I bought a stolen dinghy

[Moonpie]

It was advertised on Craigslist. Asked the seller if he had the title, registration etc. yes, he had it all. The owners manual, oars, bag, everything. Met him and did the deal. Too easy!

Went to the DMV yesterday to register it. Umm. This boat is reported stolen. Go to the cops and sort it out. Must be a paperwork error, me thinks.

Stop by the cop shop today. Next thing ya know, copper is at my house confiscating my new dinghy. I get a form and a phone number for some LT at another department. He called me and told me that my dinghy was stolen 3 years ago and that I should probably get it back after he talks to the insurance company. Fingers crossed.

Not sure what more I could have done. Did plenty of due diligence.

[Kettlewell]

Not much you could have done in that circumstance. Did you have any suspicions after meeting the seller? For all you know, he might be legitimate and it could have been stolen before he got it. On the other hand, could be the DMV messed up the numbers--I have heard of that happening.

[starchaser 2011]

Or you could have purchased from a scumbag owner that reported it stolen stolen 3 years ago. Got it replaced and waited till he thought the coast was clear to resell it. How else does he have registration, title etc.? Keep us posted. I'm betting that guy has some explaining to do.

[Richard5]

Is it grey-ish, inflatable, and about yea long? It's mine, I want it back.

[Sandero]

I had one stolen in RI about 4 yrs ago. RIB

[Bash]

Originally Posted by Richard5

Is it grey-ish, inflatable, and about yea long? It's mine, I want it back.

Sounds like the one I had stolen, only mine had an engine.

Moonpie? Was there an engine on that boat? I want it back.

[maxingout]

Bummer. I hope it works out for you.

Every time I go to Craigslist, I feel like I am looking at stolen property.

I think the only way you could have avoided a problem was run the numbers before you did the purchase.

[Kettlewell]

I think the only way you could have avoided a problem was run the numbers before you did the purchase.

Will they do that for you?

[Khagan1227]

Originally Posted by Moonpie

Not sure what more I could have done. Did plenty of due diligence.

It would appear you can check the FDLE website to see if the boat was stolen.

FDLE Public Access System | Stolen Boats Search

Since I live part time in Florida and am VERY aware of their Sunshine Laws, I took a shot and there ya go. It probably won't help you out, but perhaps it might help someone else.

[Kettlewell]

Great information!

[justlearnin]

When ever you buy off those sites you have to print out the sale and I also save the website on my computer and save it for a while. I purchased a computer off ebay that came from michigan a few years back. 2 weeks later there was a place in Mich. that got busted selling stolen computers on the news. I'm not worried now but I still have the site saved, even though it is only a pentium 800. Best to be safe than sorry. Also I think someone is right the owner probably said it was stolen and collected the money. That could get ugly. Let us know how it plays out.

[downunder]

Moonpie,

Sorry to hear of your misfortune. Hope you are not having a bad run after the speaker problems.

[Celestialsailor]

I can only guess that the original owner kept the paperwork in the dink. i don't know how else the thief could have it.

[S/V Alchemy]

That is the fishy part, really. "Oh, here's the paperwork, manual, etc."

Smells like a fraud. Hope you get it.

[Dulcesuenos]

Interesting he had a title, thinking ins fraud. I bought a stolen ob years ago. Made a copy of the guys lic. The ob ended up taken, i was out $$$ bit the dirt bag i got it from went to jail. The moral of the story. Never loan a cop buddy your outboard.....