My laptop was stolen (Police letter in the MAIL?!) Do I have any rights?

Today I get this letter from the chicago police addressed to me, (the billing info was different as we used a business account debit card to pay for it) so am assuming they got the info after I registered it back in August.

Anyway, the letter says Insight Computers reported them stolen! I called the vendor (an ebay store, still in business) and they said they are aware of this.

According to the police, the only way Insight can get their money from the insurance is to get back the laptops. The letter went on to say receiving stolent property greater than $300 is a class 3 felony! I don't even have a parking ticket! Gesssh.

Anyway, I call Toshiba, explain the situation and they tell me just to fax the invoice and their records would reflect that - even though in their system it does not show up stolen.

The vendor says Toshiba doesn't know what they are talking about and would try to replace it with something comparable! Not sure what this means!

Anyway, as far as the police are concerned, they are sending out a box for me to send it back!?!?

I have an invoice! What are my rights! The Vendor has been in business for 5 years and they bought them from a 4th party, blaa blaa blaa......I'm not just going to take a $1000 hit with nothing to show for it -on the other hand I don't want a felony charge against me either!

thanks for the advice!

please advise!

Thanks, here is what I learned so far, both my vendor and the 3rd party that is claiming the laptops stolen both have insurance liability. The vendor said the main company is considering getting the laptops back (at least from my vendor) so it's still up in the air.

I just got off the phone with the vendor and he said if a box comes to me, then this means inside it will be a letter saying received or something like that, I am then to fax them this letter which they will keep for their insurance (they have been in business 5 years with only 35% of sales from ebay) and said they would either refund my money or replace the laptop with similar specs. I then went on to mention that after being told I would have 7 days to transfer the information, that this should be enough time for them (the vendor) to send me a new laptop which he said yes too. So, it seems for the time being, that I will get either a refund or replacement.

Do any of you think I should still go to the local police department?



I understand the law to some extent but why would the main vendor need the laptops if they are trying to claim insurance? The vendor I bought it from said it is still up in the air, so only time will tell. For now, it's mine and I will not take a $1000 hit for someone elses mistake unless it is replaced which sounds like my vendor is willing to do since they have insurance as well.

I registered it with Toshiba the day I got it so it's hardly a case of knowingly receiveing property not gone through the proper channels!

First thing I did was contact Toshiba, and asked if it was stolen, it was not.
Toshiba said to send them the bill of sale and that would be it.

The letter is legit.

The vendor said they would compinsate.

What makes me made is the name used to purchase and the name used to register (mine) was the name that the letter came to so that means they got the name from Toshiba, so why was it not listed as stolen when I called Toshiba?

Perhaps the letter is legit but there could be a bigger scam?

I don't think they are going to fly out here to pick up a laptop. I will never register anything again purchased from ebay and if the vendor said they would send me a new laptop or refund my money but I have deep reservations about sending it back until one of the above it done, either laptop or check in hand.

If I bought something from someone on ebay that would be one thing but this is a store that has a real store and has been in business for 5 years, think about going to best buy, would you return something without compensation and why does the main complaintent need the laptops back to get their insurance money????

Will have to see how this works out.

and the computer vendor is listed here:
http://local.yahoo.com/details?fr=dd...IsoeorXnpGtg--


and ebay store listed here:
http://cgi3.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...otoncomputers1

So, I think the vendor is liable, not me...

We bought it in August so I don't know it there is a time limit.

g/f said it perfect, let them go after the store.

Bottom line, no refund or replacement, then I send nothing in the mail. I will wait to see what happens. We may go to the police station and bring them the letter (it does look real) and if we get another letter (after the box and no refund or replacement) we will then drag it out as long as possible.

We will ask for proof that it was stolen (Toshiba says it was not), we will then tell them at the advice of our esq. that we are awaiting a replacement/return of monies owed, that we will not wait until insurance arbitration, etc, etc.

I could see how if this was one (1) stolen laptop and was purchased off of ebay, but it was one of 45 (that the vendor sold) and 45 out of 500 or so, yet toshiba still shows it as mine and not stolen. Again, Toshiba said to just send them via fax, bill of sale. Wondering if we should even bother, as it is already registered to us, and just leave it be until we get more info, replacement or refund, but this unit was purchased from a store that told us only 35% of sales are from ebay, the other is from the store front, so they should be able to replace it and the funny thing is:
I purhased this based on specific specs so they will have to come very close!
6 pin powered firewire, onboard GPU, texas instrument chipset, USB 2.0, intel wireless, etc, etc.

I will also tell those trying to collect it I am awaiting arbitration/refund from my vendor and will drag this out as well as file a complaint against ebay, BBB, and a complaint with the California District Attny, trust me, having worked business affairs I will do my best and will have something (God willing) in hand before anything is sent out. At first I was mad, now I am angry but in a different way not to mention all the work I would have to do to re-install my windows XP PRO (corprate) and re-configure all my accounts, etc. We may file a counterlawsuit as well even after the replacement unless it is better and there is compensation for downtime.

Yeah, but here's the weird thing...

Ok, we buy the laptop using name xxxx. xxxx right, different from my name, I then get the laptop and register it under my name in August. It was bought for me.

Then, I get a letter last week addressed to me, so, this means they must have gotten it from Toshiba as the invoice shows the first name xxxx. xxxx and the letter is addressed to me, so, I then (1st thing I do) is call Toshiba, frantic, telling them about the letter, they look up the serial and say "no, not reported strolen, it is under my name", they then say to send the invoice copy (faxed) to them and that would be all I would need to do.

So, on one hand, why would the letter come to me? They had to have contacted Toshiba right to get my name as the invoice was NOT in my name, yet, while they get my name they do NOT report it stolen?

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Maybe I should just fax the invoice (to Toshiba) and ignore the rest of that and use this as my case, should I ever get in a jam about it. Sounds like a good defense on my part.