Please note that to protect the innocent, some details in this posting have been changed! Like my user name!

I got an interesting phone call at home this morning.

"Good morning Sir, I'm a vehicle inspector with Police. I'm investigating vehicle crime on behalf of Hampshire Police. Did you buy a motorbike engine on ebay? (Then gave me my user name on ebay, the make and model of the engine, and the fact that I originally got it from a bloke in Hampshire started a few alarm bells ringing!)."

Then he gives me the engine number that he's looking for. It's the right format for the make of bike engine I have in my car, although he says it sounds made up as it's not in the right format.

Erm, yes thats my ebay user account, I but I've bought a few engines for that car off ebay. Erm I keep blowing them up!

Ah says he. Can I make an appointment to come round and see you. Gives me his office number and mobile, but explains he's on his Christmas do today so only doing a half day.

So I go outside and check all my engine numbers. The number on the engine I got from a breakers that is in the car is OK. The engine number on the spare engine, that I got off ebay is the one he's looking for

Luckily this engine isn't the one I passed my SVA with, or that is on my V5. That one blew up ages ago.

The spare engine is in bits all over the workbench (where it's been for 6 months!).

So I'm in a dilema. Do I panic and grind the engine number off my spare engine? Do I do nothing, let the guy come round and see the engine. He might sieze it? I could try to get him to put it back together? (I guess that's a bit of a long shot ).

The second bit it that I've changed the engine in the car three times now, and keep forgetting to inform the DVLA. So if he inspects the car, he's going to find that the engine number in there doesn't match the V5. This in itself isn't a massive problem, but what if this one turns out to be dodgy too?

Your help, comments and advice gratefully received as ever.

Cheers

"Bob"

P.S. Anyone who knows my history with my build/ subsequent engine failures etc, please don't try to dig out my real user name etc, because I'll just delete the thread

Not worth incriminating yourself by doing anything stupid like grinding numbers off. Let the investigation run its course and see what happens....

Tell him that you've just put the legit engine in the car and you're about to send the details off the DVLA. You've already told him that you often blow up engines, so the fact that you've just put one in shouldn't bother him.

As for the dodgy one... there's little you can do - you'll just have to let it run it's course.

David

Althought the 'go to the pub' option sounds good i think i would go with the above. Just leave everything as it is. Doing anything else could end you up in hot water so is not worth it. You could even be really helpful and give them a box to put all the engine bits in if they sieze the engine

As for the engine thats in your car currently I dont think that he will be interested anyway im sure that you just put that in last week and havn't got around to filling in the paperwork

As all of the above really, if they seize anything surely it will only be the bit with a number on it - ie the block, as its in pieces there is nothing to prove that the rest of the bits belong to that engine, and so are useless to them.

Most coppers are helpful guys if you let them be.. tell him the truth and see what happens

Chris

I wouldn't grind off the engine number. You'll just incriminate yourself. After all, anyone who buys something off Ebay could potentially be buying stolen goods. It's unlikely anything will happen as a result. If you grind off the numbers it's a sign that you *know* it's stolen. That's a different matter!!

Is the person you bought it off Ebay still buying / selling? Is their account still active. If so, you could always complain to Paypal to try and get your money back (if it proves to be hot property!!)

Do you need to cooperate? You should check that. Like above don;t grind anything off. You bought it off Ebay so you didn't stole it. If he sees it he might take it away, but that's it. You won;t go to jail. He calls you for help, but can you refuse?

Don't grind the number off.
If the block is left on the table with everything stripped from it then there's no way that anyone can prove what came from it.

You need to play ball, the last thing you want to be accused of is handling stolen goods.

Don't grind the number off
Don't mention his pay rise
Don't ask him if hes going on strike

quote:

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Originally posted by woodster
Don't grind the number off
Don't mention his pay rise
Don't ask him if hes going on strike

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As has been said, stick to the law and let it run its course and you will be fine. Start grinding numbers off and they may start throwing accusations of handling stolen goods and the like into the mix (not good)

You are the innocent victim (other than the poor bugger who had his bike stolen) in this, they could well take the engine off you but start fiddling the engine numbers and you go from victim to suspect.

Leave the engine well alone and as is.

They know the seller has handled the engine.

They know it has been sold to you.

Most importantly they know you are an innocent victim of vehicle crime.
Dont do anything that will change that view.

Try to help the police in any way you can . I'm sure all will work out fine.

