Stolen 914 on Ebay, Purchased from Camp 914 a year ago and then stolen. Options

[cuca914]

So I think your in denial. The car was towed (NOT STOLEN) from the streets of Oakland with the non conforming plates (Illegal) which you thought "looked good". While you were in Mongolia or France or Chile or whereever you were, you lacked the sense of placing your car in a secure place. If you had put the correct plates on it or took it off the street than your problem might not have existed in the first place. But you did not. You expected the Tax payers of Oakland to store your car on public streets with an out of state plate that was registered to someone else. No one should suffer the foolishness of others. Do you honestly believe a judge would concur with you?

Judging by your illogical thinking, it looks like you believe that Aaron 'deserved' to have the car stolen/towed/whatever, which is irrelevant. Unless you can prove that Aaron was involved in the disappearance and somehow profitted from it, it really doesn't matter does it? I think you're pissed because you bought a stolen car, either knowingly or unknowingly, and the people here on this board called you on it. Will Aaron get his car back? I don't really think you'll have any bearing on that unless you do the right thing and hand it over. Like he said, the authorities will ulimately decide. Just don't piss and moan if the dime comes down on you a little for being involved.

[Lou W]

I've read this thread from the begining and the facts are simple. The owner of this car never gave up ownership of the car. It was reported stolen when he knew it was stolen. He never signed off of the ownership by either transfering ownership to a insurance company visa settlement or by abandonment. The fact that it was re-titled several times after it was stolen has no bearing on who's name is on a title to it now. It is the property of the original owner until such time as he surenders ownership.

I just hope "Smokey" has the opinion from the CHP officer in writing. If I remember from the last stolen 914 thread, possesion of a stolen 914 is good for 6 months in jail with bail set at $1,000,000

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

[grantsfo]

I'd love to see you guys go to mediation on this one. I dont think Aarons case is very solid. Clearly both sides of this dispute smell fishy to me. I think any mediator worth their salt would find some contributory negligence from the original owner in this case.

[PeeGreen 914]

I'd love to see you guys go to mediation on this one. I dont think Aarons case is very solid. Clearly both sides of this dispute smell fishy to me. I think any mediator worth their salt would find some contributory negligence from the original owner in this case.

I don't know about that. If I were the mediator I think I would have to side with Aaron. Yes, the person he left his car with wasn't responsibe enough to keep a watchful eye on the car, but is that really Aaron's fault the he put his trust into a guy that didn't care? I don't think so. Where was Aaron's negligence? The fact he was traveling is not a reason to say he was negligent at all. He set up provisions for his possesions, but they unfortunately were with someone who didn't pay any attention. Is that his fault? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif)

[robby750]

I'd love to see you guys go to mediation on this one. I dont think Aarons case is very solid. Clearly both sides of this dispute smell fishy to me. I think any mediator worth their salt would find some contributory negligence from the original owner in this case.

How on earth are you negligent if someone steals your car? Would you feel the same way if it were YOUR car?

[jwhcars]

If my car was stolen and I knew who had it and where it was located I would show up with all my documents and go to the police and have the car impounded.
In this modern age there is no need to wait weeks for paper work etc.If someone wants a notorized copy rather than a faxed or emailed copy you send it next day air delivery.
I would suspect you could get someone to handle the reporting and paper work for less than the $600.00 flight .(There are a lot of people on this site in Ca)
Good luck in your recovery........Just my 2 cents

[PeeGreen 914]

If my car was stolen and I knew who had it and where it was located I would show up with all my documents and go to the police and have the car impounded.
In this modern age there is no need to wait weeks for paper work etc.If someone wants a notorized copy rather than a faxed or emailed copy you send it next day air delivery.
I would suspect you could get someone to handle the reporting and paper work for less than the $600.00 flight .(There are a lot of people on this site in Ca)
Good luck in your recovery........Just my 2 cents

That may not be too wise as there are many complications that need to be worked out in this situation. I think Aaron is searching out his options very well at the moment.

[grantsfo]

I'd love to see you guys go to mediation on this one. I dont think Aarons case is very solid. Clearly both sides of this dispute smell fishy to me. I think any mediator worth their salt would find some contributory negligence from the original owner in this case.

How on earth are you negligent if someone steals your car? Would you feel the same way if it were YOUR car?

Are you 100% sure somone stole the car originally? Its never been clear to me it was actually stolen. Reporting a car stolen and it actually being stolen are two different circumstances. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stirthepot.gif)

Negligence portion would be leaving car on Oakland public streets with Oregon plates with no clear custody of the vehicle while planning to be out of the country for months. I'd love to hear the "freinds" side of the story. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/212.gif)

I suspect a lot is being left out of these posts on both sides. Smokey needed some people to take his side so I'm arguing his point here. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yappin.gif)

I'd love to see any competent judge's face when presented with what we have seen here. I suspect both parties would get that irritated look over the top of his or her glasses. I have been through enough mediation sessions to know niether party has presented a rock solid case.

