How can I tell if my neighbor's utility trailer is stolen?

[teardrop_focus]

mrsmom, the [insert your adjective here] neighbor

We have a neighbor that no one on the street cares for (long list of reasons)...

If you wish us to lend a sympathetic ear to your first post here, may I suggest you start by introducing yourself, perhaps saying something to the effect of, "Hello!" "I'm so-and-so... and here's my problem" rather than immediately casting aspersions on your neighbor regardless of what a low-life he may or may not be.

I'm rather afraid that, my dear, you've started off on the wrong foot.

[BILLYL]

mrsmom, the [insert your adjective here] neighbor

We have a neighbor that no one on the street cares for (long list of reasons)...

If you wish us to lend a sympathetic ear to your first post here, may I suggest you start by introducing yourself, perhaps saying something to the effect of, "Hello!" "I'm so-and-so... and here's my problem" rather than immediately casting aspersions on your neighbor regardless of what a low-life he may or may not be.

I'm rather afraid that, my dear, you've started off on the wrong foot.

I agree. This whole conversation is way to suspicious. Just not smelling right.

Why not ask about how to build a trailer - not how do I get so and so .................

I am getting confused. But that is just me?

[Larwyn]

I have no idea why it would be necessary to join a new forum and ask a bunch of complete strangers if trailers have a vin number. The VIN on my Harbor Freight trailer is on a plate which is riveted to the tongue, the VIN on my utility trailer was "scribed" into the tongue with the welding machine by the manufacturer. I also do not know why most of the replies answer unasked questions about your motive but then perhaps you provided more information than necessary to ask your question. But what amazes me most is that there are so many replies from people who own trailers telling you to mind your own business and ignore your suspicion. If my trailer was stolen I would be very appreciative if the thief's neighbor were to tip off the police and aid in the recovery of my property. If the neighbor is using the trailer without a tag, that is all you would need to tell the authorities, they would be happy to pull him over, write up a citation for no tags and in process they would learn if that VIN has been reported as stolen. The fact that so many people choose to ignore criminals out of fear of retaliation is the main reason that crime is such an attractive alternative to earning an honest living. If you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem.

[humormeplease]

Maybe she is the one with the stolen trailer fishing for ideas on how to cover up? LMAO...

[Todah Tear]

I'd advise you to MYOB and if it's stolen, i'm sure some patrolman will notice eventually.

First, I don't like this situation where you are "looking" for something, anything to get this person thrown out of your neighborhood. I don't like to hear anyone vomit a bunch profanity, so I sympathize with you on the name-calling. Nevertheless, do you know how many people have been the recipient of unfair treatment simply because of someone else's personal bias. Myself and one of my friends were followed at a yard's distance around an antique store by the only clerk in the store simply because we looked different from everyone else in the store. There we were, two professionals who had never stolen anything in our lives and could have afforded to buy most anything that we wanted in "this" particular store. The clerk was willing to turn her back on all of the other people in the store. It didn't matter if the others were saints thieves; the clerk didn't care.

It would be one thing, if someone was looking for their stolen trailer and this guy's trailer fit the description. While his behavior might be suspect (if your description is true), is it beyond possibility that this guy could have bought or borrowed or was given this trailer?

This could be a sticky situation for you. In the words or an 'ole school rapper, don't "let your mouth write a check your behind can't cash!" There may be some serios consequences.

Todah

[S. Heisley]

Just because somebody yells bad things and does word fighting a lot doesn't mean they do illegal things. Growing up, there was a family that lived near me that yelled, screamed, and fought a lot every day and twice on Sunday. Many a time, I thought the mom was dying; yet, she never seemed to have so much as a scratch on her. To hear them holler, you’d never guess that they were extremely honest (and had friends in high places).

If these people that you are writing about really are bad news, the police already know about them and are probably watching them anyway.

--------

To help you think twice about this, here's a true story that happened to a couple married acquaintances of mine. (Dick and Jane are not their real names.):

Jane took a trip to Vermont for a couple weeks. While Jane was gone, Dick bought a new table saw. Excited about his new saw, he decided to try cutting up a bunch of wood. The saw was a bit noisy; so, out of consideration of his neighbors, he worked in his garage with all the doors closed, cutting all the wood.

That same evening, Dick cleaned up himself and the house and went out to dinner and then to pick up his wife from the airport. Around midnight, when Dick and Jane got home, they found that their home was surrounded by police cars and the road was blocked off. Dick stopped at the road block and asked what was going on. The policeman asked if he was Dick X... and he said, 'Yes, I live at .....'

I won't go into details on the rest; but, suffice it to say that if his wife hadn't been with him, Dick would have been in big trouble. The neighbor thought Dick had killed Jane; and, when he was cutting up wood behind the garage's closed doors, imagined Dick was cutting up Jane's body to dispose of it. So, she called the police and told them so.