Ronnie

As with most of the replies, I would co-operate and if they're going to seize the engine they'll take it. Grinding the numbers off will make it look like you have something to hide.

The police are obviously working through Ebay - they wouldn't have got your account details otherwise. You should have some comeback thru ebay / paypal / credit card if you paid through them.

the other thing - phone his force's main switchboard (look up the number on their website), and ask to speak to him. You want to confirm that he is a legit copper and not some tea-leaf looking to do you for the engine back or something. Just to be on the safe side!

HTH, and good luck!


Vince

it might be the same guy you bought it of coming round with a scam to take stuff..."We'll just have to confiscate you car mate, here's a receipt, by"

Are you 100% he was legit? what if he is someone that knows the seller therefore engine number and is trying to scam you?
You could say the engine blew up and you scrapped it last month.
Paul.

ah see we're all thinking alike now...

trust no one and if he's going to take something call the police as witnesses, he might just suddenly do a runner.

You have committed no crime if you bought the engine in good faith and had no reason to believe that it was stolen.

John

As for the engine in the car, I'd send of the v5c with the new number today. You did change the day before he called didn't you

I doubt that a scammer would be after the engine back after all this time. Unless he has recently been rumbled that is.

As already posted, you can contact his force to verify his identity.

You could also contact your local force and explain what is going on. They will be able to check if the engine is stolen.
They will also know the name of the officer & force, dealing with the investigation.

Ronnie

quote:

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Originally posted by Mr Whippy
ah see we're all thinking alike now...

trust no one and if he's going to take something call the police as witnesses, he might just suddenly do a runner.

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quote:

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You could also contact your local force and explain what is going on. They will be able to check if the engine is stolen.
They will also know the name of the officer & force, dealing with the investigation.

Ronnie

quote:

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yeah like do it right now

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Mr Whippy - 14/12/07 at 10:59 AM

warrant cards/ID are so easy to fake these days and as most people have never seen and original how can you tell it's a fake?

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Tyne Bridge - 14/12/07 at 11:03 AM

OK, well I just contacted the copper on his mobile. He's in no hurry. I confirmed to him that the spare engine I have matches the engine number he's looking for. He's off to contact Hampshire to see if they want the block back as evidence / to destroy it, or they just want to photograph it and take a statement from me.

Bloke seems really nice, and has arranged to meet me at work in the New Year, if I can get the block in the boot of the car. He'll then either seize it or not. He also knows the area well and has a local accent, so probably not some scammer.

Also I can't see the original seller coming back to me 2 years after I bought the engine, driving a round trip of 600 miles to try to scam the engine back off me when it only cost me £200 notes.

Cheers

"Bob"

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bartonp - 14/12/07 at 11:04 AM

Much less confrontational and more certain to phone and check his ID before he pays you a visit (get the number out of the phone book, not the one he gave, if you are paranoid)!.

Phil.

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Marcus - 14/12/07 at 11:13 AM

As above FFS STILL check his ID!!!!!!!

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bonzoronnie - 14/12/07 at 11:14 AM

quote:

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Originally posted by Mr Whippy

quote:

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You could also contact your local force and explain what is going on. They will be able to check if the engine is stolen.
They will also know the name of the officer & force, dealing with the investigation.

Ronnie

quote:

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yeah like do it right now

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OHHH I detect a note of sarcasm

I think the thread starter was looking for a bit of constuctive advice

Scammer paranoia is certainly rife.

Quite right, be on the guard at all times. Yes.

AS it turns out. The call was genuine.

No surprise there then.

Ronnie

[Edited on 14/12/07 by bonzoronnie]

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Fozzie - 14/12/07 at 11:14 AM

I think I would be very wary from the outset.....

Do the police force employ vehicle inspectors these days?.........

Never mind his office/mobile numbers, the first call would be to Hampshire police, or pop in to your local station......to validate the info you have been given so far.

Also, if the police were investigating the ebay seller, surely ebay would suspend the persons account? if so, have you checked that he is still 'ebay active'?

Assuming the call checks out and all is legit, do NOT try to 'hide' anything....as said above, you have also been a victim in this, the seller has after all, taken YOUR money !!

As for the V5 with current engine in car, well its not long gone in, and is being tested, when you are satisfied that it is a good engine, the V5 will be sent in to be adjusted, hence buying another engine 'just in case'....I really wouldn't worry too much about that part to be honest.

This scenario could happen to anyone of us who buys stuff from places like ebay.....no need really to 'hide'........

Please check out the phone call as first priority with the police force itself ...

