Does anyone know what the statute of limitations is on auto theft in California?

Post #55 & 56 (Han's Rod Shop and Sinister Rod Shop) says a lot. And, both avatars indicate businesses?????????

 

Expect a long expensive legal fight over this rare car. I highly doubt that the police will promptly impound it and just give it back.


And Just saying, If you did steal this car, Thieves are not welcome here.

 

I remember a friend that lost his original Cobra in Cailfornia. he was paid well for it by his insurance company. many years later it was found in Oakland registered as a Austin Healy. Cops didn't buy that Phoney ID. notified the insurance company that legally owned it after the pay out. they notified my friend and he was able to buy it back for about 25 cents on the dollar. it was much worse for wear but the value of Cobras had gone way up.

 

Well said brother.

 

Wow, funny how people want to twist each word and rip someone. I don't own the car and I wasn't involved with the theft. This is a Tucker. Not an easy car to hide. It's sort of like stealing the Statue of Liberty. If someone stole it and it turned up a few years later we'd all know who had it and where it was.

Look folks, It is up to the former owner or their family if they want to pursue this. As I said before, I cannot club them over the head and make them do it. I was asked for ***istance in determining which car they had and what ever happened to it. That information was p***ed on to them. That was all I could do.

They don't seem to have an interest in going any farther then that. From what I got out of it the inquiry was more of a "i wonder what ever happened to our old car".

There were only 50 Tuckers built. This car has not been hidden. It has been photographed in national magazines and exhibited in several places around the country. All this occured long before I came long as an Automotive Historian doing research.

The former owner could have found it years ago if they wanted to. It appears they have chose to let it go. That is not my fault and I can't make them do anything. I did investigate what I could to see if their story was true and it all seems to check out. I have ordered a copy of the police report. I was told it may take some time to locate it but there is a case number.

My original post was my own curiosity if there was some limitation in California that would prevent them from pursuing the car. How this got so twisted into all the posts accusing me of theft is pretty wild. Chill out and stop twisting every word.

The car was stolen. They know where it is. They don't seem to care. End of story.

 

ROFL, Wow !

You know who stole it......... I do ????

You know where the thieves stored it.......... No, but I know where it went along with thousands of other people who know the same thing

You know where the stolen property is today............ Yes, along with hundreds of thousands of people and anyone who reads Cl***ic Car magazines

And you know that an unsuspecting victim is in possession of stolen property.......... No I don't. That is why I asked if anyone knew what California laws might be regarding this.

It is obvious to me that you either own it today, were given the information from the current owner, or you are thinking about buying it...... I guess you know something I don't.

Either way, you are nothing more that a low-life POS.... I guess I'll add that to Automotive Historian.

RYAN should ban you from the HAMB until you show him proof that law enforcement was contacted and you are cooperating. ... I just checked and there are at least 10 posts on the HAMB about this very car over the years with nearly 900,000 views so I guess I'll be in good company.

 

Is it a convertable? (;-)

 

If your first post had been as clear as this post, then you could have probably have skipped all this...

People are Jumpy... Give them a Ledge and they'll jump to conclusions...

Just saying...

Mike

 

From my own experience if it was covered by insurance, the insurance company would retain the rights to the car. If it was not covered by insurance the legal OWNER still retains full rights to the car in perpetuity. Time does not erase his ownership, a replacement ***le will be nullified. If he can prove ownership when it was taken by the ***le or state records, he has full rights to seize the car. Whoever has possession of the car will have to give it up and any improvements will be forfeited.

 

But they don't know it was stolen........

Since you can not figure it out, this will be my last post concerning the matter.

 

And I wonder why an Auto Historian would be interested in the statute of limitations??????

 

I think the whole problem here is mixing up the idea of the statute of limitations on the CRIME vs. how long the legal owner retains the right to get their stolen property back.

The answer to the first is that whoever stole this car is legally off the hook now. The actual criminal statute of limitations expired years and years ago. Going to the police won't do anything for anyone. They won't even care.

The answer to the second question is the OWNER could legally get that car back if they really wanted to. However, they don't seem to want to (and I can understand why - whoever owns it now presumably had no idea it was stolen when they bought it, so why should the current owner be the one who gets screwed?).

And since there was no insurance company involved in the first place I can't even imagine why that red herring keeps popping up over and over in this thread.

Tucker Fan 48 notified the original owner of the car. There's nothing more for him to do, and everyone can go back to minding their own business.

 

"Look folks, It is up to the former owner or their family if they want to pursue this"



Ah, that's NOT quite right there chumly .... "he" is NOT the "former" owner .... "he" is the LEGAL OWNER. If insurance was not paid, then the legal owner at the time of the theft is STILL PRESENTLY THE LEGAL OWNER.

According to your story, someone is the victim of auto theft, and you know where the car is presently (and apparently the history of this car).

Care to explain to me why the LEGAL OWNER and his family would NOT want to pursue this, based on the present value of a Tucker.

Something about your story smells a little.

 

The (apparent) "fact" that the true owners aren't interested in it is absolutely laughable (we aren't talking about a Honda Civic here).

