So, the police stole my buddies car trailer...

[Chili]

True. I used to frequent them and get some great deals, but now they are over crowded with hood rats, looking for a ride for their boo.

I've seen junk go for damn near retail.

Because of all of those flipping shows like Storage Wars, American Pickers, American Restoration, etc. Everyone see's how "easy" it is to make a ton of money so they try it to do it themselves.

Same reason there was a huge movement on flipping houses 10 - 15 years ago. A few people make good money on it, then the market gets flooded with others doing the same, only they don't know what the fuck they are doing.

[Broncojohnny]

This is incorrect from what I have seen anyways. It all depends on how much is owed to the bank. They don't routinely try to screw the bank as they are not the ones that committed the felony. It comes down to what the vehicle is worth, and if the department wants to pay it off through the bank and seize it. Say a guy owns a Viper worth 40k and owes 3k on it. Department might pay it off and seize it. I have never seen a department try to seize a vehicle when bunch was owed on it. Has nothing to do with the lawyers sitting around the banks being bored, as far as I have seen.

Years ago it was figured out a bunch of gentlemen had a fake company set up that was holding a fake lien on big money cars that were paid off by people doing bad things. I think the IRS stepped in and seized the business and every car attached to it, then divided it up. Like 10 or more cars and some high end exotics. There was a article in the paper on it as all the cars were held at a local PD.

I am not sure how I am incorrect. If the PD's claim to the property is so strong, why would they ever pay off the bank note?

Oh yea, if they don't pay it off, they get sued and they lose. Which is my entire point.

[bcoop]

I am not sure how I am incorrect. If the PD's claim to the property is so strong, why would they ever pay off the bank note?

I'm not saying you're wrong. But the PD's pay off the bank note for the sole purpose of theft profit.

[Broncojohnny]

I'm not saying you're wrong. But the PD's pay off the bank note for the sole purpose of theft profit.

Of course they do. The question is why do they bother? Do we believe they have some loyalty or duty towards the bank while stealing? Or is it because lenders will sue and their claim on the property is questionable at best? I think the answer is pretty obvious.

[kingjason]

I am not sure how I am incorrect. If the PD's claim to the property is so strong, why would they ever pay off the bank note?

Oh yea, if they don't pay it off, they get sued and they lose. Which is my entire point.

Because I have been around for these conversations. Your theory VS what I have seen in practice says your reading more into it then you should. The bank would be a innocent victim. This is always how it has been referred to. Now, has something like that ever happened before? Maybe. Just nothing I have ever seen or heard.

[Gasser64]

True. I used to frequent them and get some great deals, but now they are over crowded with hood rats, looking for a ride for their boo.

I've seen junk go for damn near retail.

Same thing I've seen, in my limited experience with these. But, that's also in the metroplex, right? It seems that most counties have a website or a place they dump all this stuff, so it is conceivable that you could find websites, or auction locations in low population areas. Might yield better results. A site like this. I'm thinking maybe rural areas that are away from larger towns and cities.

https://www.lonestaronline.com/

Because of all of those flipping shows like Storage Wars, American Pickers, American Restoration, etc. Everyone see's how "easy" it is to make a ton of money so they try it to do it themselves.

Same reason there was a huge movement on flipping houses 10 - 15 years ago. A few people make good money on it, then the market gets flooded with others doing the same, only they don't know what the fuck they are doing.

If you continue that same train of thought though, these people who don't have what it takes to be successful at it, are going to get stung fairly quickly and likely quit.

Because I have been around for these conversations. Your theory VS what I have seen in practice says your reading more into it then you should. The bank would be a innocent victim. This is always how it has been referred to. Now, has something like that ever happened before? Maybe. Just nothing I have ever seen or heard.

Its VERY easy for us to conclude, that if it were your trailer, or anyone who was in any of these "discussions", that things would go quite differently.

Which brings me to my next question. What exactly is this "punishment" for? Buying a stolen trailer? You're saying that people need to make sure everything they have is on the books, or fucking else? Is that what you're trying to promote? I'm not sure I follow your train of thought here.

[kingjason]

The punishment for possession of stolen property is theft based on the value. My thought is don't save 200.00 and buy something with no VIN. Everything I own has a title so not sure what your point is. I won't even buy a dirt bike with no title (or MSO) and those are notorious for people not registering them and losing the title.

[davbrucas]

I've owned a ton of dirt bikes and I never register them. I receive an MSO from dealer and when decide to sell I give that plus a bill of sale. I'm not paying the fees to register a bike ridden only on private property.

[kingjason]

I've owned a ton of dirt bikes and I never register them. I receive an MSO from dealer and when decide to sell I give that plus a bill of sale. I'm not paying the fees to register a bike ridden only on private property.

