Auto-Shop Stealing Car Tires

[pogejr]

My mom recently bought a used CL Mercedes.
After the getting the car check up she learned that the O2 sensor needed replacing/fixing so she went on the advise of an acquaintance and went to a local auto-shop. It's a pretty nice car and after seeing the place, I would never have recommended her taking it there.

After the first trip there, it seemed as though two of the tires were replaced and there were some scratches on the rims. She couldn't prove anything because she just got the car and didn't actually see the tire brand. She bought 4 brand new tires for her car.

So fast forward a few months, and at a check up at the same place, something happens to be giving a warning light, according to the mechanics. She leaves it there overnight and the next day, my Uncle realizes that again, two of the tires were replaced. We have the receipts to prove this.

Stupidly, he confronted them about this and they claimed that they left the car in the possession of a different group and that that group had to remove the wheels for some reason.

So, my question is this:
Is the best action to report this to the authorities or to file a lawsuit or both? How solid is a case in this situation?

tl;dr
Mom took car to autoshop, tires stolen twice, have recipts, actions to take?

[jmc]

No question about it, file a police report ASAP so detectives can investigate.

[Byrd]

Mom took car to autoshop, tires stolen twice, have recipts, actions to take?

Either way, those people are responsible for the tires they removed. I would start with cops. There's a good chance that there may have been another complaint about it to the cops. Reporting to the cops also won't cost you any money. Plus, if they do catch them or even just keep an eye on them, you might save someone else the same fate. There's also the chance the cops will completely blow you off, but at least you've done what you can, and a complaint will be filed.

Then decide if you want to consult a laywer. Even in a successful suit, there's a decent chance you won't get any more than the cost of the tires back in payment, which means you'd lose money by hiring a lawyer, but you might be able to find a legal consultation for free to tell you if you do have a case.

Honestly, after filing the police report, she's probably just better off writing the tires off to a life lesson learned. What you get back from legal action almost assuredly won't be worth the time and money in takes to pursue it, unless you can find a number of other people with similar experiences.

[GRT]

i only let local indie shops do work on my car if it's an hour-long fixup where i can sit there and wait

if it's an overnight job, i take it to a dealer's shop

[SephYuyX]

Why did she go back to the same dump after being suspect after the first time?

[Brill Weave]

Just out of curiosity if she thought they stole tires before why the flying fuck did she take her car back? Sounds like she deserved to have the tires stolen for being an idiot.

[Jonny]

herpderp.jpg

but really thats just stupid

[darkhero168]

local media can do wonders at ruining people too if your story has enough support.

[pogejr]

First time no one was really sure and there's no way of confirming that. Even now it could be hindsight bias.
I'll take the cop's advice in this. Thanks.

[Spiral_Nemesis]

OooOOooo why didn't u record this!?!?!?!?

[Spiral_Nemesis]

Should have let me bring a mini bat..

[Callisto]

local media can do wonders at ruining people too if your story has enough support.

This. File a police report, and send an email to the local cbs/abc/etc affiliate's news office, they'll probably pounce on it.

[Pikarya]

Shops do this all the time, nothing really new. Even respectable ones get away with it since most casual car owners don't even know 99% of what their car comes with or has.

Had this happen once in NJ. They apologized and said it was a mistake. How does a 460 dollar set of tires "magically" end up off my wheels when I went for an emissions check.

[Pirian]

This is why you don't leave your car with them or go into their waiting room. Fuck that noise. Is it going to kill you to sit there and watch them work on your car for an hour? Hell, it will most likely get done faster since you'll be watching and they can't fuck around

[Callisto]

I'm not sure the last place I've been that actually allowed you out into the garage area

[Pirian]

I've never been to a garage that didn't. I have had them comment, but I just make casual conversation and "inquiries" into what's going on. I'm sure if you said "either I stay here or I go somewhere else" then they will let you stay. It's not like they're making big bucks and can afford to let you go

[kyod]

This is why you don't leave your car with them or go into their waiting room. Fuck that noise. Is it going to kill you to sit there and watch them work on your car for an hour? Hell, it will most likely get done faster since you'll be watching and they can't fuck around

You cannot be in the 'shop' portion while they work on your car. It's a big liability issue.

[Pirian]

I've been a big liability to a lot of shops then, lol

[Callisto]

Alternatively you could just keep a car like mine, if they stole my tires and replaced them they'd lose $150 on the deal

[pogejr]

Po-pos came and said they couldn't actually file a report because this was a civil matter (even though they actually stole our stuff).
But one of the cops also owned a Merc so he subtly supported us and told us to take the case to court and that they could vouch for us.