Unusual stolen vehicle scenario
Discussion
I'm in the process of liquidating my limited company. I had a few guys working for me, spread over various parts of the country. They all had an allocated company van. All vehicles have been returned, and sold off, bar one.
This (ex) employee has always been, despite being a bit of a rough diamond, a loyal, trustworthy chap. However, he seems to have gone to ground. I haven't heard from him for several weeks now. His FB page is unused, he doesn't answer his phone, txt messages go unanswered, and I've sent letters to the two addresses I have for him asking him to get in touch, but, obviously he hasn't. I know he's still alive (for now!) as I WhatsApp'ed him yesterday and got notification that the message had been seen, but today I've been blocked from his account.
The company insurance has been terminated, and the van is on SORN. I spoke to DVLA to see if he'd applied for ownership, but it's still in the company name. I also reported it to the police local to where he lives, but they were less than interested, and stated that it's a civil matter, and they wouldn't get involved. I guess it's a moot point if it could be considered theft, but at the very least he's driving it without consent, and quite probably without tax & insurance.
I have two concerns; any speeding/parking/offences will probably end up on my doorstep. And secondly, the f
ker has effectively stolen something that belongs to me. He's a good 200+ miles away from where I am, (I'm in Norfolk, he's Winchester/Stockbridge area) so it's not practical to go and sit outside his house, moreso because he moves between a couple of addresses., and I could potentially spend 2-3 days tracking him down, and maybe more if he has another job and is working away.
So, PH'ers; what would you do? Any suggestions, up to and including breaking of limbs welcomed. (For clarity, the last comment was for comic effect...)
This (ex) employee has always been, despite being a bit of a rough diamond, a loyal, trustworthy chap. However, he seems to have gone to ground. I haven't heard from him for several weeks now. His FB page is unused, he doesn't answer his phone, txt messages go unanswered, and I've sent letters to the two addresses I have for him asking him to get in touch, but, obviously he hasn't. I know he's still alive (for now!) as I WhatsApp'ed him yesterday and got notification that the message had been seen, but today I've been blocked from his account.
The company insurance has been terminated, and the van is on SORN. I spoke to DVLA to see if he'd applied for ownership, but it's still in the company name. I also reported it to the police local to where he lives, but they were less than interested, and stated that it's a civil matter, and they wouldn't get involved. I guess it's a moot point if it could be considered theft, but at the very least he's driving it without consent, and quite probably without tax & insurance.
I have two concerns; any speeding/parking/offences will probably end up on my doorstep. And secondly, the f
ker has effectively stolen something that belongs to me. He's a good 200+ miles away from where I am, (I'm in Norfolk, he's Winchester/Stockbridge area) so it's not practical to go and sit outside his house, moreso because he moves between a couple of addresses., and I could potentially spend 2-3 days tracking him down, and maybe more if he has another job and is working away.So, PH'ers; what would you do? Any suggestions, up to and including breaking of limbs welcomed. (For clarity, the last comment was for comic effect...)
What's the van and how much is it worth? If it's worth less than a grand or so then give it to him.
If not then I guess it's a case of write to him, take it to court, apply for repossession chaps to go and take it away for you. Expect it to cost money.
Maybe a 200 mile trip to have a friendly chat with him wouldn't be such a bad option.
If not then I guess it's a case of write to him, take it to court, apply for repossession chaps to go and take it away for you. Expect it to cost money.
Maybe a 200 mile trip to have a friendly chat with him wouldn't be such a bad option.
2Btoo said:
What's the van and how much is it worth? If it's worth less than a grand or so then give it to him.
If not then I guess it's a case of write to him, take it to court, apply for repossession chaps to go and take it away for you. Expect it to cost money.
Maybe a 200 mile trip to have a friendly chat with him wouldn't be such a bad option.
It's only a Renault Kangoo, worth around £3000. I've pretty much resigned myself to writing it off and putting it down to experience, but on principle alone...If not then I guess it's a case of write to him, take it to court, apply for repossession chaps to go and take it away for you. Expect it to cost money.
Maybe a 200 mile trip to have a friendly chat with him wouldn't be such a bad option.
The repo option sounds like a possible plan. I've already written to him, but have had no reply. To be honest, I don't care if it does cost. So long as I can recover the costs when selling the vehicle, it'd be a win in my book. Anyone got experience of doing this?
I've considered the 400 mile round trip, but there's no guarantee he'd be there, and I don't fancy sitting around for 2-3 days hoping he'll turn up.
Just a thought.
Maybe he feels hard done by and has just left the van somewhere near his home just to cause you problems?
My silly brother did this when a taxi firm wouldn't pay him the final month. He DID get a visit from the Police about it.
Find someone on here who is local, get them to have a look round some car parks near to the chaps home.
Maybe you'll be lucky and find it.
I'd be worried about car park fines etc, if the chap is really out to get you he could leave it in a fee paying car park.
If you're happy to write it off then send off the V5 in his name so if he's done that the fines would go to him.
Again, just a thought. Maybe some one legal can advise better.