Yep, I get that, I just forgot to mention MSO's also as those are legit. I had my MSO on my last 4 wheeler I bought from a another guy. Sold it with the MSO also. Not something people use on the streets either. If it was intended to be used on the streets you would title it and register it. I was just pointing out something that was common practice at one point in the past, but most people look for a title now days or MSO.

[JC316]

No, it's punishment for committing a felony in most cases. They will seize your POS car also. Not just selective. We use the proceeds to buy equipment we need. You act like everyone at the department gets some kind of bonus. I can't remember the last time my current department seized something so not really my fight on this. I am just explaining to you kind gentlemen why it happens.

Man, there is a really clear line between right and wrong. I don't give a good god damn if you're using the proceeds to house and feed homeless orphans, if it looks like theft, it's theft. If ANYONE without a badge pulled this shit, it would be considered theft. Oh, I was only stealing from criminals and the money I got was used to buy necessities in my home.

The badge doesn't make cops saints, they can be tempted just like every other human on this planet and when the system makes it that easy to steal, it's going to happen on a regular basis. For it to be even remotely right, you shouldn't have to plead your case to the very people that are benefiting from the money. Send it to court and prove your case.

[kingjason]

Man, there is a really clear line between right and wrong. I don't give a good god damn if you're using the proceeds to house and feed homeless orphans, if it looks like theft, it's theft. If ANYONE without a badge pulled this shit, it would be considered theft. Oh, I was only stealing from criminals and the money I got was used to buy necessities in my home.

The badge doesn't make cops saints, they can be tempted just like every other human on this planet and when the system makes it that easy to steal, it's going to happen on a regular basis. For it to be even remotely right, you shouldn't have to plead your case to the very people that are benefiting from the money. Send it to court and prove your case.

? Somehow, somewhere down the way, the people voted for these people that put these laws in place. You missed the part about where these always go to court. I am sure the courts that try these get zero dollars. Now that being said, yeah I don't doubt over the years there have been some shady underhanded deals but I could never see it happening in this day and age in any city not in the dark ages. As most on here should know, I am not the zero tolerance type of guy. I was just explaining why things happens and some of the inner workings. We lost a fairly nice trailer last night. I guess someone should just go slap a homemade tag on it and call it a day. Trailer theft is rampant around DFW, some places it gets addressed more then others. If you don't like the system, go out and voice your opinion, vote people out of office, or run for office and make the big changes. You guys are looking at it from purely a punitive on the man stance. In reality it is a real problem that needs addressed. You guys are right, FTP, screw every one in charge of everything because apparently cops do zero right these days.

[JC316]

? Somehow, somewhere down the way, the people voted for these people that put these laws in place. You missed the part about where these always go to court. I am sure the courts that try these get zero dollars. Now that being said, yeah I don't doubt over the years there have been some shady underhanded deals but I could never see it happening in this day and age in any city not in the dark ages. As most on here should know, I am not the zero tolerance type of guy. I was just explaining why things happens and some of the inner workings. We lost a fairly nice trailer last night. I guess someone should just go slap a homemade tag on it and call it a day. Trailer theft is rampant around DFW, some places it gets addressed more then others. If you don't like the system, go out and voice your opinion, vote people out of office, or run for office and make the big changes. You guys are looking at it from purely a punitive on the man stance. In reality it is a real problem that needs addressed. You guys are right, FTP, screw every one in charge of everything because apparently cops do zero right these days.

I am not part of the FTP crowd, I know that the majority are good guys.

Yeah, it goes to a court hearing, but the burden of proof should be on the law enforcement, not the citizen. How can you prove that your shit wasn't part of a crime?

[Forever_frost]

So anyone could then just steal a trailer and grind off the VIN. I mean if all your going to get is a ticket. Hey, I get it, it sucks, and a lot of people do it. Doesn't make it right. There is a shit load of stolen trailers out there and if you ever had a trailer stolen you wouldn't feel this way. Easy way to fix this. Do away with BS homemade trailer tags. Either get a builders VIN like a street rod, or bonded title. I have seen very few actual homemade trailers in my lifetime.

If it's stolen, it should be returned to the owner. If that's not possible, then it should be cut up and destroyed. Isn't there a law against profiting from the proceeds of a crime?

[snacksnack]

If it's stolen, it should be returned to the owner. If that's not possible, then it should be cut up and destroyed.

Exactly

But you have to prove its been stolen and not just some bullshit we cant figure out if its YOURS.

[Sean88gt]

If citizens treated the chattel of others the way that police do, they would be jailed. That is a problem.