Need advice.......someone stole something from me and I found them, what to do?

timn · 07-10-2010, 04:51 AM

Hi,

I would like your opinion on a situation that has come my way. My dad has a Miata, and a few days ago someone stole the hardtop from it. Quite shocking since we live in a relatively nice neighborhood. However, I think I've found the hardtop via someone selling one on craigslist. I am going to check it out tomorrow to see if it is indeed ours.

My question is, how do you go about legally dealing with this? We had a police report written up when the hardtop was stolen. Do we just call the cops and tell them I *think* that this hardtop is ours? We have no real proof. Resorting to violence is obviously not an option. And quite frankly, if we were to find the hardtop, it could come with its own retaliation if the cops were involved. Frankly, it seems like a lose-lose situation.

Anyway, just wondering what you guys thought.

TIA,
-Tim

ChristianM · 07-10-2010, 08:56 AM

Tim, seems like you can't win, at the same time allowing someone to walk away with your property is infuriating.

PERSONALLY, I'd do what I could to get it back using reasonable force but knowingly not cross the line for legal reasons.

08rookie · 07-10-2010, 09:44 AM

i would contact him, act like a serious buyer...get his name, address and phone number....even the address and phone number of his cousin and second cousin...

then post online that he is giving out hand jobs for 5 bucks...the idea that he has to explain to his wife/girlfriend why a homeless guy is calling his house at 2 am looking for a 5 dollar tug is kinda priceless in my mind....

lauer87 · 07-10-2010, 09:50 AM

Contact the authorities, don't be an idiot and try to steal it back.

Freakazoid · 07-10-2010, 09:59 AM

I saw one video online where the same situation happened with wheels and they were able to do a sting operation/arrest the guy. But I don't think that'd be applicable in this case, as I don't think there's ANYTHING linking the car to the hard top?

And in general cops don't really give a damn about stolen property....drives me nuts

Chewy734 · 07-10-2010, 10:06 AM

Now only if you have some proof that it was your hard top, it would be ideal.... Maybe a serial number? or something like that?

E92-Lighting · 07-10-2010, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freakazoid

I saw one video online where the same situation happened with wheels and they were able to do a sting operation/arrest the guy. But I don't think that'd be applicable in this case, as I don't think there's ANYTHING linking the car to the hard top?

And in general cops don't really give a damn about stolen property....drives me nuts

the wheel has markings on it and also the tire

chungdae · 07-10-2010, 12:45 PM

Let it go. He or a friend can always come back and key your car, slash your tires, break your windows etc for retaliation.

len56 · 07-10-2010, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chungdae

Let it go. He or a friend can always come back and key your car, slash your tires, break your windows etc for retaliation.

so i guess the only option is too execute him

T-MC-G · 07-10-2010, 03:59 PM

i would absolutely call the cops and report the craigslist posting

Amir87 · 07-10-2010, 04:05 PM

My friend was selling a motorcycle that was his. Some guy saw the add and thought it was his stolen bike, called the cops and arranged a sting op. Cops showed up, and my friend had all the papers to the bike, making the other dude look like an idiot.

Be 100% sure it's your's if you want to get the cops involved.

Inspired · 07-10-2010, 04:08 PM

Bay Area cops are lazy especially in SF. I have this cop that lives a block away and I see him doing grocery shopping in his cruiser. Not only that, he takes hours of breaks at ~12 AM to 3 AM then continues doing his job.

I am wondering if there is somewhere to report such terrible misconduct?

SfValley335i · 07-10-2010, 04:56 PM

Check it out first to make sure its yours... If it is tell the seller it was stolen off your car and you'll report to the police if he doesnt give it to you. The thief will most likely just hand it over rather than dealing with cops.

If not just call your insurance, thats what its for.

M3Alpine · 07-10-2010, 05:05 PM

some people are just stupid.... guys steals something from you then puts it on craiglist. Intellegent

b0bab0i · 07-10-2010, 05:31 PM

Same thing happened with this guy, but it was his wheels.

You could follow his steps?

http://www.clublexus.com/forums/cl-o...raigslist.html

ragingclue · 07-10-2010, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by len56

so i guess the only option is too execute him

Agreed.

