Members Incubitabus Posted December 11, 2008 Members Share Posted December 11, 2008 I'm going out all day tomorrow searching pawn and guitar shops in the DC area. I've been meaning to do it for a while anyway, so this is just a good excuse. So how do I handle this? Do I show up acting like a customer just looking for an amp? Do I lead with exactly what I'm doing? Do I take fliers with my information on them? I'm worried that if I come right out and say that I'm looking for stolen gear, that they may not tell me the truth. Is there any law preventing them from doing so? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gspointer Posted December 11, 2008 Members Share Posted December 11, 2008 I tried that years ago when I had a mixer and a couple of passive x-overs stolen. It did not go well. The owners were very combative and said the police check their purchases weekly, they would not talk to me at all. I would just act like you want to buy, if they have it, call the police out of earshot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Incubitabus Posted December 11, 2008 Author Members Share Posted December 11, 2008 Thats what I'm thinking, too. Does anyone know what the hold period for pawn merchandise is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fingeringam Posted December 11, 2008 Members Share Posted December 11, 2008 Yea, I'd just act like a rich 14 year old with money burning in his pocket to get his hands on a high end amp, if it happens to be a GBE600, SCORE Bring proof of serial number but don't tip your hand if you find it. Most will still charge you, I'd ask them to put it on hold for 24 hours, call the Po'Po with your serial number/ reciept w.e (Or if you've already filed it, call them and tell them you found it before telling the pawn shop) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Incubitabus Posted December 11, 2008 Author Members Share Posted December 11, 2008 I filed it that day. I don't have a serial, but I described distinct details, so I think that should be enough. And I have pictures for good measure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Incubitabus Posted December 11, 2008 Author Members Share Posted December 11, 2008 Hows this for a story? I'm in the market for a bass head. I had an Eden, but it unexpectedly dropped dead on me, and Eden customer service wouldn't fix it, so I need to find something like it... Aguilar, Epifani, Genz Benz... something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Kindness Posted December 11, 2008 Moderators Share Posted December 11, 2008 Hows this for a story? I'm in the market for a bass head. I had an Eden, but it unexpectedly dropped dead on me, and Eden customer service wouldn't fix it, so I need to find something like it... Aguilar, Epifani, Genz Benz... something. I've never needed a story in a pawn shop. I walk in and look at the goods. Before I leave I ask if there is anything that just came in that isn't out on the shelves. Good luck getting your amp back. Thieves are sad {censored}s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jonathan_matos5 Posted December 11, 2008 Members Share Posted December 11, 2008 exactly why would you need a cover story. every time i have spare money to spend i head over to pawn shops and see what is available. good times oh, good luck with recovering your amp. i went through similar frustration when my trombone was stolen earlier this year. fortunately i have connections and got it back within a few days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Crescent Seven Posted December 11, 2008 Members Share Posted December 11, 2008 I tried that years ago when I had a mixer and a couple of passive x-overs stolen. It did not go well. The owners were very combative and said the police check their purchases weekly, they would not talk to me at all. I would just act like you want to buy, if they have it, call the police out of earshot. Yep. The pawn shop owners are complicit with these guys in many cases, and not everything that comes in on pawn gets documented. My crackhead uncle pawned thousands of dollars worth of {censored} that he stole from my grandparents. When we got busted, he told us where he pawned everything. All at the same pawn shop, but when the cops went in there, dude had no idea what they were talking about. And this was well within the 30 day police hold. Talking to him now that he's sober, he basically said that he would fence stolen goods at this pawn shop every night for weeks on end, and they would pay him cash with no pawn slip. Car stereos, TV's, tools, you name it. They knew it was hot, they just sold everything to the Mexicans out of a garage somewhere. Thieves nowadays are working as teams, stealing {censored} in one city, and shipping it to the other guy in another city to sell on Craigslist.C7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Incubitabus Posted December 11, 2008 Author Members Share Posted December 11, 2008 Yep. The pawn shop owners are complicit with these guys in many cases, and not everything that comes in on pawn gets documented.My crackhead uncle pawned thousands of dollars worth of {censored} that he stole from my grandparents. When we got busted, he told us where he pawned everything. All at the same pawn shop, but when the cops went in there, dude had no idea what they were talking about. And this was well within the 30 day police hold.Talking to him now that he's sober, he basically said that he would fence stolen goods at this pawn shop every night for weeks on end, and they would pay him cash with no pawn slip. Car stereos, TV's, tools, you name it. They knew it was hot, they just sold everything to the Mexicans out of a garage somewhere.Thieves nowadays are working as teams, stealing {censored} in one city, and shipping it to the other guy in another city to sell on Craigslist.C7 I use google to search CL nationwide every day, so I'll know if it pops up someplace else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gonzobassman Posted December 11, 2008 Members Share Posted December 11, 2008 It is against the law for pawn shops to recieve and sell stolen goods. That said C7 is absolutely right,but not all pawn shops operate that way. You may luck out,but without a serial # you will find proving its yours a real task. Good Luck!