The car had four intervening owners. If the current owner bought it for full value without actual or constructive notice that it had previously been stolen, the car should belong to the current owner and not sent back to Cook unless Cook bought it from him.
There was a story a few years back that a man and his teenaged son rebuilt and restored a 60’s Mustang to like new condition, but when they went to have it registered found that it had been stolen like 30 years previous. The police impounded the car and it was returned to its original owner, since it was reported as stolen and there was no insurance claim against it. Had there been an insurance claim, it would belong to the insurance company..............................
Stolen is stolen. The original owner is not responsible for the DMV not properly vetting the provenance of the vehicle through the chain of ownership, and he kept the fact it was a stolen vehicle on the police blotter. So yes, he DOES deserve to get his property back.
You are WRONG !!!
That Vehicle IS STOLEN PROPERTY.
Tommy Cook is the rightful owner of the Camero.
One of the VIN Locations had been altered. I was Sold 4 times. The Title has to be Traced backwards and hopefully they will find the scumbag that Stole it and any Accomplices that were involved in the fraudulent alteration of the VIN.
As far as the purchasers down the line they were all combined victims of fraud.
Tommy is the rightful owner.
Everyone else got screwed by the thief/thieves. Hopefully the Investigation will be able to find the scumbag and the other “owner’s” can get the money back from the perp.
Sorry, but if the original owner who reprorted it stollen did not file an insurance claim the vehicle still belongs to him. When purchasing any used item it is up to the buyer to vet the history of the item.
a thief cannot convey legitimate title
Doesn’t work like that.
Wife had a 280zx stolen in Dc 25 years ago. DC impounded the car, didn’t tell us about it and sold it at their police auction. Capital police pulled the car over about 18 months later. Dash vin was changed, but they looked at the engine block.
We got the car back.
Kevin B
‘ i i i i i i
So are you an expert on these things.
Maybe his insurance coverage and/or his renewal of the theft reports made the difference.
Nope. Any dumbass who buys a classic car without verifying the VIN merits the consequences and, IMHO, each person who transacted the vehicle should be held to account.
Furthermore, there should be sanction for the DMV who obviously issued a new title on a stolen vehicle without adequate inspection.
Law is the law (unless you’re a democrat).