Good Luck catching this guy, Buddy.

If it were mine and I were able to catch him, i'm not sure which path i'd choose

Either informing the cops, lettign them catch him, and then suing him for possible wear and tear on obviously abusive driving and getting him to pay for that engine swap i've always wanted

Or using the thief for my own amusement, such as restricting the throttle to only allow him a max of 10 mph, letting a bit of air into the brake lines... etc... or just siphoning the gas while it is parked.

Theres too many things to mention that arent legal in response to the "what would you do" question.

If you find it you should call the cops, do not touch it. Who ever it is will leave enough of himself in the car to convict him. Take pictures of the car and if you can of the guy.
But if your only concern is getting the car back then take it, its your car.

If i spot it, I will take the valve stem cores out and call the cops.

Unless of course the thief confronts me, and that's what my XD is for.

I have had 2 vehicles stolen (1 Fiero). I completely understand the feelings but keep in mind the person driving the car might not know it is stolen. My Fiero was recovered with a blown engine, but the truck was never found.

quote Originally posted by Terry_w: I have had 2 vehicles stolen (1 Fiero). I completely understand the feelings but keep in mind the person driving the car might not know it is stolen. My Fiero was recovered with a blown engine, but the truck was never found.

Do they not question the vanity plates, or where it came from?

I'm just confused.

Brad

When my son's Fiero was stolen back in 1997 it was found 3 days later on a residential sidestreet in Buffalo. It had caught on fire under the dash where they had hot wired it. Melted the dash, headliner, steering wheel, broke the windshield, covered the interior with black soot. So on the positive side at least this car is still running and not trashed. I am still surprised the police cannot find this car with so few of them on the roads these days.

I swear that whenever I go to Kansas City I see police at least every two blocks. Perhaps I am in the wrong neighborhood.

Is there a way to make sure the car stays on their hotsheet?

Brad

My sister's 78 Firebird was stolen and she tracked it down to a residential neighborhood in Detroit in front the the sleezeball's house where he lived with his mother. The police recovered the car (although the idiot had spray painted red over the beautiful metalic blue paint) but he basically got away scott free because he was not driving it at the time and they couldn't prove that he took it! And she got stuck with hefty tow and impound fees as well. So even if you get it back, don't expect that justice will necessarily be served! (unless its the vigelante kind)

quote Originally posted by CaravanBill: ...but he basically got away scott free because he was not driving it at the time and they couldn't prove that he took it! And she got stuck with hefty tow and impound fees as well. So even if you get it back, don't expect that justice...

Yeah, the authorities probably won't be spending much money CSI'ing the car when found. They'll just let it set in a impound for a while to let the fees run up before they call you.

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RickN
White 88GT 5spd
White 85GT Auto
White 99 F250SD 7.3PSD 6spd
1956 Ford 860 Tractor w/ Freeman Loader
20Ft Tilt Bed Trailer

quote Originally posted by RickN: Yeah, the authorities probably won't be spending much money CSI'ing the car when found. They'll just let it set in a impound for a while to let the fees run up before they call you.

True. This happened to a friend of mine when her FJ Cruiser was stolen. She had to pay over $400 to get it out after reporting it stolen.

I've had similar experiences. No mercy when I rolled a stop or whatever and absolutely no help when I'm a victim. Even when I supplied the evidence they needed. I finally got to the point where I won't even file a theft report. I have spent an hour or two on the reports and I suspect that it gets filed till the end of the year when they pull it up and say " crimes up, we need more money for police protection" and then raise my taxes. Obviously I'm cynical now.

I do have to make a police report to collect insurance. I dont ever expect property to be found or returned. When I got my trailer stolen a few years ago, they drug it off down the street on a chain, not even on a ball at 1am. They said they couldnt find it ... trailer dragging down the street with no lights in the middle of the night ? They looked real hard because I found the ramps laying in the middle of a 4 lane hiway a block from my house. I got my insurance money and had the satisfaction I filled their van full of bullet holes as they left.

quote Originally posted by Synthesis:

Thanks.
that was funny

quote Originally posted by rogergarrison: I do have to make a police report to collect insurance. I dont ever expect property to be found or returned. When I got my trailer stolen a few years ago, they drug it off down the street on a chain, not even on a ball at 1am. They said they couldnt find it ... trailer dragging down the street with no lights in the middle of the night ? They looked real hard because I found the ramps laying in the middle of a 4 lane hiway a block from my house. I got my insurance money and had the satisfaction I filled their van full of bullet holes as they left.

You're lucky you didn't hit someone in the van. I fired off three shots at the thief who took a portable generator from me making sure I didn't ht him. In Ca. you're not allowed to use deadly force against a person who is trying to get away and is not threatening you. Even if I had winged him with a non lethal shot I would have been sued, and anyway nothing I have is worth taking even a scumbags life. I sure do hate the people who would rather take something from me instead of earning it like I did though. I wish there was a way to punish thieves without costing us taxpayers a fortune for prosecution and incarceration.

[This message has been edited by dratts (edited 09-16-2009).]

I'm pretty sure roger is in TX. He can legally shoot. I once watched a repo show where they took a guys car in Texas. He drove after them firing shots out of his car at the tow truck. When the cops came they questioned him and let him go, because he was with in his rights, as he assumed his car was being stolen. Moral of the story, don't steal things or be a repo man in Texas, you will be shot at .

I saw that show! Crossed TX of places to live right away!

