Just walked out of a shop. Saw what I am almost positive is my bass that was stolen about 5 years ago. I wrote down the serial number and will check my files when I get home. I filed a police report. What should I do?
File a new report. Let the police do their job. If it is yours, and you filed your report 5 years ago, that should be proof enough to get it back. Good luck.
Once you determine that it is yours, I guess you need to contact police & hopefully they can refer to the old report & will do something... Unfortunately, I think this kind of crime is low on the priority list for most law enforcement agencies. I do hope you get it back & I hope they can track down the lowlife that stole it... Alternately... Form a posse & make things right!
There may be a SOL. But if it were my 5 year long stolen bass, I'd want it back! You'll need to ask the PD.
Some dick member that ripped lots of people off and I helped figure out his name and address as the punk bought something from me which gave me his info via our paypal transaction. Hope you get the bass back man!
Call cops ASAP, before they get busy with Friday night. They have nothing better to do mid-day, and it can pad their stats and earn goodwill so while not a "major" crime, they should be very happy to deal with it. If you can prove it's yours, they should just grab it and hand it to you, then the shop owner needs to show proof of who sold it otherwise they're in trouble. Reminder to everyone periodically note all your serials #s and photo your gear, incl. pics of serial #s, incl. pedals, etc. etc. If you're not one of the majority online at work committing time theft, log off and do it now for the gear you have at home. Then play some of it instead of talking about it!
Call the police. Let us know what happens. EDIT: Three of us said the same thing at the same time. I think the batmobile comment wins.
First, make sure this is your bass. Then go to the pawn shop and tell them that this is a bass that was stolen from you, show them the serial number and tell them you will be reporting this to the cops. The pawn shop must then pull it off of display and hold it -they cannot sell it- until the issue is resolved. However, and again, if you have solid proof, the most practical thing is to tell the pawn shop you will reimburse them for the amount they paid for the bass. If it gets tied up in the police report, it could take weeks if not months to get it back, and the cops will then put the pawn shop on their "buyers of stolen property" list, which the pawn shop does not want. And the pawn shop will lose any money they have tied up in it, and have to turn over the records of who pawned it, and anything else this possible thief may have pawned. So it would be better for everyone to just give the pawn shop the cost of the bass, walk out with it and not file a report. If the pawn shop tries to blow you off, don't get mad or call names, be very cool and matter of fact, business like, and just tell them what I put in bold type. PS -- I see you have matched the serial numbers. Proof in hand, (and give them copies not the original) Head to the pawn shop right now, then to the cops if they won't sell you the bass for what they paid for it.
Man that's awesome that you located it at least - even if u don't get the scum who took it (which I hope u do), at least u get your bass back! I'd be ecstatic!