STOLEN ..Need advice..

[304runner]

I had a new 7x4 gal dipped trailer stolen from my mates house about 2 years ago and I just received a phone call this morning from my mate saying he noticed it in his neighbors mates garage a couple of weeks ago.

It has distinctive marking on it that no other trailer would have, like motorbike wheel tracks welded to the front, one mag wheel off a VK and cement render splashed on the stock wheel which he confirmed after looking at it again last night.

Now the issue I have is that when I reported it to the cops they said that the recovery of a stolen trailer is very unlikely as a switch of the compliance plate and number plate is all that's needed, and exactly that has been done.

Now, the thief in question has moved out along with the trailer and moved into his parents place. I know the thief's name, and his fathers name(s) where he resides, which I passed onto a cop friend ( I hope he wont get audited) who has since given me the new address of the trailer.

What should I do....

* Take the trailer back old school

* Steal the trailer back and run the risk of being caught with it by the cops on the way home and then having to explain the fark around that's put me in the situation, and if I get it home safe have it re-birthed back. (not keen on this one)

*Tell the cops and have them go around there and then walk out with nothing because the trailer is registered in his name because he has slapped his old trailers plates ect on mine and they cant prove anything and more then likely cause him to sell the trailer in fear of the above scenarios.

Any advice would be good.....

Cheers

[luke23]

well depends what you mean by old school way, if you mean go around and bash his face in i wouldnt just incase he didnt actually steal it, he might have brought it of someone and doesnt deserve his face smashed in, and also mabey he hasnt swapped any compliance plates around, because if he had then he probly would have used the trailer more often and someone would have seen it by now annd told you, so mabey telling the cops would be best and if he did steal it might get in some trouble, just my opinion

[Rusty]

Would be such a shame if the theifs trailer was stolen and someone spilt paint stripper on ALL his vehicles in the process!

I would be fuming and plotting horrible horrible things! The cops wonder why people take justice into their own hands!

If you are certain it is him, make his life a misery! That's what I would do, I probably don't recommend it for others though.

Two wrongs DONT make a right but you will sure as hell sleep better that night!

[304runner]

well depends what you mean by old school way, if you mean go around and bash his face in i wouldnt just incase he didnt actually steal it, he might have brought it of someone and doesnt deserve his face smashed in,

I intended to put the staunch on him but just found out he is a bit of a nutter. He bashed his ex-wife and father-in-law two hours after his wedding so not someone I really want to deal with on a physical level. And the chances of him buying this trailer legit, are unlikely seeing his mate lived next door to where it was taken from.

[Jonno]

id go and take it one day when he inst home.

but i wouldnt damage any of his property.

take it back, #### him

[captaincupcake]

well if u dont wont to confront him on a physical level you could probably pay someone too. also if he beat up his wife he has it coming anyway. but if it were me i would wonna get the point across not to f@#k with me. But its not worth going to jail for ay

[elmaso]

you could try and out crazy him, if hes a mates mate, invite them round for a few, when he stats getting shitty, smash a bottle over your head then point the shards at him, if he doesnt back down hes 100% ####ing crazy.

really, it works, gets you out of situations, i haven't done i personally, but i've seen it be done.

[stuntmanmike]

That's bad news.
If you have reported it to the police authorities and they didn't do anything constructive for you: Forget about it. Guard your property like a hawk in future. Take photos of your belongings, insure them, and place personalised markings on them (eg your initials welded or stamped on the frame) in an obscure location and in an obvious spot.

Anything you can contrive to make this person "pay", considering that you have absolutely no doubt in his guilt, could result in your criminal conviction. That is simply not worth the hassle IMO.

I really feel bad for you that some low life scum did this and stole something that belongs to you. If you really want it back then that is your prerogative and I advise caution in how you address this matter.

Whatever you do: don't place a packaged box on his doorstep with a venomous snake in it like I just saw on the TV News. Shocking...

[calais24/7]

This is what i'd do. Keep an eye on his house, or get a mate to. Wait till he has gone and take the trailer back, and anything else valuable while your their. And re birth it back into your name.

[some_guy]

Good too see everyone offering such great legal advice -.-

Inform the police, see what they do.

Taking matters into your own hands will only end up making things worse.

[walesy]

take it back old school... break the ####ers kneecaps while your there,

dont understand why people seem to think they deserve other peoples hard earned possessions more than the owner.

[aaronevolution]

Two wrongs DONT make a right but you will sure as hell sleep better that night!

Your a poet and you didn't even know it.

[Banicks]

I would like to throw this in as a thought.

