Someone sent me a Suzuki engine

I wouldn't worry too much about any police problems. FedEx is a commn carrier. When a shipper gives them some freight, they own the freight untill they deliver it. If it des nt get delivered or returned FedEx is ging to be on the hook for the claim. If they couldn't bother to pick up the motor in a timely fashion then they can eat the loss.

Also Iggy came into the posession of the motor lawfully and has no reason to believe it is stolen. As such he can sell it, and the future purchaser as a bona fide buyer has clear title.

If he found a bag of money on the street, then he is obligated to turn it over to the cops for a period of time (usually 30 days) and if no one clames it then he can keep it.

Can you get the telephone number of that FedEx location in CA? If so, and you're able to reach a helpful person, they could ask their drivers if they remember picking the parcel up. With a parcel of that size there is a good chance the driver would remember. Our DHL driver remembers most of the parcels I send, and I don't send many.

Chris

So he's gonna call 50 DMV's? I wouldn't. And that was my point...there's no central database. Plus I'd bet many DMV's won't just hand out information based on a VIN you give them even if they have it. I've seen a

--Donnie

I am not sure. I spoke with our local detective this morning, told him the situation. I will give him the VIN tomorrow and then he will check it. If the engine is stolen, I would imagine that they would simply take it, if not, he said he would not have much interest in its fate.

So, actually there is a database of stolen VINs.

I am pretty ready to just give up at this point, after followup with the detective.

Careful. Suzuki has been known to use _magnesium_ for side casings on their engines.

yep, in fact the engine says MAGNESIUM on it.

I only have one data point on this subject. It regards a Harley-Davidson basket case that I wanted to purchase, but th' seller had no title, or any other paperwork of substance. It was a 1942 vintage motor.

I called th' local WA State Patrol office, explaining this dilema and they ran th' numbers through some national database. I forget th' acronym. It took all of about 3 minutes, and at no cost what-so-ever. I was politely informed that there was no record of this VIN being reported stolen.

I subsequently purchased that bike and titled it via a title service company as listed in numerous antique automotive/motorcycle trader magazines. It cost $75.00. It was inspected by th' State Patrol and I was issued a title for it as a 1942 Harley-Davidson.

So I have to assume that there is indeed a national database of stolen VIN's. Transfer of ownership records over th' years is a totally different story.

Snarl

Here in Ontario for 20 dollars and the VIN you can obtain the entire vehicular history from date of first registration to present. It is a "sellers kit" that is required to be provided by the seller to the purchacer of any private vehicle - and CAN be optained by anyone anytime.

Carfax does that here, only without the seller's identity, just location (city and state) so you can tell what years it was in what city (which is relevant if there was major flooding there or something and tells you if it served major time in a road-salted area and such).

--Donnie

Yes indeed. NCIC is only one of them.

Gunner

"Pax Americana is a philosophy. Hardly an empire. Making sure other people play nice and dont kill each other (and us) off in job lots is hardly empire building, particularly when you give them self determination under "play nice" rules.

Think of it as having your older brother knock the s*it out of you for torturing the cat." Gunner

This is the reason a car found stripped on California can be traced back to the owner in Podunk Falls, Georgia.

As well as window glass, etc etc etc..chop shops have it much harder now since most assemblies and commonl stolen items have become serialized.

Gunner

"Pax Americana is a philosophy. Hardly an empire. Making sure other people play nice and dont kill each other (and us) off in job lots is hardly empire building, particularly when you give them self determination under "play nice" rules.

Think of it as having your older brother knock the s*it out of you for torturing the cat." Gunner

Tried it 3 at a time, and got more email from people asking for one specific coin from the lots, than I got bids. (shrug) At 3 cents per listing, we'll see how it goes. So yeah, lots was my first thought.

Dave