My wheels were stolen...

Just over two months ago I was loading up for an autocross. We take two cars- the MR2 and Tom Celica. We pull a tire trailer with the MR2 with all it's wheels and two of the Celica wheels. I put the other two Celica wheels in the trunk.

I loaded up the trailer on the parking pad behind my house and pulled the MR2 around front, jumped in the Celica to load the other two wheels and when I got there, they were gone.

Three weeks ago they turn up on craigslist. I filled out a police report and hoped for the best. Few days later, the ad was gone. A friend called the number and the %#*head told him he sold them. Damn-it. Should have just bought them back.

Then, a week later, they're back. This time another friend spotted them, called the seller and set up a meet. He also called the cops in the town where they were being sold. Met with the cops and had the seller meet us in a public place. Man, they didn't kid around. Six cop cars pounce on this guy and surround him. I felt bad- I was pretty sure he just bought them from the other guy. He did, but the cops told me they were pretty sure it wasn't all on the up and up and that he knew they were stolen. He was oddly not surprised by the massive police activity.

Today, I went to the Denver Police Department Property room and picked up my wheels. I can't believe it. I was sure I'd never see them again. Two Spinwerkes wheels and Hoosier A6 tires with only two events on them. Amazing.

Yeah, it took a lot of effort from us normal folk, but the cops came through and got my stuff back without me having to pay a crook for them. I just hope they continue the case and arrest the *&^%head who took them. I suspect they won't, but they did get my wheels. And that's pretty awesome.

So going to rock the "evidence" tags on the wheels at Sunday's autocross.

Awesomeness acheived. Well, it will be once pictures of the car with the evidence tags in place and GRM stickers are posted here.... :)

turboswede wrote: Awesomeness acheived. Well, it will be once pictures of the car with the evidence tags in place and GRM stickers are posted here.... :)

Crap. How do I get GRM stickers before Nationals?

In reply to fast_eddie_72:

There was a thread about this incident over at teh Sandbox. It's great to see the good guys win one for once.

I also suspect GRM stickers will be very easy to find at Lincoln.

Get in touch with Joe Gearin.

oldsaw wrote: In reply to fast_eddie_72: There was a thread about this incident over at teh Sandbox. It's great to see the good guys win one for once. I also suspect GRM stickers will be very easy to find at Lincoln.

What is it, the sandbox?

In reply to fast_eddie_72:

http://www.roadraceautox.com/

It's a great place for information and entertainment. Watch out for the Political Playground; it's a toxic concoction of sanctimony, ego and deliberate misinterpretation.

You have been warned; and the answer is "both" or "pancakes". I haven't bothered to join as I don't like the choices and because I don't race and haven't autocrossed in a few years.

oldsaw wrote: Watch out for the Political Playground; it's a toxic concoction of sanctimony, ego and deliberate misinterpretation.

Pft. I never get sucked into political threads!

oldsaw wrote: In reply to fast_eddie_72: http://www.roadraceautox.com/ It's a great place for information and entertainment. Watch out for the Political Playground; it's a toxic concoction of sanctimony, ego and deliberate misinterpretation. You have been warned; and the answer is "both" or "pancakes". I haven't bothered to join as I don't like the choices and because I don't race and haven't autocrossed in a few years.

No, the answers are 'cupcakes or Skittles?'.

"Happy ending" isn't just the punchline to a massage parlor joke?

In reply to Curmudgeon:

"Cupcakes" or "Skittles" were the questions until (somehow) "Pancakes" was added to the mix; if only unofficially.

Alas, I don't for care any of them.

Be sure to post a pic up of the evidence tags on the wheels beforehand. A good photo op.

Glad to hear you got them back.

oldsaw wrote: You have been warned; and the answer is "both" or "pancakes".

Thanks. I answered "Both, but I prefer pancakes."

N Sperlo wrote: Be sure to post a pic up of the evidence tags on the wheels beforehand. A good photo op. Glad to hear you got them back.

Took this in the DPD garage.

Time to get the berkeley out of denver. I don't get how you city dudes put up with it.

No kidding, man. When we moved here I wanted a place out of the city. But then I started thinking about the commute I had to put up with in CA. So ended up very close to work, which is nice. But I'm with you. I'd rather be out somewhere I don't have to deal with all this crap.

poopshovel wrote: Time to get the berkeley out of denver. I don't get how you city dudes put up with it.

what is worse, stolen rimz or stolen IRS identity?

In reply to fast_eddie_72:

Glad you got your wheels back! But as far as moving out of the city: a friend has a mountain house, nice little place outside of Traveler's Rest SC on top of a ridge. Quiet, peaceful, good view, etc. His house has been broken into like 6 or 7 times because it is isolated. Each time it's been kids in the area who have nothing better to do than roam around and steal crap.

Glad you got your rims back. I have observed that if you do every single bit of detective work, then call the PoPo, they will pick up the shiny happy person. In your case, you had the contact info from the first seller, who obviously was the thief. Did the PoPo do so much as a search on the cell phone, or IP address, or anything? Nope. Too much trouble. But if you call them with "I'm meeting the guy who is in possession of my stolen property..." they will come out. Otherwise, they mostly fill out forms for insurance companies. And write speeding tickets.

In reply to Dr. Hess:

That is exactly right. I remember when I was, oh, probably 24 years old living in my first apartment. My stereo was stolen from my, believe it or not, '84 Celica. I called the police expecting them to do, I dunno, something. The guy said he could give me a case number for my insurance over the phone. Uh, case number? Insurance? No, I want you to go find my stereo! Man, that was a lesson. Makes this victory all the more sweet. Really can't thank my buddy Iain enough. He was totally right on this one and knew how to make it happen.

You have to leave those evidence tags on there as long as they'll hold up, that's just too awesome.

Similar story happened with me 5 years ago. Friend got a flat tire in his V6 Mustang so he pulled into Pep Boys. They were closing up shop so they told him to leave it in the parking lot and come back tomorrow. Next day he gets there and his Mustang is sitting on cinderblocks. Fast forward a couple weeks and I spotted them on a local board, with one flat tire. We call the police, tell them we are planning on meeting the guy and they ask if they can tag along. Later that day we are hanging out with the local detectives and they tell us what to do. The guy shows up with his girlfriend in a purple prelude at a mall parking lot. We walk up, say hello, my friend confirms the wheels are his and then we just walk away. As we do, the two detectives come out of their mini van with their bullet proof vests on and arrest the guy. Turns out he was the guy at Pep Boys that told him to leave his car there.

In reply to Keven:

Manny, Moe, and get Jacked?

Awesome. Why do they always show up with girlfriends in tow? My guy did the same thing.