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Car stolen with homemade GPS tracker in backseat

blues.io

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Re: Car stolen with homemade GPS tracker in backseat

#71

Post by withinboredom »

axiosgunnar wrote: post #61
kingcharles wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The definition of theft is to take something with the intent to not return it. Once you found the backpack, you would have to return it to the thief for it not to be theft. Hopefully you wouldn't get prosecuted, but you are then at the whim of the prosecutor. If the thief calls it in you've created a bad situation. I was in jail and saw weird crimes like this. A guy bought some dope for $40 from a dealer, but only ha…

What is WTF about the story?

That they called 911 over $20 in an illegal transaction?

Re: Car stolen with homemade GPS tracker in backseat

#72

Post by withinboredom »

itronitron wrote: post #28
null0ranje wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The entire article had an odd vibe to it. Either the crime didn't actually happen, or it's just a distasteful example of turning the victims of a felony into a marketing opportunity.

Yeah, it's either a total fabrication or a great example of how to write up a true story that sounds like BS.

I’m sure the original was fantastic until the company’s editors got their hands on it.

Re: Car stolen with homemade GPS tracker in backseat

#73

Post by Nextgrid »

mywittyname wrote: post #17
recursive wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I really don't think it's so much worse than walking into a situation with unknown criminals, which most of us probably do on a consistent basis. I would definitely just go get my car back. I would probably try to do it at a time when there wouldn't be a confrontation, but it may happen.

Yeah, at least you can be prepared. Bring a friend ready to call for help, video tape everything, etc. Despite what cops would have you believe, criminals aren't dumb. Most will recognize that it would be a bad idea to bring cops to the place they are apparently holding stolen cars. So if they know you brought an unknown number of witnesses prepared to call 911, they will probably back off. After all, it's pretty eas…

Indeed, I'd assume most of them know that if you found the car and are there, it's likely that others (friends/etc) also know of the location. It's in their best interests to let you "steal" the car back and (most likely) resolve the problem for good than escalating it into more violence where it's likely to result in them not only getting in trouble for the initial theft but also the subsequent violence.

Re: Car stolen with homemade GPS tracker in backseat

#74

Post by awb »

Fatnino wrote: post #63
awb wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Probably just the criminals. It should be easy enough to prove to the police that you don’t have the means or motive to acquire those illegal goods. However, if you’re mixed up in illegal activity then yeah it might look bad.

In a few years you're sitting at a red light and a cop happens to be behind you. Cop idly runs your plates because what stopping him? Car comes back as stolen since you reported it stolen and no one ever corrected that when you stole it back. Enjoy your night in jail.

But it's your car and the name on your driver's license matches the name on the title and the DMV registration?

Re: Car stolen with homemade GPS tracker in backseat

#75

Post by pinephoneguy »

ada1981 wrote: post #67
abyssin wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What if the car is used to store valuable and illegal goods? And a big amount of them? Now you’re the target of both the criminals and the police.

Quoted post unavailable.

No post body was provided.

Re: Car stolen with homemade GPS tracker in backseat

#76

Post by awb »

jsqu99 wrote: post #40
nostromo wrote: post #3

Some people don't know that you absolutely are allowed to take back your stolen property. You don't need to involve the police unless you want to. Repo folks do this all the time. Keep an extra key for your car at home and put an Airtag in your car. If it's stolen, just go get it back when it's safe to do so. Calling the police in most American cities won't get you far. They usually can't pursue a speeding car anymor…

are you allowed to show up armed, in case they are waiting for you? If you end up in a shootout, will you be considered the aggressor? Seems dangerous to me

> are you allowed to show up armed, in case they are waiting for you

Every US state has slightly different laws about open carry and concealed carry laws in public. They also have different rules about self-defense.

There was a case recently where a guy sat in his own garage with a shotgun (due to some recent burglaries) and shot an intruder. He was charged with murder. I think because 1) it was pre-meditated (he expected an intruder and intended to kill them), 2) his life was not in imminent danger (the intruder had no weapons) 3) he made no attempt to de-escalate the situation and did not fire a warning shot or tell the person to leave.

I think California is like this where you are obligated to not be the aggressor, even on your own property, and must make attempts at a non-lethal de-escalation if your life is not in immediate danger. But then there are states where you can "stand your ground" in public and defend your property with lethal force. So, it all depends on local laws.

Re: Car stolen with homemade GPS tracker in backseat

#77

Post by awb »

Nextgrid wrote: post #73
mywittyname wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, at least you can be prepared. Bring a friend ready to call for help, video tape everything, etc. Despite what cops would have you believe, criminals aren't dumb. Most will recognize that it would be a bad idea to bring cops to the place they are apparently holding stolen cars. So if they know you brought an unknown number of witnesses prepared to call 911, they will probably back off. After all, it's pretty eas…

Indeed, I'd assume most of them know that if you found the car and are there, it's likely that others (friends/etc) also know of the location. It's in their best interests to let you "steal" the car back and (most likely) resolve the problem for good than escalating it into more violence where it's likely to result in them not only getting in trouble for the initial theft but also the subsequent violence.

Not every criminal is great at critical thinking, long-term planning or self control. Any element of surprise danger is going to trigger a flight or fight response.

Re: Car stolen with homemade GPS tracker in backseat

#78

Post by Sohcahtoa82 »

awb wrote: post #74
Fatnino wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In a few years you're sitting at a red light and a cop happens to be behind you. Cop idly runs your plates because what stopping him? Car comes back as stolen since you reported it stolen and no one ever corrected that when you stole it back. Enjoy your night in jail.

But it's your car and the name on your driver's license matches the name on the title and the DMV registration?

That won't stop them from sending half a dozen cops to beat the shit out of you before even asking you questions.

https://youtu.be/X54YNnZMq-M

Re: Car stolen with homemade GPS tracker in backseat

#79

Post by mannykannot »

withinboredom wrote: post #70
mannykannot wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is not a repossession situation, so it is not obvious that the law is the same as it is with repossession.

Isn’t it literally repossessed when you steal back your car.

Not in the sense nwiswell is using the term, where the issue is the legal obligations that surround the case of repossession in response to loan default. Context matters.

Even more to the point, driving your own car is not stealing it, either.

Re: Car stolen with homemade GPS tracker in backseat

#80

Post by earleybird »

awb wrote: post #74
Fatnino wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In a few years you're sitting at a red light and a cop happens to be behind you. Cop idly runs your plates because what stopping him? Car comes back as stolen since you reported it stolen and no one ever corrected that when you stole it back. Enjoy your night in jail.

But it's your car and the name on your driver's license matches the name on the title and the DMV registration?

No problem with the car and its owner, however "It appears you've filed a false police report; that's an offense son; step out of the vehicle with your hands in clear sight"
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