Maybe he feels hard done by and has just left the van somewhere near his home just to cause you problems?
My silly brother did this when a taxi firm wouldn't pay him the final month. He DID get a visit from the Police about it.
Find someone on here who is local, get them to have a look round some car parks near to the chaps home.
Maybe you'll be lucky and find it.
I'd be worried about car park fines etc, if the chap is really out to get you he could leave it in a fee paying car park.
If you're happy to write it off then send off the V5 in his name so if he's done that the fines would go to him.
Again, just a thought. Maybe some one legal can advise better.
Do you have a key to the van ?
Use a local person from here, they are very good, to go find and collect. Any tracker ?
https://www.theabi.org.uk
Use a local person from here, they are very good, to go find and collect. Any tracker ?
https://www.theabi.org.uk
Where do you consider the van has been stolen? The area your company is in or where he lives? That'll depends on who should record it I believe. Perhaps try ringing the local force.
Are there any messy parts about him being owed any payment etc?
If you feel it's theft then ask to complain to the relevant police force. Someone more senior in the area of crime recording will likely assess and review it.
Bigends is the expert in this area so may well contribute.
Are there any messy parts about him being owed any payment etc?
If you feel it's theft then ask to complain to the relevant police force. Someone more senior in the area of crime recording will likely assess and review it.
Bigends is the expert in this area so may well contribute.
SmoothCriminal said:
I'm struggling to see how this is civil, I know the police don't like doing actual police work these days unless it's to do with hurt feelings on twitter but how is this not theft or twoc.
The 80,000 in prison would probably disagree with that. AutoClouseau said:
Police would always try and say its a civil matter, better for stats.
Will Pm you as depending on circumstances, there are a different range of options.
Statistics irrelevant. Will Pm you as depending on circumstances, there are a different range of options.
AutoClouseau said:
Police would always try and say its a civil matter, better for stats.
Will Pm you as depending on circumstances, there are a different range of options.
Statistics irrelevant. Will Pm you as depending on circumstances, there are a different range of options.
So explain why, when you actually get somebody who is clued up on auto crime and then there is so many arguments between forces whom will crime it, or if that can't be resolved, Navcis will. Based on what the Op has said, it should have been treated as a crime and investigated in the first instance and not just told its civil, happens far too often and people are left thinking the information given is correct and the only option is an expensive legal option.
AdeTuono said:
So, PH'ers; what would you do? Any suggestions, up to and including breaking of limbs welcomed. (For clarity, the last comment was for comic effect...)
There are companies who specialise in this area.Happens all the time with hire purchase/leases etc where punter can't pay and tries to hold on to it. Especially sub prime and lenders just pass it on to these companies to retrieve.
AdeTuono said:
It's only a Renault Kangoo, worth around £3000. I've pretty much resigned myself to writing it off and putting it down to experience, but on principle alone...
There is absolutely no way on this earth I would ever let something like that go.The principle of the matter would be everything to me. I would be incandescent about it.
I would happily pay a pair of vehicle repo goons £1000 to recover something worth £3000.
The only shame is that you can't pay them an extra couple of hundred to rough the guy up while they are there, just for being disrespectful to you.
Things like that boil my piss. As you can probably tell.
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 10th September 12:55
Youll need to pin the suspect down to one address.
The force covering that address should record as TWOC and enter on PNC accordingly.
Its not a civil matter unless youre in some sort of dispute over wages for example over which hes holding the van hostage and theres been ongoing contact between the two of you. This doesnt appear to be the case as hes broken off all contact.
As soon as theres any change to keeper details or its apparent hes sold the van then the van is stolen and should be recorded accordingly.
PNC will also show if the van is currently being driven or whether its been subject of any calls by the public as abandoned somewhere
The force covering that address should record as TWOC and enter on PNC accordingly.
Its not a civil matter unless youre in some sort of dispute over wages for example over which hes holding the van hostage and theres been ongoing contact between the two of you. This doesnt appear to be the case as hes broken off all contact.
As soon as theres any change to keeper details or its apparent hes sold the van then the van is stolen and should be recorded accordingly.
PNC will also show if the van is currently being driven or whether its been subject of any calls by the public as abandoned somewhere
Edited by Bigends on Sunday 9th September 22:44
AutoClouseau said:
Really!!
So explain why, when you actually get somebody who is clued up on auto crime and then there is so many arguments between forces whom will crime it, or if that can't be resolved, Navcis will. Based on what the Op has said, it should have been treated as a crime and investigated in the first instance and not just told its civil, happens far too often and people are left thinking the information given is correct and the only option is an expensive legal option.
Doesn't mean it's down to any statistical manipulation agenda. More likely to be a debates where the crime occurred etc. So explain why, when you actually get somebody who is clued up on auto crime and then there is so many arguments between forces whom will crime it, or if that can't be resolved, Navcis will. Based on what the Op has said, it should have been treated as a crime and investigated in the first instance and not just told its civil, happens far too often and people are left thinking the information given is correct and the only option is an expensive legal option.
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