Very OT: Stolen Stereo

This is kind of a long story.... That goes back a
while...

So, in probabally september or october of 2008,
our neighbors of all people wanted me to bushhog
their field... Its probabally about twenty acres
or so...

One sunny day the next weekend, i did...

But then no money seemed to show up... They "Just
diddnt have it right now" every time i asked...

I dont remember when this was, but i do remember
it was sunny and warm and the grass was growing
and there were leaves on the trees...

Then one snowy wintery day, they asked me if i
wanted a car stereo/CD player instead of money...

This was months later, and l had figured out l
wasnt getting any money... So i might as well take
the CD player... Its something... And it might
even cover the fuel I burned for these people if i
sold it..

So, I agreed and a few days later, my phone rang
and i went over and this really shady guy was
there with like a dozen of the things... The
neighbor told me to choose one and so l did and
headed back home.

I decided i was going to put it in my ranger
sometime...

And never really got to it.

I was talking to the neighbors one day when i
needed some money for something or other, and
asked if they wanted to buy it back by chance...
They declined and i said it was fine... Id
probabally just put it on ebay or craigslist...
And he then freaked out telling me not to, since
he "Diddnt know where it came from"...


He got arrested on drug charges shortly after...

That, and the screwdriver marks on the side of
this thing, and the wiring looking like it got a
good tug make it pretty clear where its from....

I feel like one of those people that just cant
catch a break, no matter what...

As if i dont allready have enough to worry
about...

I got ripped off, jipped, and mistreated so often
here when i would try to find some honest work to
do, that i just stopped trying... Thats one reason
my projects havent gotten very far lately...

But to top that all off now i have hot stuff in my
shop.

Id really like to take this to the dayton police
station and just give it to them, so hopefully it
could find its way back to its owner, but i
allready got ripped off by these a$$holes and
theres no way im getting arrested for them.

The other part of me says put a couple slugs
through it, toss it in a fire and bury it in the
back 40.

Any ideas?? What kind of trouble could i get into
for turning this in?? I had no idea it was stolen
when i got it....

Just bring it to the cops and tell them what you told us.

And one thing you need to learn is that nobody can take advantage of you unless you let them.

lanse, to give you peace of mind, just stop by the local sherrifs office, tell them about the guy that owed you money and he gave you the radio in lieu of payment. tell them you think now that it may be stolen. then you shouldn't have to worry about it anymore. glenn

Lanse
Next time get the money upfront!
another lesson learned.

Police are not worth the hassle and risk. Receiving stolen property is a crime. They might not believe your story. The best thing to do is put it in the fire and chalk it up as a lesson learned for the future. If you really want to turn it into the police send it to them by mail with a note, wear gloves and no return address of course.. That way it may get returned and there is no risk of arrest for you.

Glenn - before I retired I worked in road construction. We were putting up new signs all over S. Illinois, and at one location I found a bank bag containing a whole bunch of uncashed checks, all made out to a local clothing store. At lunch time, my boss and I thought we'd do the right thing and return this bag and contents to the store. At the store, the owner accused US of stealing the bag from her store, and called the police. Of course, we waited as the police screamed to the scene. Thankfully, the cops finally believed our story and we left. The owner never was convinced, at least in our presence, that we were not the people who had robbed the store.

As much as I hate a thief, it's a horrible feeling to be accused of theft.

Made me think REAL hard about "getting involved" after that.

In Lanse's situation, I'm sure the "neighbors" would deny everything and leave Lanse hanging.

I would get the radio off of my property immediately, and never get involved with those people again.

Paul

The fact the guy was charged with a drug offence speaks volumes. People that are into drugs will do anything and everything to get money to buy more drugs. Who do you think is more believable, you or a druggie? You could file a small claim against them if you really wanted to but it's probably best to just let it go. I was hired to cut some really tall grass on a fancy acreage that was for sale. After the lady showed me what she wanted done, she left and never returned. I tried calling several times and never got an answer or returned call so I went back and got the realtors number on the sign out front. Amazingly, I got a call the next day from the owner wanting my address, so she could send a cheque. Of course she had a bunch of phony baloney excuses but I the realtor tuned her in that I could stop the sale of the property or at least put a lien against it. It was probably at least a $500,000 property. Dave

Many police jurisdictions have a hotline where you can call in tips and remain annomous. Call the hotline, give them them a basic description of the item, but dont tell them the brand name.

Then if they contact you back, however they do that, make the police identify the brand of the unit that they might have reported as stolen.

If they cannot identify correctly the item you have, then they can't claim it. If anything ever comes up while you have the stereo in your posession you will have the evidence that you attempted to report what you had.

If the do say they have a unit of this brand and type reported as stolen, you might even get a reward for getting them charged.

And you should be able to remain unknown through this whole process. I think they assign you a case number or something to refer back to.

I turned someone in through our states Operation Game Thief program a long time ago.

Good luck, Gene

And remember, "In God we trust, all others pay cash"

stay as far away form the cops as you can. BUT the sterio is someone else's property. Wipe it down. and leave it near the front door of the cop shop late at night. or somewhere else where LEO can find it and return it to the owner. (but most likly they will just keep it for themselfs)

In my state, there is a charge: receiving stolen property. You CAN do time for that. The charge is NOT "KNOWINGLY" receiving stolen property; it's simply "receiving stolen property." John Law's job is NOT to be your friend; it is NOT to administer justice. It is to make arrests in sufficient numbers to justify his department's budget.

Take that worthless stereo and chuck it in the bottom of a gravel pit and forget about it. If you do a job get paid in cash up front and stop hanging around with shady people.I can't believe how people will risk going to prison over a piece of junk stereo that might not work that they got from a crack head when you can buy NEW stereos all day long down at Wal Mart for less than $90 bucks. Get it gone today and don't write about it on the internet.

I'd stay away from the law. They're going to question you from all directions. First thing that will go through their minds is you stole it, then after thinking about it you turned into an overnight christian, got a concience and want to give it back.

I applaud you for wanting to find the owner. We know you're a good honest gentleman but they don't. Jim

A friend of mine found a camera in a bag at a country concert last summer.He gave it to a cop on the grounds and the officer asked his name.He was told that if no one claimed it in 30 days it was his.The camera owner got his camera back and said a 200 dollar lens was missing out of the bag and now he wants my friend to pay for it.The cops said he should pay him the 200 or it could cost him a lot more if the guy wanted to press charges.

The chances of tracing that radio back to its owner are slim. Just the same, I wouldn't try to sell it. Throw it in the trash and don't have anything to do with these crooks again.

Oh, if anything turns up missing in your shop, you now know who took it.

Or you could listen to that thing that God gave you which tells you right and wrong and take it to the police station. If you believe that something is not properly acquired and you fail to attempt to find the proper owner isn't that theft in its own right?

If you are really worried about the penalty side of it keep in mind that while receiving stolen property is illegal, it needs to be known to you that it is stolen (think pawn shop). Destroying stolen property (or property believed to be stolen) is much more illegal. Keep in mind that the guy you got it from could/would be willing to flip on you as well.

As for all the advice you got to break the law by tossing it etc, all I can do is shake my head in disgust and amazement.

Doing the right thing doesn't usually mean doing the easiest thing.