Letter to the Editor

Auction thefts

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

Dear Editor,

The recent annual Holbrook Lions auction was considered a success, but not to the extent the tabloids made it sound ... they may have "taken in" $217,000 ... but didn't "make" that much (darn it!). That figure didn't allow for payment to the many consignors and other expenses.

The average person hasn't an inkling of the many man-hours that go into having this sale ... all donated by the Lions members. The pride and willingness of these individuals to donate untold hours for the Lions organization, which does so much for the community, was badly wilted over the extent of theft that occurred before, during and after the sale.

Reportedly, one individual said "I was told anything left at the sale site on Sunday morning was free for the taking!" And, the "takers" obviously got an early start! (It's also been said the Lions could use help cleaning the site of despicable litter one day after the sale ... however, there were no "takers" with that rumor!)

What happened to common sense? The sale didn't end until 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and there was so much congestion, traffic and people, that there wasn't any possible way one could load purchases until the crowd dispersed, so they opted to pick their purchases up Sunday, only to find them gone! A couple of ladies were seen going down the aisles ... taking stuff from boxes as they walked ... vehicles were seen driving around the site ... the occupants loading their vehicles along the way. A lady drove through the area Friday night ... saw a desk she wanted ... so got to the sale early to bid on it ... the desk was gone before the sale even started!

Another lady consigned a dishwasher and some old sewing machines ... they didn't sell, so she went to pick them up Sunday ... gone! A gentleman bought several bicycles and tricycles ... loaded them on his trailer, intending to donate them to the Toy Box in McCook ... went to pull his trailer home Sunday ... most of the bicycles -- gone.

And the list goes on!

We've considered ourselves fortunate to live in Southwest Nebraska ... among friendly, considerate, God-fearing, honest people. Our trust in them is not gone! But it's dwindling! Starting about 10 years ago when our locked garage was broken into and our car stolen ... doing $1,500 damage to both the garage and the car ... the garage uninsurable (at that time) because our residence was not on the same property ... and the old '72 (that we kept shedded to save for our "good" car) just had liability on it. That evening's "entertainment" for those area youth cost us $3,000 ... and to our knowledge, the culprits never even got their hands slapped.

There was a time we didn't lock our doors nor worry about having ornaments taken from our yard, etc. Now it seems one has to anchor or lock down anything they don't want stolen ... even items taken to, or purchased at, an auction!

The Lions are in a quandary as to how to stop the thievery -- do they invest in security cameras that they'd use once a year? Should they have multiple guards for the entire weekend ... are they going to have to erect a fence and install gates (locked, of course)? (My suggestion is to have several plain clothed law enforcement personnel present ... allowing "scavengers" to take what they desire ... then ask to see their buyer's number, check the buyer's list ... and if they have no proof of purchase ... arrest them!)

There has even been talk of abolishing the sale. How sad, that due to the greed and dishonesty of a few, many good people would be deprived of the benefits the local Lions provide!

The honest people of the surrounding areas are grateful to and for our local Lions, past and present, and commend them for all their hard work in attempting to make our world a better place!

Gratefully,

Bev Guthrie,

Holbrook

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