Regardless, there is NO reason why YOU can't start the ball rolling by taking all you know and your do***entation to the police yourself. You (claim to) have information in regards to an unsolved theft case, you come on here blabbing about it yet you can't be bothered to approach the Police regarding this issue?

As I said, something smells here ....




Kid picks up the phone and yells .... "Hey Mom, remember your car that was stolen in 197_. Some guy just called, said he knows where it is and who it is registered to. Also mentioned that it is worth like a million bucks now".

Mother .... "Hang up the phone ________. This sounds like a Nigerian Scam to me. They'll probably tell me to send them $10,000 in order for them to "release it". If that number comes up again, don't answer it".




I am having two issues with your story ... one is the "rightful and legal owners aren't interested in regaining possession of a very valuable item that they are (or certainly appear to be) legally en***led to" .... and your apparent aversion to reporting what you know to the Police.

Notify the Police (if your story is legit), then attend the impound auction and pic it up for $12,000 if the real owners refuse to accept the vehicle.


Your story smells and you yourself aren't exactly giving off an aroma of roses either.

 

Grow a set and call the cops? Really???

****ing ridiculous...

I guess your username says it all.

 

I think you need to read between the lines here.I'm sure when Tucker 48 looks for a police report there wont be one.The original owners story of the the car being stolen is "the one that got away" story we've all heard before when someone asks "how could you have sold such a valuble car?"
This would explain the original owners lack of interest and all the hidden in plain sight details.there is also "stolen" as in:I sold it too cheap or the check bounced or I gave the P.O.S. away or I lost it in a poker game.A whole lot of holyer than thou people here!

 

If it's true and they don't want it back , the current owner needs to get with them and lawyers and let them sign it over to him . If its stolen tell the police all you know regardless it's the right thing.I don't know anybody that would not want there car back or a pocket full of money.Something stinks about this deal.

 

Yes,yes,yes, call the authority's. And bring into play the worse thing's that can happen. Child napping? Banning people? When the 'case' is not even been heard. Some other poster said it best 'grow a pair, man'.

 

This has been a very interesting read. I found a credit card on the floor of a supermarket the other day and just gave it to the store manager. With the car situation I hope this is not a "Contempt of cop" issue. Also, filing false or mis-leading reports with the police about cars is somewhat common (in So-Cal) and the police will read you the riot act in your face as you are about to turn in a report, so, it better be true!

 

AGREED!
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=534872&highlight=tucker

 

9:20

9:27

Guess it wasn't your last post, huh?

 

I'm still not sure why everyone continues to think I haven't done all I was asked to do or can do. The former owners don't seem to care. At the time the car was taken it was in rough shape and was not worth a lot of money. The reason behind my original post was to find out if they could still have an interest in the car or if there was some law in California where their rights were lost.

The police department has a case number but so far has not found the report. I was told it would take awhile but I paid for a copy anyway.

From what some have said here there is at least a possibility the former owner does not own the car anymore. If it got impounded and the impound lot went through all the legal notices maybe they don't have rights to it. The legal system would have to determine that.

With any legal case no matter how good, there is always a chance of losing. It's possible they just don't want the deal with it.

 

This is just the sort of post that brings out every self righteous douche nozzle so they can air their substandard views. Someone asks a question and before you know it, he is Hitler, Pol Pot and Charlie Manson, all wrapped up into one package. Junior lawyers, spouting their misinterpretations of the law, Clancy Wiggens calling for his head on a platter. Conspiracies, intrigue, danger. Can't wait to see how this soap opera plays out

 

Thank you Tucker Fan 48 for the interisting read. I believe your story to be true...to the best of your knowledge.....and I guess by bringing it into the light you have given ample opportunity for the real owner to step up and make a claim.
Thanks for sharing the story but it is a cliffhanger. I would like to know what will happen next. With the exposure this thread has I doubt it will just go away, lots of junior detectives out there. Hard to hide a Tucker
I do regret the accusations thrown at you and thank you for oyur efforts.

 

I am a little curious as to why someone would pay an Auto Historian to find out what happened to their "stolen" car if they have no interest in getting it back. There has to be more to it.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^Isn't that the truth?

 

unless the current owner was aware it was stolen at the time he bought the car, only then he would would be commiting a crime.

 

coupe deluxe-I went back through all of TF48's posts and nowhere was "pay" mentioned?As a historian he's just trying to confirm a history on an individual car

 

Quote: "In the course of my research on the 1948 Tucker, I uncovered one that was stolen in the late 1970s. I know where the car went to and where it went after that. I know exactly where it sits today and who owns it now. It's current owner is unaware of its history. The owner in the 70s did not have the car insured. I'm searching to find a Police Report."


YOU uncovered one that was stolen. Your words. Then you state "I'm still not sure why everyone continues to think I haven't done all I was asked to do or can do".

What were you "asked to do" and by whom?

You words make it sound like you know who stole it or certainly who would know who stole it when you say "I know where it went to and where it went after that".

Funny how when someone has a "rod" stolen everyone here states "I hate thieves". This car was (allegedly) stolen and plenty of you are now saying "So what? None of my business".