Warning" Beware of Ryan McGauley

[STT-GUY]

We at Sportbike Track Time have been around this sport for quite some time and sadly we had our first encounter with a thief....

Oh ya, we've had a check or two go BOING! And a VISA card or two declined after the fact BUT the riders ALWAYS made good. Always. That's because we are all good people.

RYAN McGAULEY of ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN stole in excess of $1,000 worth of merchandise from us at a track event on August 15th at Grattan Michigan.

Items taken include a set of 1800/1200 Slicks and an Ultra Lap Time Full-Kit. He took them, said "I'll be right back to pay" and then hauled ass. Sad thing is he's well-off and has the money to pay.

We have called him multiple times with no reply and two letters have elicited no response.

Does anyone know if the Police take this stuff seriously, it's over a grand and that's a felony I beleive. On of our witnesses is a Police Officer from a local township. Lawyers out there???

Advice......... comments

[CCSRacer114]

Shoplifting and theft from a business are taken seriously because businesses pay big taxes.

Always get a police report.

If he was at the track, you've got his signature on a waiver proving he was there.  You've apparently also got ID and a solid witness.

Hope that helps.

(P.S.  Love those TyrSox I got - BOUGHT - from you!)

[Super Dave]

Monte, good to hear this, in a way.

I've ran into times where I had problems with some of my customers not taking care of some of their bills...then I find out that they are doing the same with other vendors.  

Is he a racer?

Usually the community will help too...

Any info that you can help us with is worth trying.

Did you get the police report?

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

So have the police issued a warrant for him yet? Thats BS when people pull that crap.  >:(

It might have to be over $1500 to be a felony though. I think it depends on the state.

[gma]

Sorry to hear about this. 'Among the living' is no place for a thief.

Assuming he is a racer (I don't know this person), one thing might be effective...

Would sanctioning bodies put him on a 'watch' so that if he attempts to participate in or attend an event, he can be cornered for the cost?

I agree - always get a police report as immediately as possible. Depending on departmental policy and jurisdiction, they may or may not issue a warrant for his arrest. I'd stay on top of the work you've done so far. Consider also that if the incident occured in one place, you do business in another place, and he lives in another place; the pain in the ask factor involved in getting him canned may be more than it's worth.

Do you have business insurance that covers such things? Would a claim justify a rate increase?

Consider a rotation of decoy shoppers / security staff at these things. These people look like browsing shoppers but are actually a security staff that is usually quite effective in catching jacknuts like this. They rotate so a professional lifter is less likely to recognize the same people there all the time. Also, a stead-fast policy of 'buy before you fly' might help as well as a new lay-out to your space that requires customers to throttle through a 'check-point' to exit.

If all else fails, pimp his gf and push her off the back of a bike on the freeway - or beat die Scheiße  out of him and offer the universal 'he fell' explanation when asked by the men in blue ...

[STT-GUY]

A guy at a dealership where he was getting an oil change on his R1 just saw this post, called me and handed the phone to him!!!!

Payment has been promised..........

[alfauno]

Monte,
I'd call the District Attorney's offices in Kent Co (Grattan) and in Washtenaw Co (Ann Arbor) to find out what your options are under Michigan law.
Hopefully, we can shame this guy into doing what's right.

P.S. -I was at Grattan on that Monday for the LED - it was a great event!

[EmerWil]

A guy at a dealership where he was getting an oil change on his R1 just saw this post, called me and handed the phone to him!!!!

Payment has been promised..........

now that's what I call "the long arm of the bbs"

pretty cool! and it must have been embarassing as hell for him.

good for you!!!!

[gma]

Deeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam!!!!!

What an awesome snag!

PLEASE let us know if the promise of payment is kept.

This'll make for GREAT embarrasment on a PA system somewhere ... "listen for it soon at a racetrack near you!" (Some restrictions apply. Employees and their families of Clear Channel Communications not eligable. Void where prohibited.)

[r1owner]

I'd have that dude hold his R1 until payment had been received and he has been prosecuted for shoplifting.  Even if he now agrees to pay, he still broke the law.

[MELK-MAN]

(In FL )  any theft over $500 value is grand theft.. yes, a felony. I would surely have the DA notified to have his ass arrested.

[hi-side_racing]

Most of the time this not dealt with as a criminal matter. It is a non-payment issue. It becomes a civil argument rather than a criminal one. I believe your local attorney general will tell you the same thing.