WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
My pitbike was stolen by a con artist named "Jason Kulas" from Roscoe, IL. He is a new NOVICE that offered to employ me as a rider coach during a trip to Homestead, FL. in December '08. He has my bike in his trailer and will not give it back. He said "If he decides to ever return it". I spent 8 hard unpaid days helpping this conman and he never paid me for the trip. I gave him 8 days of good coaching, ask Aaron Colton if I'm worth it. If you return my pitbike back to me I will pay a REWARD. You can contact me via the forum once you have it.
I did call the police, they said try to get it back yourself.
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
Ohhh snap!
Eddie why don't you just go to his place and take back?
Eddie, which police dept did you call? Yours or Rocktons? File a stolen vehicle report no matter what. Sounds like the dept you called just doesnt want to do their job. If they dont let you file a report, then call the DA and make a big stink. We got my brothers bicycle back that way when the local PD didnt want to even file a report.
And dont anyone go committing another crime to get it back for Eddie.
BTW the ccs results list him as from Roscoe.
And maybe call the attorney general of Illinois too.
Just playing Devil's Advocate here, but as a copper, there are a bunch of things that happen that do not fall within certain statutes, or other circumstances that limit us in terms of reporting. I don't know the particulars here, but none of us know exactly what transpired. I'm sure I'll get a smite or two, but without knowing all the facts, its easy to say that the cops were being lazy, when there could be a legitimate reason as to why a report was not taken.
Was this a bike that had a VIN on it? Does the owner have the title and know what the VIN is? Without one, it CANNOT be entered as "stolen" in our system. Again, not trying to be an ass, but there are a number of possibilities why a report was not taken. Another issue is where the crime took place. Just an example, but if you go on vacation in Boston and get robbed, then go back home to Phoenix, the Phoenix Police cannot take a report due to the venue. I hope that makes sense. This happens to be the most common reason that we can't (or won't in poeple's eyes) take a report for.
Hope this helps a bit! If you have particulars and want some advice, feel free to PM me. There's just too many factors not listed here to make a reasonable assumption that the cops were being "lazy."
-Ski
The venue stuff all makes logical sense, but the VIN? So if someone breaks into my house and steals my tools and dirt bike the Police can't enter it into the system? No, they just enter it as goods, not a vehicle...
Good luck with tracking this guy down and getting your stuff back. It sounds like there might be some more depth to the story, but I hope all is righted in the end!
If you haven't been in contact with HIS local police and the police where it happened you should be!
I mentioned the VIN, as it is a bike specific deal. The Police can take all the written reports in the world for stolen vehicles, but without a VIN, there is very little definitive proof of ownership. Heck, even reporting stolen items (tools, garden gnomes, etc) is almost a moot point unless the items were marked by the owner. Sure, sometimes items are located and returned, but it is few and far between. Easiest thing you can do is to mark your items with your initials or last four of your soc. etc etc.....some sort of identifying mark. The other thing that is easy to do (yet nobody does it) is to write down your serial numbers....guns, stereos, computers, VIN's, etc. In the event of a theft, your items can now be entered into the computer as stolen, rather than just being labeled in a report.
You are absolutely correct in saying he needs to contact the other dude's local PD!!!!
Eddie, I re read your post, but you don't mention a department you called.
I called Roscoe PD. The bike was put in his white 17foot race trailer by me. They said because I put it in there, it is not stolen by their rules. If he decides not to give it back, It's a civil matter. Yes, it has a VIN and I do have the title. I just want you all to know about this no goodnick. He's is very good at telling a lie. He's a real con-artist.
Eddie, call the Winnebago County Sheriff then. Sounds like Rosco PD really doesnt want to deal with it. Maybe call the DA there also and see what really can be done. Old friend had to have the cops to get his boat motor back from some 'hi perf' shop when they refused to give him the motor back when he paid for it and was going to pick it up the next day when he got his truck back. Shop owner was threatened with being arrested for felony theft if he didnt bring it out. I really dont see the difference here.
Dude, this is wicked simple. You know where the guy lives, go to his house and wait for him to come home. When he opens the garage and or trailer, go and take it. If he calls the cops thats good cause its your bike and he has no proof of ownership. If he doesn't open the trailer or garage, call the cops and tell them that if they look in the trailer they will find such and such bike with such and such V.I.N. number, that you just so happen to have the title to. I know that making a trip out to wherever on a wing and a prayer isn't the greatest, but what would you have to do if he decided to let you have it back. I fart in his direction.
So....why, exactly, is he refusing to give it back to you?