…The neighbor is still in trouble, both with Dick and Jane and with the police!

[planovet]

As a police officer myself, I would recommend that you report your suspicions to the appropriate police agency and then leave it alone. If they don't want to follow up on it, then what do you care? Nothing good comes from people wanting to take the law into their own hands. If you go sneaking over there to take a peak at the VIN, you could get shot. Just my $0.02.

[Todah Tear]

[quote="S. Heisley"]... The neighbor thought Dick had killed Jane; and, when he was cutting up wood behind the garage's closed doors, imagined Dick was cutting up Jane's body to dispose of it. So, she called the police and told them so. ...quote]

"Dick", by any other name, could have been one of us Teardroppers trying to get the rig camp-able before the next gathering.

Since, I would often work until after dark, I too would close all of my doors to the garage when I had to use the saw or Dremel. I'm glad my neighbors know me well enough to dismiss any suspicions.

Todah

[S. Heisley]

Todah Tear wrote:

I too would close all of my doors to the garage when I had to use the saw or Dremel. I'm glad my neighbors know me well enough to dismiss any suspicions.

Ditto! But, I've still had neighbors walk or drive by and stop, trying to see what I'm doing in the garage.

[FireLion]

WOW! What a great 'off topic' topic! I have a neighbor that's just like you. I would scream and cuss her too, but I'm above that. You're just a nosy busybody! Get a life! Maybe you're the one that the neighbors wish would move.

[starleen2]

. . . . But what amazes me most is that there are so many replies from people who own trailers telling you to mind your own business and ignore your suspicion. If my trailer was stolen I would be very appreciative if the thief's neighbor were to tip off the police and aid in the recovery of my property. If the neighbor is using the trailer without a tag, that is all you would need to tell the authorities, they would be happy to pull him over, write up a citation for no tags and in process they would learn if that VIN has been reported as stolen. The fact that so many people choose to ignore criminals out of fear of retaliation is the main reason that crime is such an attractive alternative to earning an honest living. If you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem.

For me it's not the MYOB responses, it's the tag line that say any illegal activity is grounds to have a person evicted and to find any reason to have a person who is disagreeable to be moved is just wrong IMO. I have neighbors who I don't like - but I don't call Johnny law if a trash can is out of place or if they bring home a new car without tags. Our town has a city ordinance that prevents trailers being parked on the curb side of the road. Backing in a trailer may have just getting it off the street. Sure If I had a trailer stolen, I'd want it reported, but S. Heisley probably has it right

If these people that you are writing about really are bad news, the police already know about them and are probably watching them anyway.

If ya come by my garage and hear noise coming out - my neighbors know that I'm probablly building Another trailer

[chorizon]

There is always one person...

I'm not sure, but maybe someone here has an answer. If someone is acting in such a way as to make you feel threatened (yelling, cursing, saying specific things like ,"I'm gonna get you..") couldn't that be construed as assault?

Just wondering...

[planovet]

I'm not sure, but maybe someone here has an answer. If someone is acting in such a way as to make you feel threatened (yelling, cursing, saying specific things like ,"I'm gonna get you..") couldn't that be construed as assault?

Texas' assault-by-threat statute states, in pertinent part: "A person commits an offense if the person . . . intentionally or knowingly threatens another with imminent bodily injury." The statute does not explicitly indicate whether the intended victim must perceive or receive the threat. The question turns on the meaning of the term "threaten" as used in the Penal Code.

Similarly, the terroristic-threat statute states: "A person commits an offense if he threatens to commit any offense involving violence to any person or property with intent to place any person in fear of imminent serious bodily injury."

Both can be hard to prove and usually comes down to a 'he said, she said" affair if there is no written or audio documentation.

[Larwyn]

In my original reply I did not try to catagorize the original poster. I simply considered what my actions would be if I suspected the trailer was stolen, and I stand by that. I do not think that there is enough information from enough different sources to label the original poster as a busy body or her neighbor as a thief. I do think if the trailer is stolen, I would help it return home.

If this is just a neighborhood association "nazi" (or just a nosy busy body) out looking for fodder, no problem if the trailer is not stolen , if the trailer is stolen and the neighbor is the thief, then I could care less if the thief is evicted. Personally I think all neighborhood association "nazis" should be moved into one big neighborhood, up north somewhere away from "Gods Country" Then they can spend their time annoying each other and stealing each other's houses.

When my wife and I were looking to buy the house we currently live in, the first requirement was that there be no neighberhood association involved. We had to pass up what looked like a few good deals but stuck to our guns. My TD is parked in my driveway in front of the house, and nobody can do a thing about it.......

[madjack]

.......................... I do not think that there is enough information from enough different sources to label the original poster as a busy body or her neighbor as a thief.......................

...and therein lies the rub ......................................................