Gotadime · 07-10-2010, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by len56

so i guess the only option is too execute him

hahahah

ABQ325i · 07-10-2010, 08:11 PM

Go check out the top, if you are 100% it is yours then call the cops.

Spoolin335 · 07-10-2010, 10:11 PM

What you have to to is go meet up and check out the hardtop. Make sure it is yours then agree on a price and give the guy the money. As soon as you give him the money call the cops and tell him that he has now sold you your roof back and he can be charged for stealing and selling stolen goods.

Same idea as the guy that had the rims stolen. Call the cops first to coordinate it with them.

lambtron · 07-11-2010, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3Alpine

some people are just stupid.... guys steals something from you then puts it on craigslist. Intelligent

Fixed.

Go buy it back with counterfeit money or just pay him in monopoly money. Either one will suffice.

timn · 07-12-2010, 04:07 AM

I went to see the roof, but in the end, as we expected, there was no way to prove that it was ours, so we dropped it and moved on. Sucks, and I'm surprised at two things: 1. it took so long for it to get stolen, and 2. hardtops on miata's are ridiculously easy to steal.

Thanks for the all the advice!

jayely1 · 07-12-2010, 04:34 AM

Didn't you ask, or say thats weird, my dads roof was just stolen, something like that?? You should of asked your dad if he remembered any minor flaw or anything uncommon in the roof and if you told the authorities about that and then went there with the cops. Im sure that would have been pretty solid evidence..

