05-30 14:20
A year of jail in Huntsville for a $1000 horn? Now, that's justice! For the folks who don't know, Huntsville is practically the state prison headquarters for the State of Texas. It's the main employer in that area. If the crook gets time in local or county jail, he's very lucky. The State jails are no place for a novice thief. In State jail, he won't be a "novice" for very long...
Perhaps that person wanted desperately to follow Acker Bilk's path to professional clarinet performance success. It's amazing how much time you have on your hands while in jail. A smart fellow could get lots of practice time that way, especially with that good a horn.
BTW, if your horn was recovered, you owe the money back to the insurance company. Otherwise, you too could go to same place, for the same reason.
...and yes, do go ahead and press charges. If that person was caught stealing your $1000 horn, what else has he stolen and why? Think about it.
Finally, you deserve a gold star for your sleuthing. You did an exquisite job tracing the horn, getting the investigative job done for both yourself and for your local police. Now that it's over, take that same dedication and direct it to your musical studies.
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Author: Stephen
Date: 2000-05-30 14:28
It seem to me that you are a very wise person Paul. We sent the insurance check back less than a week after I got my clarinet back. I now want to trade in my clarinet for a Selmer Recital Series clarinet, for $1000 dollars. What a bargain!!!! My band director has a friend that plays at disney, and he thinks that the Recital is an avsolute great instrument. I hope to get it. Thank you for your well appreciated comments, Paul!!!
Sincerely,
Stephen
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-05-30 14:53
Stephen wrote:
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I now want to trade in my clarinet for a Selmer Recital Series clarinet, for $1000 dollars. What a bargain!!!! My band director has a friend that plays at disney, and he thinks that the Recital is an avsolute great instrument.
--
Stephen,
Have you played a Recital? What do <i><b>you</b></i> think? Don't take anyone's word for it - while your band director's friend may have the very best instrument for him/her - it doesn't mean anything about whether it's the right thing for you.
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Author: paul
Date: 2000-05-30 15:05
Stephen:
I have to ditto Mark C's comment above. You play the horns and find out what you want, not what someone else thinks is good for you. It must fit your hands, your style, your expectations.
Look at me, #1 hypocrite. I test played a new Festival and instantly fell in lust with it. So, I got lucky. That doesn't happen too often with other folks, so do your homework and test play everything you can get your hands on. Just think of the fun you will have! Like a kid in a candy store. Boy, do I ever envy you and your pending shopping spree. Enjoy!
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Author: Stephen
Date: 2000-05-30 15:49
I did play test the recital at all-state, and that is how I found out about it. I even play tested the festival, and the vintage r-13. They are all great clarinets but I seem ot like the Recital the best. Thank you for all of your well thought out opinions. I do appreciate them!!!!
Sincerely,
Stephen
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Author: Stephen
Date: 2000-05-31 00:13
Thank you all for all of your well appreciated comments!!!
Sincerely,
Stephen
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Author: Jessica
Date: 2000-05-31 08:03
He'll probably get probation. Sad but true, unless he has criminal record already.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-05-31 11:46
Jessica wrote:
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He'll probably get probation. Sad but true, unless he has criminal record already.
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For someone who has a clean record - probation and monitoring is most probably apropos.
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Author: Roger
Date: 2000-05-31 12:15
As an attorney I agree he will probably get probation--this is appropriate for first time offenders today. There is not enough prison space for all---prison is generally reserved for repeat offenders and offenders who pose a personal danger to people. (I am amused by the law and order buffs who want more people put in jail but do not want to spend the money to build the prisons to hold them.) However I think it is unlikely that he will ever get another public school job again (as well it should be).
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Author: Stephen
Date: 2000-05-31 13:20
There is this story going around that because he worked at best buy, he would get a five finger discount if he lost a bet that he made with one of the kids in his class. I do know that he made a bet for a portabke cd player. and won!!!! thank you for your comment!!!!!
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Author: Stephen
Date: 2000-05-31 13:21
There is this story going around that because he worked at best buy, he would get a five finger discount if he lost a bet that he made with one of the kids in his class. I do know that he made a bet for a portabke cd player. and won!!!! thank you for your comment!!!!!
Sincerely,
Stephen
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Author: Stephen
Date: 2000-05-31 13:23
I also believe that he abused his wife?? Don't quote me on that!! I think that for als the suffering and time I spent looking for that clarinet he better go to jail!!! Thank you again for your comment Mark C.!!!
Sincerely,
Stephen
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Author: HAT
Date: 2000-05-31 15:08
I guess you are just lucky (and industrious). I lost 3 R-13s (b-flat, a and eflat) and a Selmer 33 Bass Clarinet (and all my bass and eflat mouthpieces) in an apartment break in almost 2 years ago. Have heard or seen nothing on those.
The serial numbers are listed here on Sneezy, if anyone comes across my horns.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-05-31 16:03
Stephen,
don't go around spreading tales. It's bad enough what this person did; he or she may or may not have done anything else.
Often when people are accused of a crime other "tales" surface. Then, when the truth comes out at trial and/or the accused is set free, those stories stay with them, true or false. Get wrongly accused some day and you'll find out what I mean.
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Author: Lelia
Date: 2000-05-31 16:31
If the thief is up to other shady business, at least now he's got a police record. Even if he only gets probation for a first offense, he knows that as a two-time offender if he gets caught again, he wouldn't get off so lightly. Maybe getting caught this time will scare him enough to make him decide to clean up his act.
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