Police visit

[Briar]

Hi all,
Not sure this is in the correct forum so apologies but looking for some advice please.
Just had a visit from the police this afternoon concerning a dump trailer which we bought at the local machinery auction at the mart a few months ago. Was informed that trailer was part of an ongoing police investigation and as such is going to be uplifted in the morning. Don't know if it's stolen or finance issues or what they wouldn't expand.
What recourse do we have? Waiting for a reply from mart and will have to wait till tomorrow to phone solicitor.

Thank you
Briar

 

[YorkshireAndrew]

I think it's down to the auction mart to sort it out , you bought it off them not the person who entered it in the sale .

 

[Briar]

Thats my thoughts, but if the trailer gets lifted in the morning am I not going to be both out of pocket and trailer less till things get sorted, if ever?

 

[multi power]

If you happen to unknowingly buy a stolen car you loss out. But having bought through a mart may help you

 

[sawdust]

Regardless where and who you bought it off of, if it's stolen then it goes back to original owner or insurance company if they've already paid out, maybe your local mart may have insurance against this happening to help you get your money back. but you may lose the trailer and your money!

 

[Strickland2005]

Had same thing happen at carlisle market they didn't want to know had to buy trailer again off insurance company

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

Buying at auction is a gamble, was once told years ago, what ever you want to buy, even if you can pay in full, put a bit of it on finance, as they do all the checking, I know a man that bought off a dealer for cash, and tractor was still on finance to previous owner, and it got lifted

 

[Cowcalf]

thought if you bought a truck at the block it was covered by an indemnity fee they charged to cover any problems, ie finance, stolen etc.

 

[Briar]

Sorted! Can't give details at this point but mart most helpful.
Thank you
Briar

 

[glasshouse]

Sorted! Can't give details at this point but mart most helpful.
Thank you
Briar

You are in the clear, otherwise auctions wouldnt work.

 

[glasshouse]

Buying at auction is a gamble, was once told years ago, what ever you want to buy, even if you can pay in full, put a bit of it on finance, as they do all the checking, I know a man that bought off a dealer for cash, and tractor was still on finance to previous owner, and it got lifted

Best not pay on the day.

 

[Briar]

Just a wee update.
On the recommendations of some others before the mart or our solicitor could reply I took the decision reluctantly to hide the trailer. Solicitor returned call early next morning and confirmed that I should not be just handing it over and that police need to talk to him first to explain on what grounds. Next phone call was from the police looking to collect trailer. When I explained I was being advised not to hand it over and had hidden it, well the dummy got spat and the toys were well out of the pram! I was then being threatened with arrest and having a charge of reset levelled against me unless I comply. That was the first inkling that trailer could be stolen.
The mart were in touch just as better half was trying to calm police officer. I let them know what had just happened and the gentleman said he would be straight out with one of the marts directors. They hardly got in the door when the same police officer rang them demanding trailer! Eventually the police woman's superiors agreed that the trailer should be stored at the mart and not some police designated secure storage until the investigation was over. In addition the Sargent and his inspector would come out and explain the situation. Their visit basically confirmed that neither the mart nor I had done anything wrong and that they were more than 99% sure it was stolen and part of a bigger investigation.
After much prompting the mart have just received an email stating that the trailer is no longer part of an investigation it was now a civil matter, and I can collect my trailer.
So a big thank you to ANM and Mo my better half for advice, help and patience over the last few weeks.

 

[Exfarmer]

You are lucky the police did not impound it , as you would now being faced with a very large storage fee. Possibly in the order of £100 per day!

 

[roscoe erf]

thought if you bought a truck at the block it was covered by an indemnity fee they charged to cover any problems, ie finance, stolen etc.

correct

 

[Av Gorritt]

I had a similar experience with a dumper . I bought it quite openly from a breaker , and used it for a time . A passerby claimed he recognised at as stolen and informed the police who duly came , and asked a few questions and went . Came again following day , questions and went again . I said I bought it openly , told him from where and how much . He said the accuser recognised it from the dents on the skip ! . BUT he had no proof of ownership , no chassis nos, no engine nos. . I spoke to our solicitor who said that if the vendor didn't have a valid title to it , then he couldn't give me title . His advice was to call the bluff , tell the bobby that if they were confident enough, and had proof of ownership , to take it , and I should demand a receipt , that under no circumstances should I hinder the police in taking it , but that I didn't have to help in any way . And that I would claim for losses . That stopped them in their tracks , and the bobby said he would have no more part in the procedure . His actual words were "I 've been had by that before , and it caused me no end of trouble . " I never heard any more about it .