Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

The Newport Beach police have offered to help me recover a collector car that I recently located that was stolen from me. I sold it, the buyer (read "thief") gave me a down payment then disappeared.

Twenty-three years have elapsed since the theft and the car recently resurfaced at a high-dollar auction.

The officer who is helping told me that the thief is liable for reimbursing all owners who had the vehicle since then.

So I wonder about "statute of limitations" on this sort of thing...

However, lawyers are expensive, and even if the guitar is worth $10K, the cost of recovery could easily exceed this...

I know that here in Michigan if you find your stolen item with someone who unknowingly purchased it from the theif such as a pawn shop and you want it back, then you must reimburse the unknowing victim his or her costs. If the theif is caught then you can go after him or her for recovery. Kind of sucks, huh? You would think the unknowing purchaser would be charged with posesion of stolen property.

This might be of help on the statute of limitations for stolen property in California. Seems to be 3 years. http://dirt.umkc.edu/dd071596.htm

I would think that the statues of limitation have been up on this case for many years. It still sucks that some guy knows its stolen and still won't do the right thing.

I say we all get together and buy it back and return it to its rightful owner. We've been talking about what to do to make sure John Hall stays with us here. How about showing some real good faith?

I have no problem with making a donation to buy it back......I have a problem with giving the seller $1200 for it. Since the seller appears to know what he has (and how he has it) and isn't trying to make things right I don't wish to give him my money (dirty profit)....and would you trust a person of that character to follow through on the transaction ?!?!

I'm in for $20.

I was considering that myself. I'm sure RIC would be very appreciative if it was returned.
I just feel badly about giving the guy money for it. I wish he would do the right thing and return it.

I'm not sure this particular guy is guilty of anything other than being an a-hole. More than likely he isn't the thief. What do ya say guys? More than likely this guy is going to offload it and we may never see it again. Consider it ransom if you like, but it may be worth it. Of course if John Hall wanted it I guess he could bid on it, but with him I'm sure its the principle. It would be for me.

Well, I'm a man of principle myself and you don't reward him simply because he is only guilty of being an "a-hole"....IMO. The only right thing for him to do is return it to Rickenbacker. Period.
If it were me and I came across this guitar honestly/unknowingly (on my part anyway) and then was informed of it's theft history I would simply call Ric, explain the situation and see if they wished it's return. I can honestly say that I'd like to be compensated in trade for no more than what I have invested in the stolen guitar (obviously I don't want to be out a bunch of money so I at least have to ask) but if Ric declined I'd still return it. I get great joy from my Rics and I couldn't feel the same about something stolen from my beloved company so what's the point in keeping it. At least I would know that I did what was right.

Brian, that's the best statement about this whole situation yet. Amen.

Thanks, I have my moments

Perhaps as a forum, we could approach the chap, explain the situation & offer to buy it from him. He may respond positively, rather than risk the uncertainty surrounding the legal position.
I would certainly chip in cost wise, as I am sure many others would. Whats $20 or so compared to restoring this rare gtr to it's rightful place?

Count me in for a donation.

I'm in.

count me in