My stolen bass is on ebay. now what?

mikerophone · #1 08-04-2011, 09:57 AM

my bass was stolen from me a little over a month ago. i filed a police report immediately, but never had any luck. the bass just got listed on ebay by a pawn shop in town. i've called the police, they transferred me to a detective and i got voicemail. left a message... so now just wait?

uuugggghhhhh.

PaulNYC · #2 08-04-2011, 09:58 AM

Call again, and ask for a different detective.

Rockmusician · #3 08-04-2011, 09:59 AM

You can ask for a different detective and see what happens but you might have to just wait for them to return your call. The pawn shop should have a record of who they bought it from.

Whenever I get a new piece of gear, I immediately take pictures of it including the serial numbers. I also have a picture taken of me with the gear. If the manufacturer's website has a feature where you can record yourself as the owner, I do that too.

fleabee · #4 08-04-2011, 10:00 AM

Take a screenshot of the auction just in case

rayzak · #5 08-04-2011, 10:00 AM

Maybe contact the pawn shop & explain so they can remove the auction.?

Chef FourString · #6 08-04-2011, 10:02 AM

Go down to the shop and take a look. See if its been damaged. Keep calling the detective untill he calls back or he answers. Does the pawn shop know that it is stolen? The last thing you want to happen is if they sell it.

I hope the shop has cameras so you can press charges on the f***ing ******* that stole it.

OPBASSMAN1994 · #7 08-04-2011, 10:02 AM

Stop reading this and call immediately. Then, GO down to the shop! Tell them to pull the auction, show them pics of you with the bass, tell them it was stolen. The claim that it's stolen alone is a Pawn Shop's worst nightmare, so they'll pull it instantly and get it checked out with you and the fuzz. Don't wait for anyone from Law Enforcement, though to handle anything minus a murder, break-ins, or grand theft (and those only the moment they happen) involved with a single person. They'll never get around to you. They'll help a business out though.

kesslari · #8 08-04-2011, 10:03 AM

Call the police again. Make sure you talk to a live person. Their advice is better than ours.
It's their call whether they, or you, should contact the seller. But you should do it quickly.

Chef FourString · #9 08-04-2011, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OPBASSMAN1994

Go down to the shop! Tell them to pull the auction, show them pics of you with the bass, tell them it was stolen. They'll take it down. Don't wait for anyone from Law Enforcement to handle anything minus a murder or grand theft. They'll never get around to you.

+1

lowendgenerator · #10 08-04-2011, 10:05 AM

Better yet, go to the pawn shop WITH a cop. Pawn shops aren't always on the level, and they might just backdoor the thing if you piss em off.

P. Aaron · #11 08-04-2011, 10:07 AM

Good luck and persistence solving this!

Brianvw · #12 08-04-2011, 10:09 AM

Don't do anything until you talk to the detective. If you tip off the pawn shop that it's stolen, it could disappear before a cop even gets there. While the pawnshop owner is more than likely legitimate, there is always a chance that they are shady.

azureblue · #13 08-04-2011, 10:14 AM

Call the pawnshop, or go there, and show them the report or give them the number. Tell them you have notified the police that they are selling a stolen item, and you want it back. Now. by law, they have to hold the item until the issue is resolved. If they sell an item that they have been told is stolen, they can get their license pulled. If they give you any flack, or ignore you, just give them the name of the cop you contacted, and tell the shop that you are going to see him after this and tell him how they refused to give you your stolen bass. That will get their attention right away.

Also contact ebay right now, and tell them that they are listing a stolen item, and give them the info on the police report.

Bullitt5135 · #14 08-04-2011, 10:18 AM

I had a similar thing happen when my golf clubs were stolen out of my trunk. I had reported the theft immediately, then discovered some of the clubs for sale at a local sports resale shop the next day. I contacted the deputy who took my initial report, and they sent a detective to investigate the same day. Pawn shops (at least in MI) are required to take the seller's information and photo ID. It didn't take long for the sheriff to catch up with the kid that stole my stuff.

I would suggest going to the police department in person with the evidence you have gathered. I'd consider going to the pawn shop and taking some pics for yourself. Try to get serial numbers if you can. Get printouts of the eBay listing in case it disappears from the web. The fact that there is probably a paper trail through the pawn shop and eBay should motivate the police to follow up.

Hopefully you will get you bass back at the very least, and the police will be able to file charges. The pawn shop loses out in the short term, but may be able to claim restitution from the perp. In my case, the kid who stole my stuff pleaded guilty to three felonies (he had himself a nice little neighborhood crime spree). He was looking at a few years of probation... until he tested positive for pot at his sentencing hearing. He went to jail for a month or so to wait for a new hearing, and was ultimately sentenced to like 5 years probation. He also had to pay restitution for items that were not recovered.

Good luck, man!

Lonesomedave · #15 08-04-2011, 10:21 AM

i pretty much agree with all the foregoing, but immediately do as the poster said.... TAKE A SCREEN SHOT OF THE EBAY LISTING!

this will prevent them from claiming ignorance or not knowing what you are talking about when this all hits the fan.

obviously you have filed a theft report.

i hope you have your name on the bass, somewhere discrete, so they won't even know to look for it. in active basses, a piece of paper in the screw on active compartment is real easy to do.

/s/ Dave

mikerophone · #16 08-04-2011, 11:09 AM

Well I called around and found which shop it was at (it's a chain of 13 shops in and around denver), dropped by and let them know the situation. Saw the bass, identified contents in the case without even looking. They told me they canceled the ebay listing, and I called the detective and left another message.

BassGen · #17 08-04-2011, 11:16 AM

Glad to hear the pawn shop is dealing with it properly for you.

Even gladder that more than likely you will get your bass back!

DaveAceofBass · #18 08-04-2011, 11:29 AM

After this is all said and done, get musical instrument insurance... www.musicproinsurance.com

henry2513 · #19 08-04-2011, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azureblue

Call the pawnshop, or go there, and show them the report or give them the number. Tell them you have notified the police that they are selling a stolen item, and you want it back. Now. by law, they have to hold the item until the issue is resolved. If they sell an item that they have been told is stolen, they can get their license pulled. If they give you any flack, or ignore you, just give them the name of the cop you contacted, and tell the shop that you are going to see him after this and tell him how they refused to give you your stolen bass. That will get their attention right away.

Also contact ebay right now, and tell them that they are listing a stolen item, and give them the info on the police report.

This.

Bassamatic · #20 08-04-2011, 11:52 AM

Pawn shops are such a great money maker, they don't have to be shady when it comes to finding out an item is stolen.

Please bear in mind that you don't have to pay the pawnbroker ANYTHING to get it back - at least that is how it was when I ran one here in L.A. many years ago. The pawnbroker is to do due diligence before they take it in and then accept the risk.

Actually, EVERY item bought or pawned by the shop is to be written up and turned in to the police and held for 2 weeks before being offered for sale. It should have been caught then. Did you report the serial # to the police when it was stolen??