....OK just so I piss off everyone. Who in the hell is this Smokey guy anyway? Does he even have current title? Who is his mysterious partner? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif)

[smokey]

I'd love to see you guys go to mediation on this one. I dont think Aarons case is very solid. Clearly both sides of this dispute smell fishy to me. I think any mediator worth their salt would find some contributory negligence from the original owner in this case.

How on earth are you negligent if someone steals your car? Would you feel the same way if it were YOUR car?

Are you 100% sure somone stole the car originally? Its never been clear to me it was actually stolen. Reporting a car stolen and it actually being stolen are two different circumstances. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stirthepot.gif)

Negligence portion would be leaving car on Oakland public streets with Oregon plates with no clear custody of the vehicle while planning to be out of the country for months. I'd love to hear the "freinds" side of the story. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/212.gif)
Thank U.
I suspect a lot is being left out of these posts on both sides. Smokey needed some people to take his side so I'm arguing his point here. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yappin.gif)

I'd love to see any competent judge's face when presented with what we have seen here. I suspect both parties would get that irritated look over the top of his or her glasses. I have been through enough mediation sessions to know niether party has presented a rock solid case.

....OK just so I piss off everyone. Who in the hell is this Smokey guy anyway? Does he even have current title? Who is his mysterious partner? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif)

[rhodyguy]

kaiser sousee.

k

[smokey]

thank u grant. The mystery man dose not want to be slammed . on a site he likes. He is a teener..

[PeeGreen 914]

Hey Grant

He has already stated a few times that it was not left on the street. I must agree that it would be interesting to hear the friends story as he was the one around when it was stolen.

[PeeGreen 914]

thank u grant. The mystery man dose not want to be slammed . on a site he likes. He is a teener..

Nor should you be slammed. Like I have said before, you are both in a chitty situation. You didn't do anything knowing that the car had any cloud on it. Too bad you can't buy title insurance when you buy a car like when purchasing a home or real property.

[grantsfo]

Hey Grant

He has already stated a few times that it was not left on the street. I must agree that it would be interesting to hear the friends story as he was the one around when it was stolen.

He already said it was parked on the street - his "custodian" for the car left it on the street. Its unclear that it was ever not on the street. Was he paying his freind rent for a space to store the car off public streets? Any reciepts?

The whole story just breaks down. It did before in original posts and still does now.

[PeeGreen 914]

I don't know about you, but I have many friends that if I were going away for a time they would watch all my stuff for free. Not only that, but they would be insulted if I tried to pay rent. Now some of those friends I would trust more than others, and some I would rather die before I trusted my cars to them. Just because they are a friend does not make them responsible (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) At any rate, It would be interesting to hear what this frind has to say about it all. This whole situation sucks for both parties, butI strongly believe that the car still rightly belongs to Aaron as he never released his interest in the property.

[ammason]

I don't know about you, but I have many friends that if I were going away for a time they would watch all my stuff for free. Not only that, but they would be insulted if I tried to pay rent. Now some of those friends I would trust more than others, and some I would rather die before I trusted my cars to them. Just because they are a friend does not make them responsible (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) At any rate, It would be interesting to hear what this frind has to say about it all. This whole situation sucks for both parties, butI strongly believe that the car still rightly belongs to Aaron as he never released his interest in the property.

The story with my friend goes like this:

When I was planning my trip, I was supposed to be gone a month. I left the car in the care of my friend, and a month later, when I found out about the sailing gig, the friend said he'd be happy to continue to take care of the car. About 2 months later he moved a few blocks down the street, and decided that he didn't want to drive the car much because it had developed an oil leak. What 914 doesn't? The place he moved to was a loft building that didn't have parking for his motorcycle, his truck, and my car, so he left it parked where it had been, informed his neighbors, and made sure to keep checking on it. Then one day it was gone, and seeing as there was street cleaning, he figured it's been towed. I got back, we went to look in the tow yards, and you guys know the rest of the story.

I never paid rent for my friend to look after the car - that just never came up. Why would money have to go between friends? I do a lot of favors for people, and being the kind of person who lets a friend drive my Porsche while I'm away is probably the reason why a few months later a different friend flew me to Egypt via Amsterdam and paid for all our expenses. I could've just stored the car at my dad's winery, but instead I chose to pay for the insurance so my friend could enjoy my car while I wasn't able to.

