I think I found my stolen stuff on Craigslist

**Acevalefor** · 2012-03-28 11:13

So, last sunday I had a truck canopy stolen out of my yard. Today, I found a listing on craigslist that looks suspiciously like my canopy. It even describes a broken window that was replaced with plexiglass. The window was broken when I had it, so my guess is that the seller put plexiglass in it. Anyways, what can I legally do to get it back? The cops around here are useless for getting stolen shit back because if you can't prove definitively that it is yours, they won't do anything. Do I just lead the seller on and make them believe I am a potential buyer? Then when I identify the canopy, call them out on it? Do I just go take the thing back if I know it's mine? It's not like they will report it stolen if they stole it in the first place...What I really want to do is beat them with a steel pipe then cut off a few digits as a memento of the theft.

**Avanarius** · 2012-03-28 11:18

Originally Posted by Acevalefor

What I really want to do is beat them with a steel pipe then cut off a few digits as a memento of the theft.

Definitely this.

And make sure you call the police before doing this too, then they'll definitely side with you and your stolen trunk.

**Senji** · 2012-03-28 11:26

Originally Posted by Avanarius

Definitely this.

And make sure you call the police before doing this too, then they'll definitely side with you and your stolen trunk.

Call first, and approach alone initially with your friends holding the pipes out of eyesight a bit.

**Dantrag** · 2012-03-28 11:28

Do these things have serial numbers?

**Acevalefor** · 2012-03-28 11:34

They have a manufacturer stamped plate with a part number and a manufacture date. I have only had this truck for 3 weeks. I'm not even positive of the manufacturer. I took the canopy off of it to haul some dirt and clean up the canopy a bit. There is a 4' ditch all the way around my house with the exception of my driveway which is blocked by other vehicles parked there. Someone was really desperate to take a 400 lb canopy across a 4' ditch filled with stagnant nasty water. I tried to report it stolen but couldn't provide proof of ownership so the lady at the police department didn't take me seriously...The biggest problem I see right now is that it is being sold in washington and it was stolen from oregon. The departments don't share information.

**TheTaru** · 2012-03-28 11:42

Originally Posted by Acevalefor

What I really want to do is beat them with a steel pipe then cut off a few digits as a memento of the theft.

Just make sure you put an iced tea and some Skittles in the guy's pocket. Because you have a mote around your house, the Castle Law definitely applies.

**Acevalefor** · 2012-03-28 11:53

Originally Posted by TheTaru

Just make sure you put an iced tea and some Skittles in the guy's pocket. Because you have a mote around your house, the Castle Law definitely applies.

I love it! I wasn't even thinking about Castle Law!

**Acevalefor** · 2012-03-28 13:16

No response yet, but I found out that Portland has a task force that spends all day just hunting down stolen items on craigslist. That's gotta be a shitty job.

**Brill Weave** · 2012-03-28 14:55

Going to play devil's advocate on this one.

They have a manufacturer stamped plate with a part number and a manufacture date. I have only had this truck for 3 weeks. I'm not even positive of the manufacturer.

If this is the case, how are you going to be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt it belongs to you? I'm sure there are tons of canopies out there that are broken and have replaced plexiglass parts. Do you have any pictures of it? Anything that could potentially prove it's yours other than your word?

I don't think any police department in the country is going to just hand you something because you "think" it's yours. Good luck with it though Ace. I've had shit stolen from me as well. When I did find the kid that did it(because he was dumb enough to try to sell my shit back to me) I walked away with two broken knuckles from striking his face repeatedly. He couldn't call the cops because he knew he would get pinched for B&E. It was like a party that only my fists were invited to.

**Acevalefor** · 2012-03-28 15:00

That's my point with the police being useless Brill. I can't prove anything other than some pictures of the truck that has the canopy on it, and my description of some of the specific broken shit on it. At this point, the best thing I can do is the same thing you did. The guy can't call the cops for stolen goods.

**Penthesilea** · 2012-03-28 16:39

Steal it back?

