Quick question for the NY folks about motorcycle theft

[snapper]

A buddy of mine had his motorccycle stolen from outside his place last summer.  Amazingly two months later the cops arrested the guy who stole it.. he was actually riding the bike!  

Anyway now my buddy has been trying to get it back but the cops and the DA office is giving him the run around.  The cops tell him to call the DA office and the DA office says call the cops.

I told him to dress up in a nice suit and get his butt down to the station with his title in hand.  Then to tell them he is there to pick up his bike.  If he gets the run around in person I suggested that he get in writing that he needs to go to the DA's to get it released.  That way he can go there with the signed statement...then try his luck.

I have no idea what the deal is... was wondering if anyone knew why he would get the run around.  Sounds like they haven't even told him "no we can't release it yet" or anything.  Granted I have no idea being that its not happening to me.

Any thoughts experience would be appreciated.
Thanks!

['04gs500f]

ok, i work for the hillsborough country sheriffs office, i will see what kind of info i can get for you and your friend, i work tonight so i will post it in around 13 hours for you and everyone else to see

[callmelenny]

Has the thief been tried yet? In some cases the vehicle would be considered evidence and could not be released.

However, I would think with a title in hand then the ownership is clear and there is no reason to hold it.

A suit and a briefcase can go a long way when dealing with these folks, in my experience. Or if you have one of those local consumer rights reporters for the TV station, they could embarass them into releasing it.

Good luck to your friend

[snapper]

Thanks a bunch!  I too thought about the consumer rights reporters, we have one here.  As for if the guy has been tried yet, not sure.  That went thru my mind as well.  Yet I would have thought they would have told him that it couldn't be released until blah blah blah.  They have told him nothing but ask the DA, ask the cops stuff.  

'04gs500f- anything you can find out about the process would be fabulous!  

I am still amazed they got the guy and the bike is in one piece!!!!

You guys are awesome!!
:mrgreen:

[milo]

Wow, amazing that they found the bike. It must be incredibly frustrating knowing it's found but not having access to it.

Is this in NYC? I might be going to work for the Manhattan DA in five months or so, but I doubt your friend wants to wait that long. In the meantime, I might be able to find out a bit about the process and can look into local law and policies on returning stolen items. I figure the DA will want to use the bike as evidence in the prosecution (and I think all NY-area riders will approve of a nice grand theft auto prosecution if it gives would-be thieves second thoughts about stealing our bikes). But at the same time they're not going to wheel the bike into the courtroom. So the issue might be whether the cops need to keep it until the case is tried, so as to preserve the chain of custody -- otherwise it might not be admissible and the thief might walk.

It would probably help to know more about your friend's case -- what precinct is it in, what stage is it at, are the prosecutors working with him (I assume he'll be called as a witness if the case goes to trial, though a guilty plea is likely so it may not come to that), etc. If he has a docket number or any other kind of official forms I might be able to dig up the case status -- this stuff is mostly a matter of public record. If you don't want to make that info public feel free to PM me.

[snapper]

OK- well I made a booboo-  
Works in NY- lives in NJ!  WHOOOPS!  The bike is in NJ.
Oy- how embarrassing for me!