What if said neighbor purchased trailer from original thief, and in no way or place had anything to do with it being stolen in the first place.

I would report it to the police, and obviously point out the unique similarities of the trailer.

I wouldn't lower myself to their standards. At the end of the day, Karma will give each their own.

[elmaso]

Your a poet and you didn't even know it.

hahahahaha was that really called for? lol

[DLFHUB666]

well if u dont wont to confront him on a physical level you could probably pay someone too.

Yep, go see your local OMC, im sure for a couple of hundred bucks they will help you sort it out.

[304runner]

I would like to throw this in as a thought.

What if said neighbor purchased trailer from original thief, and in no way or place had anything to do with it being stolen in the first place.

The guy who has it is not my mates neighbor, my friend (who I loaned the trailer to) has a neighbor, who has a mate, who has my trailer...So clearly my mates neighbor knows all about it.

Bit of a mind fcuk but ya get what im say'n?

And for the life of me I cant find any pics of the Trailer on my PC anywhere... If I had a picture I would walk straight into the cops with the photo and the address of the trailer and I would almost 100% get my trailer back. But as I dont have a pic so I'm up shit creek.

[STEEV888]

Get your mate to admire and compliment him on the trailer ad tell him he is looking for a "cheap" trailer if the same kind, if he is crazy he is most likely desperate for friendship and stupid, he could slip up and say he bought it stolen from jonno next town over. If you choose to record such conversations then BAM.

[Banicks]

The guy who has it is not my mates neighbor, my friend (who I loaned the trailer to) has a neighbor, who has a mate, who has my trailer...So clearly my mates neighbor knows all about it.

Bit of a mind fcuk but ya get what im say'n?

And for the life of me I cant find any pics of the Trailer on my PC anywhere... If I had a picture I would walk straight into the cops with the photo and the address of the trailer and I would almost 100% get my trailer back. But as I dont have a pic so I'm up shit creek.

I understand. But just throwing it in there that said person who now has the trailer, may be innocent. We don't know the full story or life of the trailer, and perhaps in this situation it's best to be the better man and walk away without lowering your morales

[304runner]

perhaps in this situation it's best to be the better man and walk away without lowering your morales

I'm not letting some parasite on the worlds arse get away with stealing a Trailer worth near 2 grand.

I'll drive past his place tonight and see if its there or in locked away in the garage, and then weigh up my odds.

[87RB30VL]

I'd leave a note on his door saying "Give me back my trailer", "An eye for an eye" etc, each day. Or just ring the cops and see what they can do about it, you never know, they might be able to get it back.

[Asmodai78]

at the end of the day the guy is in possession of stolen goods, did you report it when it was stolen? if so see if you can get a copy of the report, was it insured?? etc etc, start getting evidence that you owned that particular trailer, photos would be the best thing, ID numbers, have you still got the reciept of when you first bought it ?? when you get all that if you can go back to the cops and say here is the evidence that i owned the trailer and thats this guy is in possession of stolen goods, fingers crossed they might act then.............. if not grab a few mates and wait for the guy to leave then go in a take it, i very much doubt that he will ring the cops to report a trailer that he stole stolen.

[GEN3RATD]

I'd leave a note on his door saying "Give me back my trailer", "An eye for an eye" etc, each day. Or just ring the cops and see what they can do about it, you never know, they might be able to get it back.

"i know what you did (insert expletive here)" combined with a horse head in the mail

[Drawnnite]

id ask him where he got the trailer from, as you have been looking at getting one similar to it.
you could just drop in and look like you want to ask questions, but make it look non suss (ie, no hooking it up to your car when you get there)
then if he is hesitant ask a few more questions and state, that you had one stolen just like this 2 years ago.
coz who knows, he may have bought it off the neighbour etc who could have stolen it

also dont trailers have code numbers welded onto it at the A frame.
or is that only done on some like Caravans etc?

[304runner]

Ok so I just got off the phone to the local Police Station and explained it all and this is what the had to say about it.

*If the trailer is out the front with my plates on it then the police will take possession of it.

*If I give the police the address where it may be stored in a garage they are only allowed to look at the trailer if given permission by the home owner or a warrant is issued. (which wont be)

Even then a picture needs to be supplied of the trailer so they have "due cause" to seize the trailer if they believe the pic and trailer match.

* If im 100% sure the trailer is mine and its out the front of the house with other plates on it " Then do what you gotta do, I don't want to know about it"

[Reaper]

Good too see everyone offering such great legal advice -.-

Inform the police, see what they do.

Taking matters into your own hands will only end up making things worse.

^^^^ that one.

Reaper