**Ghost_Wheel22** · 2012-03-28 17:16

Sucks Oregon doesn't have Castle Doctrine, but we're like 90% there.

**Meresgi** · 2012-03-28 17:50

Originally Posted by Avanarius

Definitely this.

And make sure you call the police before doing this too, then they'll definitely side with you and your stolen trunk.

If the thief was wearing a hoodie they will.

**Warudo Ecksu** · 2012-03-28 18:10

Scun's dad had a similar situation happen last year. He had one of these installed at the end of the driveway for his new car.
http://www.smokinvette.com/corvettep...um/DSC3331.jpg
The one he purchased was a few hundred dollars, and within a week, it was stolen. It was bolted down with screws, but some dirty minority ripped it right up (neighbor saw the person and told us after it happened but didn't get license plate #). The SAME day it popped up on craigslist. Scun's dad said told the police he could prove it was his ramp b/c the person ripped it out of the ground but left the bolts behind plus there were some other specific markings etc etc, but in any case, the cops said sure you could prove it but this ramp is only worth a few hundred dollars so we don't care.

Long story short: If it's not worth a lot of money the police aren't going to help. You should steal it back yourself.

**Jeryhn** · 2012-03-28 23:21

My girlfriend apparently has experience with exactly this type of situation.

Her bike was stolen one day, and later (about 2 weeks) she saw a picture of it posted on Craigslist. What she did was arrange to meet the guy to buy it from him, she took a bunch of her larger friends with her on the buy along with a picture of herself riding the bike. She basically threatened to call the cops on the guy, who couldn't run when surrounded by her friends. He handed her the bike and ran.

She was also able to pick out it was her bike in the picture on the ad because of all the bumper stickers she puts on her bike to make it look gaudy as fuck.

**archibaldcrane** · 2012-03-28 23:28

Originally Posted by Jeryhn

My girlfriend apparently has experience with exactly this type of situation.

Her bike was stolen one day, and later (about 2 weeks) she saw a picture of it posted on Craigslist. What she did was arrange to meet the guy to buy it from him, she took a bunch of her larger friends with her on the buy along with a picture of herself riding the bike. She basically threatened to call the cops on the guy, who couldn't run when surrounded by her friends. He handed her the bike and ran.

She was also able to pick out it was her bike in the picture on the ad because of all the bumper stickers she puts on her bike to make it look gaudy as fuck.

I think this is the best way to go. Set up a meeting, bring your dudes, and if you're 100% sure it's yours, take it and leave.

**Guitarman** · 2012-03-28 23:30

I live in gresham, Ace. Swing by and pick me up, we'll put a tire iron through their skulls and post it on BG.

**archibaldcrane** · 2012-03-28 23:35

Make sure to thank him for patching up your broken window on your way out.

**Eticket** · 2012-03-29 01:20

Whoa, Valefor and Portland? Small world.

Originally Posted by Jeryhn

My girlfriend apparently has experience with exactly this type of situation.

Her bike was stolen one day, and later (about 2 weeks) she saw a picture of it posted on Craigslist. What she did was arrange to meet the guy to buy it from him, she took a bunch of her larger friends with her on the buy along with a picture of herself riding the bike. She basically threatened to call the cops on the guy, who couldn't run when surrounded by her friends. He handed her the bike and ran.

She was also able to pick out it was her bike in the picture on the ad because of all the bumper stickers she puts on her bike to make it look gaudy as fuck.

I'd go this route as well.

**Aidin** · 2012-03-29 05:30

Damn, portland PD and vancouver PD kind of suck on stuff like that. I have coworkers in both cities who have had stuff stolen and basically told too bad.

Take some friends, get your stuff back if you're 100% sure.

Just incase it isnt yours, I wouldn't contact him from traceable phones or email...

Thread: I think I found my stolen stuff on Craigslist

Thread Tools

I think I found my stolen stuff on Craigslist

Similar Threads

not mind safe no doubt so i think i found some1 worse than 2 girls one cup..

Latest Threads

Up & Coming Threads

Hottest Threads