If someone buys stolen property question

[bcla]

Apparently he used to work for him. I was hoping we could find out his work schedule and go over to his property while he is out.

The police are involved, but their hands are tied unless we know for sure it's ours. We can't know for sure unless we see the VIN. And since the trailer is obviously stolen, the guy isn't going to allow the police on his property to look at it. I'm really hoping that the reward is enough that the person who called the tip in will go over to the guy's property and get us proof.

It's a frustrating situation.

I don't think you really want to deal with the possibility of trespassing charges. Most people have a reasonable expectation that they can take an approach to a front door, but entering a yard without permission is something where I'd think one could claim trespassing even if nobody is there to declare it as such. Maybe a telephoto lens could capture the VIN.

I'm not even sure if it would be worth the cost of discussing this with a lawyer. None of what's being discussed here should be taken as legal advice.

I don't know about your state, but at least in my state it's legal for a licensed vehicle re-possessor to enter private property to remove a vehicle that belongs to someone else. I think that's usually when a car loan is defaulted, but they might have a legal reason to check for a VIN and report if it matches.

 

[bcla]

How do you get a license plate issued if you don't have a VIN or the proper title paperwork? Maybe it works differently then how it works for cars.

Having your DH go over there to confront (or make accusations) to him is a really BAD idea. If he is the kind of person who steals and/or trades in stolen property, I would imagine things could escalate quickly and get out of hand. That is why you get the police involved.

It sounds to me like this guy is just keeping it off the streets with the license plate removed. Not sure why, but who knows what people think.

 

[lifesavacation]

Thanks, everyone. I'm just super frustrated and angry about the situation. I want to move so badly. We're 30 minutes from Portland. It's a crime ridden cesspool here. In the last 3 years, we've had my husband's truck stolen, our motors off our boat, and now this trailer. We've installed fencing with razor wire for the boats. Our alarms keep getting triggered on our building, but by the time the police show up there's no one there. Grrrrr.

 

[NotUrsula]

It sounds to me like your "informant" is someone on the "new owner's" work crew. If that's the case, that person probably could manage to check the VIN if the trailer isn't locked up somewhere.

At least with motor vehicles, the mfr. also etches the VIN on the engine block; if I owned an expensive trailer I definitely would make it a point to etch the VIN onto it in multiple spots, especially if the original VIN marker was only a sticker, and also put your "mark" on it as well. (My dad was a carpenter, and like most carpenters, he had a hammer stamp made of his mark. Every tool he possessed, including his work trailer, was marked with it multiple times, and any work project he did was marked with it as well. Anyone who owns expensive tools and work equipment that are used on job sites should have one, something that is both discreet and unique, and likely to be overlooked by a thief. My dad's mark was a symbol: star-star-slash-star. He had one with his name as well, for marking tool handles and finished furniture pieces, but the symbol stamp was to protect against theft and against people falsely claiming that his work was their own.)

If the VIN was on a small number plate, the kind that is riveted on, I would think that there would be fresh hacksaw marks if someone had deliberately removed it, but my guess would be that the quicker option after a theft would be to paint over it. OP, Can you think of any minor damage marks that would also be on the trailer, some place that it got dinged or scratched at some point that you can tell the police to look for, or a rust spot your DH hasn't gotten around to fixing?

OP, do you know anyone who has a decent camera drone? You might be able to do a flyover during the day to see if the trailer can be spotted (though that won't get you close enough to read a VIN unless you've got connections at the NSA.)

 

[lifesavacation]

It sounds to me like your "informant" is someone on the "new owner's" work crew. If that's the case, that person probably could manage to check the VIN if the trailer isn't locked up somewhere.

At least with motor vehicles, the mfr. also etches the VIN on the engine block; if I owned an expensive trailer I definitely would make it a point to etch the VIN onto it in multiple spots, especially if the original VIN marker was only a sticker, and also put your "mark" on it as well. (My dad was a carpenter, and like most carpenters, he had a hammer stamp made of his mark. Every tool he possessed, including his work trailer, was marked with it multiple times, and any work project he did was marked with it as well. Anyone who owns expensive tools and work equipment that are used on job sites should have one, something that is both discreet and unique, and likely to be overlooked by a thief. My dad's mark was a symbol: star-star-slash-star. He had one with his name as well, for marking tool handles and finished furniture pieces, but the symbol stamp was to protect against theft and against people falsely claiming that his work was their own.)

If the VIN was on a small number plate, the kind that is riveted on, I would think that there would be fresh hacksaw marks if someone had deliberately removed it, but my guess would be that the quicker option after a theft would be to paint over it. OP, Can you think of any minor damage marks that would also be on the trailer, some place that it got dinged or scratched at some point that you can tell the police to look for, or a rust spot your DH hasn't gotten around to fixing?

OP, do you know anyone who has a decent camera drone? You might be able to do a flyover during the day to see if the trailer can be spotted (though that won't get you close enough to read a VIN unless you've got connections at the NSA.)

A million thanks. A camera drone is a great idea.

Received an email from our insurance and we can't recover from our homeowner's or business policies. My husband mistakenly thought it was covered on our policies, but it needs to be separately insured

One of our employee's backed into the trailer not too long ago. There was minor damage and he took pictures of it for his insurance company so we definitely have something that could match up if the VIN is removed.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Def. let the police handle it.