ATB Fozzie

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Mr Whippy - 14/12/07 at 11:17 AM

quote:

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Originally posted by bartonp
Much less confrontational and more certain to phone and check his ID before he pays you a visit (get the number out of the phone book, not the one he gave, if you are paranoid)!.

Phil.

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it's ok he's just going to meet him in a carpark and hand over the block if the guy wants it, everythings fine

ok so it's most likely genuine but we've all read the warnings about the guy with the garage full of escort bits etc. E-bays rife with con artists that's why I don't use it now, the best and most helpful advice is to check things out and I wasn't being sarcastic, for once.


[Edited on 14/12/07 by Mr Whippy]

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bonzoronnie - 14/12/07 at 11:19 AM

quote:

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Originally posted by Fozzie
I think I would be very wary from the outset.....

Do the police force employ vehicle inspectors these days?.........

Never mind his office/mobile numbers, the first call would be to Hampshire police, or pop in to your local station......to validate the info you have been given so far.

Also, if the police were investigating the ebay seller, surely ebay would suspend the persons account? if so, have you checked that he is still 'ebay active'?

Assuming the call checks out and all is legit, do NOT try to 'hide' anything....as said above, you have also been a victim in this, the seller has after all, taken YOUR money !!

As for the V5 with current engine in car, well its not long gone in, and is being tested, when you are satisfied that it is a good engine, the V5 will be sent in to be adjusted, hence buying another engine 'just in case'....I really wouldn't worry too much about that part to be honest.

This scenario could happen to anyone of us who buys stuff from places like ebay.....no need really to 'hide'........

Please check out the phone call as first priority with the police force itself ...

ATB Fozzie

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Very sound advice.

The police are there to help.

Ronnie

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Agriv8 - 14/12/07 at 11:30 AM

Though I agree with the 'Be Carful'

But I do know that there is a lot of 'Cross over' of Police & VOSA ect ect ( brother in law is a secret squirel for them ) I know certain VOSA bods have the right to 'Stop and detain' but dont belive they have the right to arrest ( Yet !! ) .

If the engine is 'Stolen' surly the police or whoever need the engine as evidence / to further the investigation.

RE the engine that's in - play the rules games. It's just gone in and I am awaiting time to get to an MOT station to check that it meets the Omisions standards set for vehicle.

Regards

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jollygreengiant - 14/12/07 at 12:18 PM

Don't do anything except be helpful. They will probably take you block (and or bits) away, BUT, a few years ago I had a car stolen. Six months later it turned up when it drove straight past me, I radio-ed the office who called the police while I followed it. They ( the police) stopped it and arrested the bloke. He got to keep the car because the police could NOT prove that he knowingly received stolen goods.
You bought the goods off of Ebay in good faith as described in the sellers waffle. You had no reason to suspect otherwise.

Keep calm and be helpful.

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neilj37 - 14/12/07 at 12:38 PM

If the engine was stolen and the police take it doesn't it go back to the original owner or the insurance company. If it goes back to the insuurance company perhaps you could do a deal with them !!

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Tyne Bridge - 14/12/07 at 12:41 PM

Well I thought about where to meet the guy, and out of home or the office, the office sounded better!

I will of course check his ID out.

I've been back through my ebay account (bearing in mind it's two years since I bought the engine). The seller is still active! And digging a bit deeper, I've got his email address and know his town.

And he's on the electroal role.

Cheers

Off to the pub!

"Bob"

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bonzoronnie - 14/12/07 at 01:19 PM

quote:

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Originally posted by Tyne Bridge
Well I thought about where to meet the guy, and out of home or the office, the office sounded better!

I will of course check his ID out.

"Bob"

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Wise choice

Why have them poking around your collection of dead engines if you don't have too.

If an insurance claim has been paid to the original owner the engine will belong to the insurance company that paid the claim.

If the engine is now FUBAR. I dont see them wanting it back. It,ll have no residual value to them.

It may be that the police only want photograpic evidence & a statement.

Ronnie

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Neil P - 14/12/07 at 02:17 PM

You bought the engine in good faith and you own it.

Unfortunately it's not that simple because the original owner/their insurer also owns it.

Property in these circumstances is usually left with the person currently in possession of it, on the condition that they recognise there is more than one owner and they cannot legally dispose of it.

It is then left to a court to decide ownership.

Can't really see an insurer going to all that fuss for a knackered motor. Probably cost them to get rid of it.