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMS Author Craig Vecchione Posted December 11, 2008 CMS Author Share Posted December 11, 2008 BTW, do you have homeowner's insurance? If you do, you've got a claim, and don't have to go hoofing around doing what the cops will never do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mlwarriner Posted December 11, 2008 Members Share Posted December 11, 2008 just call jugghaid and be done with it. *remembers smorgasboy and a stolen zon* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Perfessor Posted December 11, 2008 Members Share Posted December 11, 2008 I filed it that day. I don't have a serial, but I described distinct details, so I think that should be enough. And I have pictures for good measure. If you bought it new and registered it the company would have the serial number on file. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bryan316 Posted December 11, 2008 Members Share Posted December 11, 2008 EVERYONE. THIS WEEKEND. PHOTOGRAPH ALL YOUR GEAR!!! Make sure the pictures show the serial numbers, model numbers, any distinguishing marks or scratches or dings. Take pictures of you WITH your gear. Write all this information down, print all these photos. Keep em stashed somewhere in an envelope. Getting your gear stolen is no joke, and will crush your soul when it finally happens. Guys, open up your instruments' control cavities, and sign your name and date it on the underside of the cavity cover. If you ever sell your gear, it's easy enough to rub it off. but thieves will not think to open that up and check for markings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Goofball Jones Posted December 11, 2008 Members Share Posted December 11, 2008 People still use pawn shops? I don't think there's even any around my area. Wouldn't craigslist be better? though easier to find and trace I suppose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members WillPlay4food Posted December 11, 2008 Members Share Posted December 11, 2008 People still use pawn shops? I don't think there's even any around my area. Wouldn't craigslist be better? though easier to find and trace I suppose. Heck, there's one right around the corner from my house, right next to the (in)convenience store/Kennedy Fried Chicken. Guess I live in a high falootin' neighborhood or something. I've seen stuff go into that pawn shop that never made it to the shelves in that store. One I distinctly remember was someone selling a USA Fender bass and I kept my eye out to see if it hit the shelves, but it never did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members justinbass Posted December 11, 2008 Members Share Posted December 11, 2008 EVERYONE.THIS WEEKEND.PHOTOGRAPH ALL YOUR GEAR!!!Make sure the pictures show the serial numbers, model numbers, any distinguishing marks or scratches or dings. Take pictures of you WITH your gear. Write all this information down, print all these photos. Keep em stashed somewhere in an envelope.Getting your gear stolen is no joke, and will crush your soul when it finally happens.Guys, open up your instruments' control cavities, and sign your name and date it on the underside of the cavity cover. If you ever sell your gear, it's easy enough to rub it off. but thieves will not think to open that up and check for markings. What he said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lonerstoenr Posted December 12, 2008 Members Share Posted December 12, 2008 Got nothing to add, but I hope you have luck in your search! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nAmzrTakin Posted December 12, 2008 Members Share Posted December 12, 2008 I'm thinking of micro-chipping my {censored} like a cat/dog. The only problem would be that I could track down the little prick that took it. There's be an assault charge in that little encounter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JacieFB Posted December 12, 2008 Members Share Posted December 12, 2008 BTW, do you have homeowner's insurance? If you do, you've got a claim, and don't have to go hoofing around doing what the cops will never do. Do you know of this actually working? When my Boogie amp was stolen, the insurance wouldn't accept a claim. I think they said something about it being "professional" gear or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ender_rpm Posted December 12, 2008 Members Share Posted December 12, 2008 Most home owners insurance won't cover gear if its used in a band or other professional capacity. My old bands rehearsalspace was in the singers moms basement, and when the crack head next door took a bunch of our stuff, they stone walled for months. The only reason we were able to get anything was that we hadn't played out yet, so it didn't leave the house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassman1956 Posted December 12, 2008 Members Share Posted December 12, 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Phantasm Posted December 13, 2008 Members Share Posted December 13, 2008 Here's some advice, if you've filed an insurance claim and been paid out, then DO NOT call the police. Buy your gear back from the pawn shop you find it in. I have a friend who had a fretless Stingray 4 stolen. His insurance paid out $1300 for a replacment. 5 years later, he sees the bass online for sale one state over, for about $700. He calls the police. The bass is seized and returned to his insurance company, who tells him that he cant' have it unless he pays them $1300. He had $700, but can't scrape together $1300. He was heartbroken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Renfield Posted December 13, 2008 Members Share Posted December 13, 2008 Here's some advice, if you've filed an insurance claim and been paid out, then DO NOT call the police. Buy your gear back from the pawn shop you find it in.I have a friend who had a fretless Stingray 4 stolen. His insurance paid out $1300 for a replacment. 5 years later, he sees the bass online for sale one state over, for about $700.He calls the police. The bass is seized and returned to his insurance company, who tells him that he cant' have it unless he pays them $1300. He had $700, but can't scrape together $1300. He was heartbroken. +1 Great advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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