Stolen guitar on Ebay---now what? It's mine!

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 14 Oct 2009 12:13 pm

30 years ago I had my beloved ShoBud stolen out of my car by a low life drug addict. I was lucky to get it back later through my own investigations, and it took a great deal of self control not to pay the guy a visit and leave him with a wooden calling card (otherwise known as a baseball bat).

Bobbe - I really hope this has a happy ending for you and that the guitar has not suffered any damage during the time it has been changing hands.

Ken

Gary Preston · Post by **Gary Preston** » 14 Oct 2009 2:58 pm

Bobbe i hope things work out in your best interest . You da man mister Bobbe .

Jim Simon · Post by **Jim Simon** » 14 Oct 2009 3:03 pm

Bobbe my old friend. Mathew gave you the proper course of action. Jim reenforced that advise. Don't wobble now like you did when you were struck by lightening that time. As you know, I worked the street for a lot of my younger years (Oakland, CA). This kind of caper is fun for the cops and it is nice working with a straight up victim (you). Doesn't hurt to stay on 'em though and deal with the detectives not the receptionist.

My advice? Double up on the coffee and Lavitra.

Jim

Don Brown, Sr. · Post by **Don Brown, Sr.** » 14 Oct 2009 4:22 pm

Good luck Bobbe,

For what it's worth. The one buying any item off Ebay, will NOT be charged as receiving any stolen item..

The Seller is "Solely" responisble, for the item/s he/she lists & sells on Ebay.

Ebay now has a Global network that's hotlined out to all world wide enforcement in dealing with that kind of thing. Ebay are the ones who should have been notified.

Since they'll only accept Paypal, Paypal too should have been notified of the "Item Number" as well.

Messages sent through this form that are not from a law enforcement official will be routed to the appropriate mailbox or individual accordingly. This re-routing may cause delays in response time.

Regardless, I hope it all ends ok and you get her back soon......... Don

PS: The above is nothing more than my opinion, and other's opinions will vary.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 15 Oct 2009 4:27 pm

When you get your guitar back, please post a video on YouTube of the culprit being punished.

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 15 Oct 2009 6:55 pm

please post a video on YouTube of the culprit being punished

Yes, make him listen to a banjo orchestra!That'll fix his wagon.

Joseph Barcus · Post by **Joseph Barcus** » 15 Oct 2009 7:46 pm

Bobbe I will help or someone closer could help, bid on it win it then say I will pick up and bring the cash pick a place go there with the police. I can bid on it for you then get where it is when I win you take it from there that way your name wont come into play

Matthew Prouty · Post by **Matthew Prouty** » 16 Oct 2009 1:38 am

Joe,

You are joking right?

m.

Joseph Barcus · Post by **Joseph Barcus** » 16 Oct 2009 3:07 am

no joke here. this guy is not the one that stole the guitar. I have been on ebay for many years and have seen it all come by. yes use buy it now but email the seller and say I will be there to pick it up and when you go take the paper work with you to the local police and go give him the bad news.

Don Brown, Sr. · Post by **Don Brown, Sr.** » 16 Oct 2009 3:38 am

Alan,

Do you honestly think, anyone who steals, is dumb enough to put the Serial Number out there, to the world, for everyone to see in Clear View!

I don't believe anyone (selling or hocking) stolen merchandise would put his/her real name on a receipt. And, a valid receipt is the only thing that will save this seller (in possession of it now) from being charged of any wrong doing. Who, more likely than not, owns a pawn shop, by the looks of his/her other items for sale. What's a more likely place than that, to take something to, for quick cash.

On the other hand, the seller may well have a very valid receipt, (usually more dependent on his/her type of business) from someone not knowing it was a stolen item they were selling. Who knows how many hand's it's went through from the time it was originally stolen. Usually, the REAL thief is never caught anyway.

I'd say the seller has no more than a couple hundred bucks (if that) in it.

But then too, I'm wrong many times.

Joe, Not only myself, but anyone could have gotten the information they needed, simply by contacting the seller (in this case) even without giving the reason/s why. Then it could have been handled from there, anyway Bobbe felt about handling it.

It's too late now!!!! Anyone NOW, who is knowingly aware of it being stolen, and who already knows the law has been contacted, can now be charged with and prosecuted for, INTERFERING with law enforcement, and that would include Bobbe himself as well.

It's simply a matter of choice, in how different folks handle different things, as in all else.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 16 Oct 2009 6:24 am

Don Brown, Sr. wrote:Alan, Do you honestly think, anyone who steals, is dumb enough to put the Serial Number out there, to the world, for everyone to see in Clear View!...

I wasn't being serious.

Joseph Barcus · Post by **Joseph Barcus** » 16 Oct 2009 8:04 am

I disagree with Don on some issues about this. For one if it was my guitar and I knew where it was I would contact the law but if I did not get any results in ole say 24 or 48 hours yes I would take care of it myself. I myself would not trust the law when it comes to my guitar because to them its just a guitar. so each one handles things in a different way. and I have been known to handle things in my very own special way that includes broken arms, legs and so on lol. must be the hillbilly in me.

Don Brown, Sr. · Post by **Don Brown, Sr.** » 16 Oct 2009 8:11 am

Joseph,

You're not all that far off in disagreement. However, in this case, I feel, this seller is just in an unfortunate situation. But that too, is really hard to say, without knowing all the details.