Neil

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need4speed - 14/12/07 at 03:18 PM

A friend of mine had a stolen car, when the insurance company wanted it back they asked him to pay for it. He then asked them for storage costs, they then came to a mutual agreement with him paying a small amount to keep the car. The other good thing was it was really newer than the plates indicated when he bought it.

Dave

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Macbeast - 14/12/07 at 03:27 PM

If you buy stolen goods, the legit owner still owns them and you have to give them back, as many carbuyers have found to their dismay. This is why you do an HPI check when buying a car.

Why not arrange to meet him in the car park of your local police station ?

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bonzoronnie - 14/12/07 at 03:43 PM

quote:

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Originally posted by Macbeast
Why not arrange to meet him in the car park of your local police station ?

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Lateral thinking. I love it.

Ronnie

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Peteff - 14/12/07 at 05:01 PM

When my mate's car was written off as uneconomical to repair he asked me what it would take to fix it ourselves, about £50 in parts and a couple of days work. He contacted the insurance and they delivered it to his house for him free of charge and never asked him for anything for the car.

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bonzoronnie - 14/12/07 at 06:16 PM

The storage angle is not as daft as it sounds.

Now you believe this engine may belong to someone else.

In theory, It would not be unreasonable for you to charge an insurance company for safe storage of said engine.

From the date you had the police call till whenever??. £10-15 a day at least

Then see if the insurance company/last owner will want it back.

Ronnie

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onzarob - 14/12/07 at 10:14 PM

Ring the police, why would he ring and give you a chance to get rid of it!!!!

They would turn up, not warn you

If he is genuine he won't mind

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matt_claydon - 16/12/07 at 10:51 AM

Only if they thought you were guilty of something. They know very well he only bought it on Ebay so no reason to come knocking the door down at dawn!

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JoelP - 23/12/07 at 09:20 PM

i once bought a car, then the police contacted me to tell me it was stolen. Came for an interview about who i bought it off. Then they told me the real reg number, and i recieved a v5 in the post with the correct numbers on it - this because i was, temporarily at least, the vehicles keeper. Note it says at the top of a v5 that the registered keeper is not necessarily the legal owner. They told me the vehicle was officially owned by the insurance company, who would contact me regarding settlement. They never got in touch, so after 6 months i sold it cheap to a mate on the understanding that he became liable for any loss. Not heard owt since, 4 years ago.

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tks - 26/12/07 at 09:13 PM

quote:

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Originally posted by Tyne Bridge
OK, well I just contacted the copper on his mobile. He's in no hurry. I confirmed to him that the spare engine I have matches the engine number he's looking for. He's off to contact Hampshire to see if they want the block back as evidence / to destroy it, or they just want to photograph it and take a statement from me.

Bloke seems really nice, and has arranged to meet me at work in the New Year, if I can get the block in the boot of the car. He'll then either seize it or not. He also knows the area well and has a local accent, so probably not some scammer.

Also I can't see the original seller coming back to me 2 years after I bought the engine, driving a round trip of 600 miles to try to scam the engine back off me when it only cost me £200 notes.

Cheers

"Bob"

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this smells badly mainly because he needs to see the stuff and then can judge if he wants it or not.

thats a tactic to not to scare you of taking it to show it him.

i would contact the local police to let them lookup the thing. maybe some smart ass digged up the ebay engine and saw the number on the photo...2 years is allong time to be looking after a stolen bike isn't it??

so how did he came so late by you??

Tks

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tks - 26/12/07 at 09:23 PM

i would just play opencards with him.

tell him you don't trust him and ask him for his police ID number

or better let him fax his id card to your office..
anyway i would only coooperate with him if i surely knew it was the legal force.

tks

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Guinness - 23/1/08 at 01:18 PM

A quick update on this tale. Obviously it was my engine (well spotted Calvinx / Mark / EuroDragon).

The vehicle inspector turned up at work today, wearing full police uniform, and driving a marked van (so I guess he was pretty genuine!). We talked engines for a while, then he took the block away, and gave me a receipt for it.

An hour later, I got a phone call. He'd stripped the paint off the block around the engine number, had a look with a microscope and discovered the engine number is genuine.

So he came back to the office and dropped the engine back to me, signed the receipt and away!

So I still have my engine. Anyone in the North East able to lend me a hand rebuilding my engine?

Cheers

Mike

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DarrenW - 23/1/08 at 04:02 PM

Im so pleased this had a successful outcome for Tyne Bridge

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