Stolen Bike Solution? Asking for a Friend

J

jryftc

Guest
So here's the dilemma:

Buddy of mine bought a bike, I don't know like Novemberish? Let it sit for a while before tidying it up getting it ready to ride for the spring. We put her together, and send out xferable reg to VT (Bike had no title). Apparently the other day cops show up at his house asking for the bike and him, assuming because it's stolen. I never had issues with this because I've always ran VIN before purchasing a bike, but I guess he didn't check, and just got a Bill of Sale from the guy at most. What happens now? Bike has to be impounded is there any way he can do anything at all to get plates, etc.? Just never had to cross this bridge personally, wondering if anyone else has gone through similar situations. Is all hope lost? PS he has on record text messages between him and buyer, and was under no impression said motorcycle was "hot." Any advice would help, thanks in advanced.
 
If the bike is stolen, it doesn't matter what the seller told your friend, the bike is still stolen. The seller may not have known it was stolen, he may have purchased from the person that stole it or even another sucker that didn't know it was stolen. The bike is rightfully someone else’s property if it is titled in their name and there is no paperwork to show that the rightful owner sold the bike.

Hopefully he learns the lesson that buying without a title is a huge gamble. Not that I'm saying don't do it, but like when you go to the casino, don't gamble more than you can afford to lose. Usually I won't buy an untitled bike for more than $200.00.

Depending on the $ amount, your friend may be able to take the seller to court for the money he paid him for the bike, the seller, if he still has the info of the person he bought the bike from (assuming he isn't the one that stole it) would be able to take the person he bought the bike from to court for the $ he paid for it. Though I bet he has no longer retained any paperwork or agreement of sale..

But no, if the bike was reported stolen by the person the bike is titled to, your friend has no bike and no way to gain ownership.
 
Thanks for the quick response. I think he only paid a few hundred for it so it is what it is. Gotta look into those things in advanced...
 
Yes. you have to put yourself in the boots of the person who had the bike stolen from in the first place. If it were mine, I would press charges and go after my "property", if insurance paid out, they will just jam it up in the system... complacency is why people get away with stealing... cut there dang fingers off!!
 
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