If trusting my friend to look after my car was a mistake, then fine, I trusted a friend - I'll take that blame anytime; I have lots of friends and I trust them all - but that hardly constitutes justification for someone laying claim to my stolen car.

[dflesburg]

Glad all you guys are on the left coast....

Stay over there.

[Sam Charters]

This is one of those sad situations, Smokey you surely saw the piece on the news about the old T-bird that was gone for thirty one years and was returned to the owner that it was stolen from in California. It very much sounds to me like you unknowingly bought stolen property.

[por73914]

Here in Arkansas we have what is called a bonded title. I buy a car without a title (from a tow yard or shop) I have to send paperwork to the state with make, model, vin, and so on. They in return send me back a form to fill out and a $number that I have to get a bond from a insurance company iin that amount. The state then issues me a title in MY name and I can resale the car to anybody and the buyer and myself is protected by that bond in case there are future claims against the car. I would think since there is a "lien service" involved that there should be some kind of recourse with them. With that said, even though Smokey bought the car on good faith and has a title (although not in his name) the 914 should be returned to the rightful owner and Smokey and all the other "owners" should go back to the Lien service and the state.

[smokey]

I don't know about you, but I have many friends that if I were going away for a time they would watch all my stuff for free. Not only that, but they would be insulted if I tried to pay rent. Now some of those friends I would trust more than others, and some I would rather die before I trusted my cars to them. Just because they are a friend does not make them responsible (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) At any rate, It would be interesting to hear what this frind has to say about it all. This whole situation sucks for both parties, butI strongly believe that the car still rightly belongs to Aaron as he never released his interest in the property.

The story with my friend goes like this:

When I was planning my trip, I was supposed to be gone a month. I left the car in the care of my friend, and a month later, when I found out about the sailing gig, the friend said he'd be happy to continue to take care of the car. About 2 months later he moved a few blocks down the street, and decided that he didn't want to drive the car much because it had developed an oil leak. What 914 doesn't? The place he moved to was a loft building that didn't have parking for his motorcycle, his truck, and my car, so he left it parked where it had been, informed his neighbors, and made sure to keep checking on it. Then one day it was gone, and seeing as there was street cleaning, he figured it's been towed. I got back, we went to look in the tow yards, and you guys know the rest of the story.

I never paid rent for my friend to look after the car - that just never came up. Why would money have to go between friends? I do a lot of favors for people, and being the kind of person who lets a friend drive my Porsche while I'm away is probably the reason why a few months later a different friend flew me to Egypt via Amsterdam and paid for all our expenses. I could've just stored the car at my dad's winery, but instead I chose to pay for the insurance so my friend could enjoy my car while I wasn't able to.

If trusting my friend to look after my car was a mistake, then fine, I trusted a friend - I'll take that blame anytime; I have lots of friends and I trust them all - but that hardly constitutes justification for someone laying claim to my stolen car.

Gee Aaron, how is this car stolen! Please prove that!? CHP said it should have never been reported stolen because it never WAS stolen. You have a car down the street with the wrong plates on it being watched by a "friend" in Oakland and street cleaning. The car WAS TOWED NOT STOLEN! They (Tow Company)did not contact you because the plate that "looked good" was not you! And by the time you looked in the tow yards it was liened. You should know well enough that cars are towed from the street and complexes in the Bay Area 100's of times a day. Just go to City tow in San Francisco. Your incompetence in storing your car on the streets of Oakland or in a complex (where all it takes is 1 complaint), puting the compliant plates on it and trusting the wrong "friend" has led to your loss. That is a lack of thought of care in your vehicle. Not eveyone is on your timetable! REPEAT this car was not stolen!

You can butter up all the people on this site with your thanks and praise, yet I can't afford your foolishness. I stopped the auction originally to take the time to contact CHP as well as friends in Law enforcement, counsel etc. and give you the benefit of the doubt. I understood your loss and the discussion was to get you your car back.
Then for 3 weeks you never once contacted me. Correct? No effort on your part to provide detailed proof of anything but incompetence. You have also failed to demonstrate any seriosness in settlement. No communication whatsoever. Yet I read all the fourm threads in great detail. "I" am just a theif with a "stolen?" car, no morals, class, heart, that needs to be snuffed! "I" should give the car back, "I" should go after the lein company, "I" should get an insurance company to pay me back my funds? On the fricken contrary.
This wholething Disgusts me! You never intended to pay the costs at all. You want me to store the car for a few months until you find somebody somewhere to give you your old car. Get real, That's not going to happen.! I have legal title on this car. I bought the car legally. I have done nothing wrong! You on the otherhand have been inept on all fronts. This ludicrous situation was never of "my" choosing