 Stolen motorcycle found after 34 years
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1
Should be Riding
|
OP
Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1 |
Stolen motorcycle found after 34 years in N.Jhttp://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080723/ap_on_fe_st/odd_old_motorcycle_theft_1NEWARK, N.J. - Prosecutors say a Harley-Davidson motorcycle that was stolen nearly 34 years ago in Rhode Island has surfaced in central New Jersey. The 1971 Sportster was purchased on eBay for $2,400 by Michael Meistrell of Cranford. The Union County prosecutor's office says he learned it was stolen on Halloween 1974 in Providence, R.I., after he contacted Harley-Davidson for more information about the vehicle. Prosecutor Theodore Romankow says Meistrell and several other prior owners never realized the motorcycle had been stolen, including the Voorhees man who was the recent seller. Ebay will reimburse Meistrell under its policy protecting those who inadvertently buy stolen vehicles. The original owner is being traced and no arrests have yet been made.
|
|
|
Re: Stolen motorcycle found after 34 years
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,968 Likes: 1
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,968 Likes: 1 |
How in the heck did the privious owners register the vehicle? You would have that that the VIN would be on a stolen vehicle list.
|
|
|
Re: Stolen motorcycle found after 34 years
|
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,440
Learned Hand
|
|
Learned Hand
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,440 |
Quote:
How in the heck did the privious owners register the vehicle?
The VIN on the title would have to be different than the VIN on the frame. I'll bet the chain of owners isn't as innocent as the article suggests.
Jack
'08 America Blue/White; Custom Headlamps, Custom Lowers, Clearview 20", Bafflectomy
|
|
|
Re: Stolen motorcycle found after 34 years
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
|
|
Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
And in a related news report, The American Machine and Foundry Company of Richmond Virginia has advised the original owner of this Sportster that their seven recall notices for this motorcycle will be forwarded to him posthaste!
(yep...seems one of the guys there at AMF makin' bowling ball still had some of those old Harley recall notices in his locker!)
Last edited by Dwight; 07/24/2008 1:53 PM.
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
|
|
|
Re: Stolen motorcycle found after 34 years
|
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,210
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,210 |
it didnt surprise me that it ended up in New Jersey..haha
My guess is that he had some old tags on there or something and didnt have it registered. The cops dont hassle motorcycles as much if youre doing the speed limit with your braket lights.
|
|
|
Re: Stolen motorcycle found after 34 years
|
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,623 Likes: 2
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,623 Likes: 2 |
What's next? Jimmy Hoffa? 
Kevin - Luceo Non Uro
|
|
|
Re: Stolen motorcycle found after 34 years
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1
Should be Riding
|
|
OP
Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1 |
Jimmy Hoffa was the orignal owner.  Soren
|
|
|
Re: Stolen motorcycle found after 34 years
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,284
Learned Hand
|
|
Learned Hand
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,284 |
Quote:
Quote:
How in the heck did the privious owners register the vehicle?
The VIN on the title would have to be different than the VIN on the frame. I'll bet the chain of owners isn't as innocent as the article suggests.
Jack
+1
Paul
Strangler
|
|
|
Re: Stolen motorcycle found after 34 years
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3
Old Hand
|
|
Old Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3 |
Quote:
Quote:
How in the heck did the privious owners register the vehicle?
The VIN on the title would have to be different than the VIN on the frame. I'll bet the chain of owners isn't as innocent as the article suggests.
Jack
Maybe not. Interstate communication wasn't like it is now and vehicle databases were only local records on tired mainframes. A bit of forging to make some out of state documents, a trip to a busy DMV in another state and you get a clear title in that state.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
|
|
|
Re: Stolen motorcycle found after 34 years
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 380
Adjunct
|
|
Adjunct
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 380 |
I once bought a harly after one of the shops noticed altered vin #s he strongly recomend I not take the bike to Sturgis SD. he said to cops were heads up about stuff like that up there. Sold the bike to my best friend and he sold it last month (15yrs or so later). When I bought it the title seem good. the vin #s were stamped crooked. I noticed the later after the purchase. long story short between my friend & I bet we didnt have 500 miles on that piece of $#!T. Since then I double check every thing I can on a purchase like that. Scott 
|
|
|
Re: Stolen motorcycle found after 34 years
|
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 29
Greenhorn
|
|
Greenhorn
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 29 |
Man he bought it off of a Vorhees? Was it Jason? I wouldnt buy off somone with that kind of background personally....
"Nil Desperandum"
|
|
|
Re: Stolen motorcycle found after 34 years
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 322
Adjunct
|
|
Adjunct
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 322 |
34 years ago, most of the states still used mostly paperwork, computers really didn't take off until the 80's. Remember, we're talking politicians spending $$$ on mew technology here, not logical thinkers!
The titles were paper, as were driver's licenses. I remember having to use microfiche, personal computers were kits, and the VCR was a Betamax.
I also know riders who were skilled enuf to forge new titles and licenses, but of course I don't know their names...<BG>
So it would have been easy to forge a new registration and sell the bike.
Mary
Krashdagon aka Snappy
|
|
|
|
|