It's much easier when you can confront someone and talk, face to face, to judge how well they react to you handing them a receipt to sign, and walk out with whatever it is that's yours, giving them the choice to call the law if they'd like, or letting it go. Which is quite different than catching someone in the act of stealing.

I hate to see anyone lose anything, by having it stolen off them.

Stan Schober · Post by **Stan Schober** » 16 Oct 2009 8:27 am

Don,

If this seller owns a pawn shop (as you brought up as a possibility) he MAY have a picture of the thief.

Here, where I live, pawn shop owners are required to take a picture of the person pawning the item holding it, and keep that picture on file.

JR Ross · Post by **JR Ross** » 16 Oct 2009 8:31 am

Bobby,
Im curious ? Was your guitar stolen from your car after a gig?

Don Brown, Sr. · Post by **Don Brown, Sr.** » 16 Oct 2009 9:04 am

Stan,

That would sure make it lots easier to at least, trace whatever it was, back one step at a time.

I really don't know what the law is here for Pawn Shops. But I'd imagine they have many items coming to them that are stolen items. To that, I'd have to say if someone knows the item is stolen, and they accept it anyway for a quick buck, that would make them no better than the one who stole it.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 16 Oct 2009 9:20 am

Pawnbroker: Burnt my fingers, man.
Louis Winthorpe III: I beg your pardon?
Pawnbroker: Man, that watch is so hot, it's smokin'.
Louis Winthorpe III: Hot? Do you mean to imply stolen?
Pawnbroker: I'll give you 50 bucks for it.
Louis Winthorpe III: Fifty bucks? No, no, no. This is a Rouchefoucauld. The thinnest water-resistant watch in the world. Singularly unique, sculptured in design, hand-crafted in Switzerland, and water resistant to three atmospheres. This is *the* sports watch of the '80s. Six thousand, nine hundred and fifty five dollars retail!
Pawnbroker: You got a receipt?
Louis Winthorpe III: Look, it tells time simultaneously in Monte Carlo, Beverly Hills, London, Paris, Rome, and Gstaad.
Pawnbroker: In Philadelphia, it's worth 50 bucks.
Louis Winthorpe III: Just give me the money.
Louis Winthorpe III: [looking in display case] How much for the gun?

Les Anderson · Post by **Les Anderson** » 16 Oct 2009 12:26 pm

I am having a problem believing some of the advice given on this subject.

First, could Bobby in any way prove that the guy who is selling the guitar is the guy who actually stole it in the first place?

Setting up the seller, as many suggest in here, does nothing in the way of proving who stole the SG in the first place. How many items are picked up at swap meets, yard sales and/or pawn shops (no sales receipt) then re-sold on Ebay? This particular seller could very well be an innocent seller who happened to buy a stolen musical instrument. So, unless Bobby can prove or has solid evidence that the seller is the same guy who stole the SG in the first place, he could be spending many more thousands on pointless lawyer fees than what that SG is actually worth.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 16 Oct 2009 12:33 pm

Just let the police handle it.

Les Anderson · Post by **Les Anderson** » 16 Oct 2009 12:39 pm

John Billings wrote:Just let the police handle it.

The best possible advice.

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 16 Oct 2009 1:56 pm

Bobbe, The first thing you will have to do is show proof of ownership. So any photo's serial numbers ect. are crucial. When it was orininally stolen was there a report done, if so give a copy of this report report to the police and keep a copy. Stolen property is stolen property no matter where it ends up.Good luck...BD

Barry Hyman · Post by **Barry Hyman** » 16 Oct 2009 6:13 pm

Bobbe -- hope you have gotten your steel back by now... (!!!)

If not, here are my thoughts: Law enforcement officers are not always our friends, but, like anybody else, if you make them happy, there's a good chance they will make you happy.

If you can tell them what was stolen, and when and where (and can prove original ownership), and can also tell them (with the help of EBay) where the steel is now, then they have solved a case, or at least returned stolen property to the rightful owner, with very little work. That will please them, and help them meet their quotas, and they are likely to take good care of you and be friendly.

This might not catch the thief, but what do you really want -- your steel back again, or vengeance? Most thieves pay a lot of dues sooner or later, whether you get your personal vengeance or not, whereas if you get your steel back for free (and it still works or is reparable) then you will be a very happy man, ready to buy a round of drinks for all of us!

I am not a big fan of calling the cops on anybody, but if somebody stole my steel, setting the police on them would be real nice and considerate compared to the alternatives. Good, luck, brother -- I feel for you, especially with all this confusing and conflicting advice. But I too would say, don't commit a crime while trying to catch a criminal...

John P. Phillips · Post by **John P. Phillips** » 16 Oct 2009 6:28 pm

Barry Hyman said:

whereas if you get your steel back for free (and it still works or is reparable) then you will be a very happy man, ready to buy a round of drinks for all of us!

Wow Barry, for that kind of money, drinks for over 8,000, you could buy a brand new steel couldn't you ?

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 16 Oct 2009 6:29 pm

Barry
Exactly! The objective is getting the steel guitar back, not finding and exacting retribution on the thief.

I let the police handle my case, though I did make personal contact with the seller. In my situation, the contact with the seller turned out terrifically, but it's best to let the police do what our hard-earned tax dollars pay them to do.

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 16 Oct 2009 7:10 pm

I'm sorry but you can't let a thief go. This case needs to be investigated and whoever stole this steel
needs punished.I'm not a big fan of the police either
but thier all we have and like it or not we have to use them.IMHO
BD