07-10-2010, 04:51 AM	#1
timn First Lieutenant 53 Rep 321 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Palo Alto, Ca iTrader: (4)	Need advice.......someone stole something from me and I found them, what to do? Hi, I would like your opinion on a situation that has come my way. My dad has a Miata, and a few days ago someone stole the hardtop from it. Quite shocking since we live in a relatively nice neighborhood. However, I think I've found the hardtop via someone selling one on craigslist. I am going to check it out tomorrow to see if it is indeed ours. My question is, how do you go about legally dealing with this? We had a police report written up when the hardtop was stolen. Do we just call the cops and tell them I think that this hardtop is ours? We have no real proof. Resorting to violence is obviously not an option. And quite frankly, if we were to find the hardtop, it could come with its own retaliation if the cops were involved. Frankly, it seems like a lose-lose situation. Anyway, just wondering what you guys thought. TIA, -Tim
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07-10-2010, 08:56 AM	#2
ChristianM Enlisted Member 2 Rep 31 Posts Drives: TTC Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ontario, GTA iTrader: (0)	Tim, seems like you can't win, at the same time allowing someone to walk away with your property is infuriating. PERSONALLY, I'd do what I could to get it back using reasonable force but knowingly not cross the line for legal reasons.
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07-10-2010, 09:44 AM	#3
08rookie Private First Class 192 Rep 123 Posts Drives: bmw Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: phila, pa iTrader: (0)	i would contact him, act like a serious buyer...get his name, address and phone number....even the address and phone number of his cousin and second cousin... then post online that he is giving out hand jobs for 5 bucks...the idea that he has to explain to his wife/girlfriend why a homeless guy is calling his house at 2 am looking for a 5 dollar tug is kinda priceless in my mind....
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07-10-2010, 09:50 AM	#4
lauer87 Lieutenant 8 Rep 586 Posts Drives: 335xi Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Contact the authorities, don't be an idiot and try to steal it back.
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07-10-2010, 09:59 AM	#5
Freakazoid Captain 188 Rep 962 Posts Drives: Saturn Redline Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Pittsburgh iTrader: (0)	I saw one video online where the same situation happened with wheels and they were able to do a sting operation/arrest the guy. But I don't think that'd be applicable in this case, as I don't think there's ANYTHING linking the car to the hard top? And in general cops don't really give a damn about stolen property....drives me nuts
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07-10-2010, 10:06 AM	#6
Chewy734 Major General 492 Rep 6,798 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 330i ZPP, ZSP Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: LA, CA iTrader: (15)	Now only if you have some proof that it was your hard top, it would be ideal.... Maybe a serial number? or something like that? __________________ Currently for sale: [19" Linea Corse LC818 wheel], [19" Fallen FK452 tire]
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07-10-2010, 12:45 PM	#8
chungdae The Asian Sensation 59 Rep 708 Posts Drives: 2009 Alpine White M3, S1000RR Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Miami, FL iTrader: (2)	Let it go. He or a friend can always come back and key your car, slash your tires, break your windows etc for retaliation.
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07-10-2010, 03:59 PM	#10
T-MC-G Captain 74 Rep 671 Posts Drives: e90 325i Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Trier, Germany iTrader: (5)	i would absolutely call the cops and report the craigslist posting __________________ "tell me what you don't like about yourself..."
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07-10-2010, 04:05 PM	#11
Amir87 Gruppe Titan 279 Rep 2,839 Posts Drives: 08 E92 SG/Coral Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: NC iTrader: (37) Garage List 2008 E92 335i [10.00]	My friend was selling a motorcycle that was his. Some guy saw the add and thought it was his stolen bike, called the cops and arranged a sting op. Cops showed up, and my friend had all the papers to the bike, making the other dude look like an idiot. Be 100% sure it's your's if you want to get the cops involved. __________________
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07-10-2010, 04:08 PM	#12
Inspired Colonel 153 Rep 2,368 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: California iTrader: (2)	Bay Area cops are lazy especially in SF. I have this cop that lives a block away and I see him doing grocery shopping in his cruiser. Not only that, he takes hours of breaks at ~12 AM to 3 AM then continues doing his job. I am wondering if there is somewhere to report such terrible misconduct?
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07-10-2010, 04:56 PM	#13
SfValley335i Colonel 167 Rep 2,409 Posts Drives: Current:135i Sold:335i sedan Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: City of Angels iTrader: (8)	Check it out first to make sure its yours... If it is tell the seller it was stolen off your car and you'll report to the police if he doesnt give it to you. The thief will most likely just hand it over rather than dealing with cops. If not just call your insurance, thats what its for.
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07-10-2010, 05:05 PM	#14
M3Alpine Lieutenant Colonel 52 Rep 1,510 Posts Drives: M4 AW/SO Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Central NJ iTrader: (11)	some people are just stupid.... guys steals something from you then puts it on craiglist. Intellegent __________________ 2002 AW/IR : Sold 2004 AW/BLK : Sold 2009 AW/FR : Sold 2015 AW/SO
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07-10-2010, 05:31 PM	#15
b0bab0i Major 24 Rep 1,033 Posts Drives: 03 TiAG z4 3.0i w/ hardtop Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Same thing happened with this guy, but it was his wheels. You could follow his steps? http://www.clublexus.com/forums/cl-o...raigslist.html
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07-10-2010, 08:11 PM	#18
ABQ325i Private First Class 16 Rep 158 Posts Drives: 08 E60 535i + 06 E90 330i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Albuquerque iTrader: (4) Garage List 2008 535i [0.00] 2006 330i [0.00]	Go check out the top, if you are 100% it is yours then call the cops.
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07-10-2010, 10:11 PM	#19
Spoolin335 Justin Herass 355 Rep 1,205 Posts Drives: X6M / M3 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Canada iTrader: (7) Garage List 2015 BMW M3 [0.00] 2012 Audi TTRS [10.00] 2012 BMW X6M [9.00] 2007 BMW 335i [9.00]	What you have to to is go meet up and check out the hardtop. Make sure it is yours then agree on a price and give the guy the money. As soon as you give him the money call the cops and tell him that he has now sold you your roof back and he can be charged for stealing and selling stolen goods. Same idea as the guy that had the rims stolen. Call the cops first to coordinate it with them. __________________
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07-12-2010, 04:07 AM	#21
timn First Lieutenant 53 Rep 321 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Palo Alto, Ca iTrader: (4)	I went to see the roof, but in the end, as we expected, there was no way to prove that it was ours, so we dropped it and moved on. Sucks, and I'm surprised at two things: 1. it took so long for it to get stolen, and 2. hardtops on miata's are ridiculously easy to steal. Thanks for the all the advice!
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07-12-2010, 04:34 AM	#22
jayely1 Colonel 235 Rep 2,079 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: New Mexico/Illinois iTrader: (1)	Didn't you ask, or say thats weird, my dads roof was just stolen, something like that?? You should of asked your dad if he remembered any minor flaw or anything uncommon in the roof and if you told the authorities about that and then went there with the cops. Im sure that would have been pretty solid evidence..
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