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Dave

www.ltlfrari.com

Darn GM's for being so easy to steal. I had an 86 Buick LeSabre stolen out of my driveway, the classic bust open the steering column and start it with a screwdriver trick. They found the car that afternoon with the thieves in it. Unfortunately the only thing they were able to charge them with was possession of stolen property. The crooks simply lied and said some guy gave the car to them in the parking lot of a grocery store. Just goes to show you, you can get away with just about anything if you lie through your teeth and stick to your story. I may have got the car back but lost a laptop computer, portable DVD player, Mini Disc recorder and some other stuff I had been too lazy to carry in when I had gotten home at 3am. Thank goodness I wasn't too lazy to carry in my guitar and other music gear.

I can't believe the thief is driving the car around and it hasn't been found. Especially with the vanity plates and bumper sticker still on it. Having grown up in KC I sure thought the police force was more competent than that. Best of luck to ya, I hope they get it back soon.

quote Originally posted by dratts: You're lucky you didn't hit someone in the van. I fired off three shots at the thief who took a portable generator from me making sure I didn't ht him. In Ca. you're not allowed to use deadly force against a person who is trying to get away and is not threatening you. Even if I had winged him with a non lethal shot I would have been sued, and anyway nothing I have is worth taking even a scumbags life...

I would not be sorry in the least for injury to the crook(s), but most of us, more and more every day, live in areas where the opportunity for collateral damage and injury to innocent bystanders is too high to be firing off shots over lost property.

quote Originally posted by Freshj: I'm pretty sure roger is in TX. He can legally shoot. I once watched a repo show where they took a guys car in Texas. He drove after them firing shots out of his car at the tow truck. When the cops came they questioned him and let him go, because he was with in his rights, as he assumed his car was being stolen. Moral of the story, don't steal things or be a repo man in Texas, you will be shot at .

he's in oh high oh.

doesn't look good.
It's been over a month now.

Do you have a car to drive or are you down to driving your V8 Fiero? If you need a car I have an old 84 that had a 2200 installed. Its rough and needs lots of work and TLC, if its something your interested in send me a PM.

I'm good, I bought a 96 grand am last year so I would have a 4 seater car for the family

quote Originally posted by buddycraigg: I'm good, I bought a 96 grand am last year so I would have a 4 seater car for the family

Cool, I know what its like to be without a car. Its not much but I was glad to get it when my DD broke down.

quote Originally posted by dratts: You're lucky you didn't hit someone in the van. I fired off three shots at the thief who took a portable generator from me making sure I didn't ht him. In Ca. you're not allowed to use deadly force against a person who is trying to get away and is not threatening you. Even if I had winged him with a non lethal shot I would have been sued, and anyway nothing I have is worth taking even a scumbags life. I sure do hate the people who would rather take something from me instead of earning it like I did though. I wish there was a way to punish thieves without costing us taxpayers a fortune for prosecution and incarceration.

No, they are lucky he didn't hit someone. I will do the same thing out here, my brother-in-law is really lucky I fired a warning shot first when he went to borrow my trailer and not ask.

I'm still waiting for the guy that siphons our gas to come back. He'll be in the hospital if he is lucky. I'm in Missouri, it's legal here to protect your property with everything you can, and I always have.

Brad

she's back home.

a co-worker told me she thought she saw it this morning.
so I went where she said it was tonight after work.

After i saw it, I called the cops.
they showed up but didn't do anything other than tell me to drive it home or have it towed... NICE!

I haven't been able to check it out yet, because it's dark and I have too much customer stuff that needs to be done.
But it appears to be in one piece.

Glad to hear it's back. hope it's still in the shape it left in.

awesome dude ! i thought it might show,that was too weird congrats

quote Originally posted by buddycraigg: After i saw it, I called the cops. they showed up but didn't do anything other than tell me to drive it home or have it towed... NICE!

You should report them to thier supervisor, I wonder if now that you have it back if they will make you pay for running the read light

Glad its back home, hope that you dont have anymore trouble over it.

All right! Glad to hear you got it back at least. What a bunch of pathetic, worthless 'public servants' though.

Finally, a good story.

Tony

Glad to see you got it back!

Every time I drive into Chicago, I worry about coming out of some place and my car not being there. I forgot where I parked it once in Ikea's parking lot and flipped out. The State Police came and we drove all over the lot until I found it.

They weren't too thrilled with me but screw 'em. That's part of the job, IMHO.

quote Originally posted by buddycraigg: she's back home. a co-worker told me she thought she saw it this morning. so I went where she said it was tonight after work. After i saw it, I called the cops. they showed up but didn't do anything other than tell me to drive it home or have it towed... NICE! I haven't been able to check it out yet, because it's dark and I have too much customer stuff that needs to be done. But it appears to be in one piece.

Couldn't they have at least dusted for prints ??

[This message has been edited by exoticse (edited 09-22-2009).]

Nice to read a happy ending every now and then.
Now go buy some lottery tickets, your on a roll.

quote Originally posted by exoticse: Couldn't they have at least dusted for prints ??

I asked them about that.

just because your prints are in the car, doesn't prove that you are the one that stole it.

quote Originally posted by buddycraigg: After i saw it, I called the cops. They showed up but didn't do anything other than tell me to drive it home or have it towed... NICE!

Amazing! Did they bust out the steering?

For how long you've already been without it, you should have told them you could wait a little longer and they should stake it out and catch the perp IN THE ACT of driving it.

quote Originally posted by KurtAKX: For how long you've already been without it, you should have told them you could wait a little longer and they should stake it out and catch the perp IN THE ACT of driving it.

I asked them to stake it out.
they wanted nothing to do with it.