Around here trailers and such can be recovered although sometimes I see a few instances of such large scale theft that the police are basically working up a case on someone so time goes on without recovery of such stolen property.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

The police are involved, but their hands are tied unless we know for sure it's ours.

So the police won't go to the property on the suspicion of theft and review the VIN themselves to report back to you? I guess that would depend on what in your area would constitute reasonable search on a warrant or such (just me thinking out loud not necessarily using the appropriate legal/criminal terminology).

 

[lifesavacation]

So the police won't go to the property on the suspicion of theft and review the VIN themselves to report back to you? I guess that would depend on what in your area would constitute reasonable search on a warrant or such (just me thinking out loud not necessarily using the appropriate legal/criminal terminology).

The police can only ask permission to look at it.

We have the thief on video camera. Unfortunately, no license plate is visible but he has a distinctive truck. Now that we have the exact time, my husband is going to try and track down other cameras along the route that may have video. Maybe we can get a license plate.

The guy who called in the tip is meeting up with the guy who bought it so maybe we’ll get useful information. My husband drove to the buyer’s property and it’s not visible from the road.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

The police can only ask permission to look at it.

We have the thief on video camera. Unfortunately, no license plate is visible but he has a distinctive truck. Now that we have the exact time, my husband is going to try and track down other cameras along the route that may have video. Maybe we can get a license plate.

The guy who called in the tip is meeting up with the guy who bought it so maybe we’ll get useful information. My husband drove to the buyer’s property and it’s not visible from the road.

Well darn only asking permission is pretty limiting

 

[bcla]

Well darn only asking permission is pretty limiting

They could get a warrant quickly but would need some evidence. And that’s the sort of thing that could make for an enemy rather quickly.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Our dump trailer

What is a dump trailer?

As said by others, work with the police.

 

[lifesavacation]

What is a dump trailer?

As said by others, work with the police.

https://norstarcompany.com/trailers/dwb14-dump-trailer/

Videos have been forwarded to the police and are going up on Facebook and other local sites. He has a very distinctive truck. We should be able to hopefully ID the thief soon. My husband expects to find out by morning who stole it.

And for all you saying work with the police, I hear you. They are also trying to ID the truck. The police officer is going out to the buyer’s house in the morning and will at least knock on his door. The guy has like 40 abandoned cars on his property so he’s dealing in stolen cars too probably.

 

[Dan Murphy]

https://norstarcompany.com/trailers/dwb14-dump-trailer/

Ahhh, I see. Thank you.

 

[bcla]

https://norstarcompany.com/trailers/dwb14-dump-trailer/

Videos have been forwarded to the police and are going up on Facebook and other local sites. He has a very distinctive truck. We should be able to hopefully ID the thief soon. My husband expects to find out by morning who stole it.

And for all you saying work with the police, I hear you. They are also trying to ID the truck. The police officer is going out to the buyer’s house in the morning and will at least knock on his door. The guy has like 40 abandoned cars on his property so he’s dealing in stolen cars too probably.

I’d be careful if the guy might be able to identify you or your husband as someone accusing him. You never know what might happen with someone angry about it even if guilty as heck.

 

[happily single]

Is it possible the person with the trailer is actually the one who stole it?

 

[tvguy]

Let the Police handle everything. Otherwise you put yourself at risk in one of two ways. First, you could be associating with someone who stole the trailer or bought stolen property. Second, you could be falsely accusing someone of a crime. YOU DON'T WANT TO BE IN EITHER SITUATION. And it goes without saying you need proper insurance.

 

[tvguy]

trailer VINs are notorious for disappearing even unintentionally. They are often only stickers. I currently own three trailers (one landscaping and two boat) and there is not a single VIN to be found. I do have titles which have a VIN but you won't find on on the trailer.

But, you are correct, it is illegal to tamper with the VIN if it is an intentional tampering.

Just get the VIN stamped into the frame of the trailer. That was a fundraiser we did 50 years ago with my Explorer Post. We bought a die set and charged like $5 to stamp the VIN in the frame. I'm sure trailer places will do that for you.
Homemade trailers won't have a VIN, but the DMV will assign one if you apply.

 

[lifesavacation]

Is it possible the person with the trailer is actually the one who stole it?

The tip said it wasn’t him but I would guess that the police know the truck description and can match that to him.

I told my husband not even a week ago to move the trailer to our house so it wouldn’t get stolen. Between that and the insurance failure, I’m trying really hard not to coulda/shoulda/woulda. It doesn’t do me any good. I’m spiraling on this so I need to cut my loss and move on. It’s just going to eat me up.

Bought it for $8500. Replacement value is $14,000

 

[sasywtch]

I'm 99% certain that the person who has your trailer is friends (or car theft buddies) with the person who took your trailer. I would maybe believe it was an innocent bystander if it was a month later and advertised for sale. Your lucky the police is willing to go over there. I highly doubt they would do that here now.

 

[NotUrsula]

Could you at least write off the loss on your business taxes if you cannot recover it? I hope you get it back -- don't be surprised if the police find it damaged and abandoned in some random place. If your guy makes a habit of receiving stolen property he might not want the police scrutiny that's coming with it, and may decide to ditch it and cut his losses.

Not far from here a large "you pry it" junkyard recently went out of business when they were proven to be buying stolen "scrap metal"; the fine was massive and they couldn't pay it. The idiots bought stolen manhole covers!