Craigslist robbery

[seamusTX]

Isn't the other party in possession of stolen property?

People buy, sell, or trade vehicles without clean titles all the time. I wouldn't do it, but it happens.

In any case, this kind of issue cannot legally be settled by shouting and shooting. We have courts for a reason.

- Jim

[Dave2]

Isn't the other party in possession of stolen property?

People buy, sell, or trade vehicles without clean titles all the time. I wouldn't do it, but it happens.

In any case, this kind of issue cannot legally be settled by shouting and shooting. We have courts for a reason.

- Jim

Yeah, that's kinda where I was going with my question... When they wouldn't give the car back, why didn't the family call the cops? For that matter, why didn't the other people call the cops when they found out they'd bought a stolen car?

[seamusTX]

I don't know what the definition of car theft is in Michigan. It can be murky when people are family members in the same household and they have some latitude in using the vehicle with permission.

The cops don't want to touch this kind of thing just because they are not civil lawyers.

Also, Texas allows the use of force or deadly force in some circumstances to recover stolen property after the fact of the theft. No other state allows that to the same degree. I don't think this incident would have passed the sniff test in Texas.

- Jim

[gus]

We are in the market for a used car right now for myself. I want a car for commuting so we can stop driving this truck we have that passes everything but a gas station! I have been worried about it a bit. We live out in the middle of nowhere and don't always have an option to leave our kids somewhere. I don't want to be in a situation where it will be known I have cash money with the family around. The best deals are obviously from individuals, you just never know in this day and time. The economy we have is not helping the crime rates.

[Rex B]

There are plenty of ways to buy a car without laying out thousands in green cash.
An honest seller will work with you. Maybe you both meet at the bank, if your bank has a branch office convenient to both of you.

[seamusTX]

All I can say is that I have regretted every private used-car purchase I have made. They all had multiple problems, including one that I bought in winter that overheated in summer.

Granted, these purchases were at times when I was short of funds and had to fish in the shallow end of the pond.

I try to pay cash whenever possible, but older cars (5 years or so) are generally in quite good shape these days. Reputable dealers don't keep junkers on their lot, and you can get decent financing from a credit union.

You might also try an auction, where at least you know you won't be stuck up. However, you had better know what you're looking for and at. Auctions are as-is-where-is with no warranty.

- Jim

[Beiruty]

I do recall the earlier killing in Dallas.
Guy saw a collector car on craigslist, arranged to buy it. Towed his trailer from out of town, brought cash.
I think was a South Dallas neighborhood, one in which you don't go after dark, if you know better.
Supposed seller met him (at night) with a gun, robbed and killed him.
IIRC his girlfriend said the victim had a CHL, but he apparently did not defend himself.

If I remember correctly, the poor young man was shot and killed execution style while seated in his car. He did not have a chance.

[seamusTX]

In San Diego Wednesday three young choirboys allegedly posted an offer to sell a computer on Craigslist with the intention of robbing the buyer, which they did.

The buyer then followed the robbers' car and boxed them in in a cul-de-sac. One of the robbers allegedly fatally shot the victim.

The three men were arrested and charged with murder.
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/3 ... 10474.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim

[Monker10]

My friend is selling a car stereo on craigslist and all the calls from interested people have been coming in in the middle of the night. One guy even wanted to meet her at the whataburger at 1:30 am! All pretty sketchy if you ask me. No thank you to craigslist. I have heard to many horror stories

[seamusTX]

My friend is selling a car stereo on craigslist and all the calls from interested people have been coming in in the middle of the night.

I suspect what they are interested in is not an honest transaction.

The last time I placed a newspaper ad for a used car, years ago, I had people calling in the middle of the night. I had drunks show up and want to go for test drives. I had one guy who wanted to pay me $50 a month.

I traded it in. I still had people calling a month later. (Don't ask me where they found a month-old newspaper.)

Craigslist just gets the message in front of more crooks and nuts.

- Jim

[schufflerbot]

while i agree that you have to be careful with craigslist, i think the same goes for ANY medium used to facilitate an advertised sale. anytime you offer your goods or services to the general public you're going to attract riff raff.

on the other hand, if you're careful about who you sell to and when/where the transaction takes place, you can often find good deals or sell items quickly and easily.

i have bought and sold at least 30 items through craigslist and have yet to have a problem with any of the transactions.

i think a little common sense goes a long way when dealing with any human being you dont know well.

[Fangs]

I have personally bought 2 cars off Craigslist without any issues. I've also sold 2 motorcycles through CL perfectly safely.

[seamusTX]

The fact that someone has done something safely 10 or 1,000 times does not change the inherent risk. Nearly every dead pilot or motorcycle rider already had his license and a certain amount of experience. Every dead cop made thousands of uneventful traffic stops or arrests.

My only point is that some people still think of "the internet" as a harmless virtual world inhabited by cute little avatars.

The crooks, scam artists, rapists, and child molesters found it a long time ago.

- Jim

[Middle Age Russ]

In most commercial transactions, including going to the grocery store, Caveat Emptor (let the buyer beware) applies. For Craigslist transactions, the seller must also beware. It is always a good rule for these to meet in very public places in times when many other folks are nearby. You never know when you might need witnesses, or when the presence of witnesses will make a difference in how the other party conducts themselves.

[Terlingueno]

Huh? $3,100 for wheels and tires? Makes me glad I drive a really old Suburban