Twice before William Short’s had something of value go missing and both times he placed an ad in The Oxford Leader hoping some good samaritan would return his property.
In both cases, the 67-year-old Oxford Village resident got what he was looking for and then some, so he decided to try it a third time (see ad on page 5).
This time Short is hoping someone will be able to locate the Reed and Barton sterling silver flatware service for 12 stolen from his home at 45 Lakes Edge Court in the Oxford Lakes subdivision between Aug. 22 and 24.
‘It had a great deal of sentimental value,? Short said. The silverware set, stored in a large wooden box, was a gift from Short’s mother-in-law, who recently passed away, when he and his wife, Linda, got married in 1976. Every year on the couple’s wedding anniversary, she would give them more pieces to add to it.
The set, which had a rose bud pattern, was never used and didn’t have a scratch on it. Many of the pieces were still in their packaging.
Although the set had a retail value of somewhere between $12,000 and $14,000, Short desperately wants it back because of how much it means to his wife.
‘It’s one of the few things that my mother-in-law left to my wife,? he said. ‘That was my wife’s last living relative. All of her aunts and uncles are passed away. She didn’t have any brothers or sisters.?
Short is hoping the $5,000 reward he’s offering for its return ? no questions asked ? will entice someone to come forth with either the set itself or information that leads to its recovery. ‘I’m trying to see if we can get lucky and get it back,? he said.
Other things were stolen from Short’s house, such as some Waterford Crystal pieces, but his chief concern is finding the silverware. Anything else that’s returned, he’ll just consider a ‘bonus? at this point.
Ultimately, he’s hoping this week’s Leader ad will meet with the same degree of success as his last two.
About 20 years ago, Short placed an ad when his pet cockatoo flew away. About a week later, a woman called to inform him she had found his wayward parrot.
‘The bird flew from Oxford all the way to Rochester Hills and was on her porch,? Short said. ‘It was a gentle bird so she just picked it up and took it in her house.?
Incidentally, he still has the bird. It’s 50 years old. ‘They live to 100 with decent care,? he noted. ‘They outlive most of their owners.?
Short placed another ad in the newspaper after his Cairn terrier, a Toto-type dog, ran away. He offered a $500 reward for its return.
‘I had people bringing me Saint Bernards,? he said with a chuckle. ‘There were no loose dogs in Oxford for about a three-month period. They were bringing me everything that moved.?
Eventually, the dog came back on its own, however, before that happened, an elderly man living in the Lake Villa mobile home park called Short and claimed he found his dog.
When Short arrived at the old man’s house, his dog wasn’t there, but the old man asked him to please take care of his dog because he was moving to a senior housing facility that didn’t allow pets.
Short decided to take the dog and when he got home, he discovered an envelope with $5,000 cash inside and a note from the old man explaining that this dog was his best friend and to use the money to take care of him.
‘The guy wouldn’t take the money back,? he said. So, every month until the old man passed, Short brought his dog to visit him at the senior facility.
In all the years he’s lived in Oxford, Short noted he’s ‘never had a problem? until this burglary. ‘I’ve been out here since 1979. No vandalism, no break-ins, no nothing.?