More Motorcycle Crime - Always Be Aware - Antiques are vulnerable

[ihrescue]

I wanted to make you aware of a big take down of organized crime related to stealing motorcycles. The news brief from the Maryland Attorney General announced sentencing and more info about the investigation and prosecutions. One quote said "The investigation revealed that the individuals formed a criminal organization and were linked to at least 19 high-value, stolen motorcycles – primarily Harley Davidson models – from dealerships and large-scale motorcycle events. " Lets be careful at our Meets where sometimes things get a little lax security wise. Here is a link https://oag.maryland.gov/News/pages/...eft-Ring-.aspx

Thanks

Mike Love

[pisten-bully]

So...if a person unknowingly purchased a part or complete stolen motorcycle, can the purchaser of stolen goods also be in trouble?

[Jerry Wieland]

So...if a person unknowingly purchased a part or complete stolen motorcycle, can the purchaser of stolen goods also be in trouble?

Anything is possible but I think not - but you could lose your investment!

Jerry

[droptopford]

AFAIK, that's always been the law. It's called receiving stolen property and it is a crime. It has to be that way in order to discourage shady pawn shops etc and other various 'fences' for that stolen merchandise. The distiction is drawn between 'receiving' and 'knowingly receiving' that property.

In cases I know of personally, the circumstanses were considered and no charges brought against the person who bought the stolen item(s). But, as Jerry said above... they lost the stuff and their money!

[JoJo357]

So...if a person unknowingly purchased a part or complete stolen motorcycle, can the purchaser of stolen goods also be in trouble?

Most States would not prosecute, unless they can prove You knew the parts or goods were stolen. Most of the time the law has enough problems proving and prosecuting the individual or individuals that committed the crime, so they don't bother with the small fry. Besides, the majority of people will say they knew nothing about the parts or merchandise being 'Hot'. But, that person will lose everything they payed for on the stolen merchandise!!!

*M.A.D.*

[joe fxs fxr]

I've heard more than one story over the years of a stolen bike or car being recovered and returned to the last owner years or decades later. True stories or not, it can happen.

[PaulCDF]

Thanks for posting Mike

[JTR249]

Well, here's another one, though different version. I just purchased 741 parts from a person in Texas through an AMCA member contact. Paid cash and have not received the parts yet.
Anyone ever had that happen?
I'm getting a bad feeling in my gut.
-JR

[T. Cotten]

Well, here's another one, though different version. I just purchased 741 parts from a person in Texas through an AMCA member contact. Paid cash and have not received the parts yet.
Anyone ever had that happen?
I'm getting a bad feeling in my gut.
-JR

Not exactly, JR,

But too many times I sent my work out and got stiffed.

(I suggested years ago that we post a 'stiffs list' for other vendor's benefit, but I got the heckler's veto.)

...Cotten

[droptopford]

(I suggested years ago that we post a 'stiffs list' for other vendor's benefit, but I got the heckler's veto.)

...Cotten

Man that sounds bad. Isn't that the bug from the cruise ship?

[chuckthebeatertruck]

I’ve been sucked into a few hot parts/bikes cases over the years. I learned that good deals that were too easy were the suspect ones. Still, I never had an “angry” police encounter over the matter. It was always polite, straightforward and non threatening.

My last mc fraud involvement was just a few years ago. The VIN of a bike I ride a lot was cloned and sold in Pennsylvania. It was challenging to clean up. Vin cloning is common with cars, but not bikes. Basically, no one believed somebody cloned a vin for a fifty year old ,$2,000 bike. It’s literally a much bigger fine than the bike value. But, that’s what happened.

To the parts, I never had an issue until cod disappeared. It was close to riskless for everyone because only the post was prepaid. And, no one had anything but cash, money orders, or checks. No one wanted checks. Money orders at the post office were my go to for lots of things. Cheap, easy to access, and guaranteed payment by what used to be a really reliable institution ;-)

Today, I find there’s a range of flakiness. I don’t buy or sell what I can’t afford to lose. I have had as many flaky buyers as sellers. I consider it high end gambling, sometimes.

I have gotten stung a few times, including this week. I only lost a couple c notes, but still. . . .i hate being on the losing end of the day.

[micmac]

Expensive as it is, eBay is somewhat safe. I usually have a list and hit the swaps in the summer for needed items unless I'm dealing with a known seller. One thing I've discovered in the 21st Century, people don't want to work for what they get, they want to steal it from those of us who did. Sad, very sad.

[JTR249]

I know what you guys mean. I usually buy from generally the same people, so there's never an issue and you get the routine down, keep the information on file in case you need something in the future because people are so honest and reliable. Even beyond that, these people become parts contacts for questions and issues that are common.
I too, use online purchasing, though now that some restoration businesses are going out of business and putting their inventories online, it becomes easier to trust them because they were so well-known as shop owners; Randy Zorn, Robin Markey, Jim Preussner, Mr. Napierala just to name a few who have always answered questions and have been there since day one as the best people to buy from in my own experience. Of course you never have to worry about Kiwi, Greer's or Starklite unless something is on back-order.
I have also had an honest seller send a part that never arrived. He swears there's a postal worker somewhere putting together a Johnny Cash Indian because he has had several parts turn up missing over the past several years. The system is good about refunding money, though. This and another case where an NOS dimmer switch did not arrive from India, are the only two cases in quite a while where a part did not arrive at all.
-JR

[Peter Cooke]

My last mc fraud involvement was just a few years ago. The VIN of a bike I ride a lot was cloned and sold in Pennsylvania. It was challenging to clean up. Vin cloning is common with cars, but not bikes. Basically, no one believed somebody cloned a vin for a fifty year old ,$2,000 bike. It’s literally a much bigger fine than the bike value. But, that’s what happened.

Purely curiosity on my behalf but how were you alerted to the cloned VIN?

[T. Cotten]

Purely curiosity on my behalf but how were you alerted to the cloned VIN?

Great question, Peter!

Is 'cloned' the same as 'tattoo'd'?

(It always confused me when folks cover up their VINS, as it seemed like that should mean the # is taken,

And even the posting itself is documentation. Or it was until AI.)

.....Cotten