PeterCK Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 We are the unlucky owners of a motorhome that we think has been stolen, may have been some years ago, and now been given a new identity. We and the police have crawled all over the vehicle hoping to find a clue as to its original identity but to no avail at the moment. If anyone knows of a way to identify it please let me know. So far as we are aware all the original marks have been removed. It is an overcab Nuevo and we believe it to be circa 2005. There are several very individual marks and features which only the original owner will know of so we are hoping that someone might read this post and be able to help us. Here's hoping! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Collings Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Try looking for an Auto_Sleepers build number. It will be much less obvious than all the chassis plates and engine numbers. Suggest you speak to Auto-Sleepers as to any where the number might be found. If you send them some interior pics they might be able to give some idea fof the date from the textile patterns used. Its a relativly simple check on the Police national computer to look for outstanding Peugeot Boxers of that period or extract a list of outstanding motorcravans based on the same vehicle. I would have expected the police officer involved to have made these checks but cutbacks may have caused the specialist Stolen vehicle squads to be disbanded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 when did you buy it..why so keen to find original owner, you will end up out of pocket. Depending on time scale, the original owner will have been paid out by insurance and probably bought a much nicer German van ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulmold Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 As far as I am aware the Autosleeper build number (on a paper label) is always in the glovebox and mine is , mine being a 2006 Nuevo. Give that number to AS and they will be able to tell you the original registration number. On the Autosleeper Owners Forum we have a member who purchased a Harmony which had been ringed (the best the police had ever seen), the eventual proof being a new number chassis plate on the step into cab covering the old one but so well done it took an age (and a hammer & chisel) to discover. I remember seeing a Nuevo on Ebay which raised suspicions as it was on a Fiat not a Peugeot. It was thought that the body has been transplanted onto a different cab/chassis probably after a write-off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike88 Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 I am not sure whether this is true but my understanding is that if a vehicle is found to be stolen then it will have to be returned to the original owner who will then be required to return any insurance settlement to the insurance company. You will receive nothing. Judge hinted at this in his reply above. Before pursuing your investigations further I suggest you research the consequences of owning a stolen vehicle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robinhood Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Mike88 - 2014-07-01 9:21 AM I am not sure whether this is true but my understanding is that if a vehicle is found to be stolen then it will have to be returned to the original owner who will then be required to return any insurance settlement to the insurance company. You will receive nothing. Judge hinted at this in his reply above. My understanding is that, following a total loss settlement, title for the vehicle passes to the Insurance Company, and the original owner (to whom payment has been made) has no further interest. This is why there is often a delay before insurance payout, simply to allow for early recovery and to avoid the above consequences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Robin is correct. What I dont get is how this was discovered in the first place (did police come to you or you to them) and what is the time line.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike88 Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 JudgeMental - 2014-07-01 10:23 AM Robin is correct. What I dont get is how this was discovered in the first place (did police come to you or you to them) and what is the time line.... Thanks. But am I right in assuming that a purchaser of a vehicle that is later found to be stolen receives nothing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Mike88 - 2014-07-01 10:41 AM JudgeMental - 2014-07-01 10:23 AM Robin is correct. What I dont get is how this was discovered in the first place (did police come to you or you to them) and what is the time line.... Thanks. But am I right in assuming that a purchaser of a vehicle that is later found to be stolen receives nothing? Absolutely! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robinhood Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Mike88 - 2014-07-01 10:41 AM JudgeMental - 2014-07-01 10:23 AM Robin is correct. What I dont get is how this was discovered in the first place (did police come to you or you to them) and what is the time line.... Thanks. But am I right in assuming that a purchaser of a vehicle that is later found to be stolen receives nothing? ...yes, but it is not uncommon for an insurance company to (re-) sell a vehicle to the current (non-) owners at a discounted price, simply to be rid of the overall problem. Still end up out of pocket, but not as much as might be if you want to keep a vehicle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 The suggestion of searching for the code and speaking to Auto Sleeper is sensible if you are going to find the original owner. Have you asked the DVLA if they can track the vehicles ownership? I wouldn't be surprised if identification markers have been removed by the thief. When considering the steps you are taking, consider that if you have sufficient reason to believe that the motorhome was stolen and you continued to use it, you might be charged with handling stolen goods. I'm not a legal expert so you will need to follow proper advice. I am truly sorry for the problem you have encountered and hope that the steps you take result in you not being out of pocket whilst at the same time, being able to satisfy your own moral code. Sadly, depending on what's happened, I might be tempted to keep quiet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterCK Posted July 1, 2014 Author Share Posted July 1, 2014 We were aware of the potential risks but we felt that we needed to establish the true identity if we could. I'm hoping that someone might respond saying that their van went missing and had certain characteristics which might match ours. If so, we can then progress it and see where it leads. Incidentally, the police tell us that they currently have over 120 motorhomes on their missing or stolen register so I can only ask everyone to take extra security precautions. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepe63xnotuse Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 PeterCK - 2014-07-01 8:02 PM We were aware of the potential risks but we felt that we needed to establish the true identity if we could. I'm hoping that someone might respond saying that their van went missing and had certain characteristics which might match ours. If so, we can then progress it and see where it leads....... Sorry..but do you mean that you knew that there was a chance that it may've been nicked when you bought it?... 8-) If that is the case, then wouldn't finding out "where it leads" have been better carried out prior to buying it?... :-S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gocro Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Was there not a post where a motorhome was stolen then 'discovered' on a traveller site? All the identification marks had been removed ie engine and vin plate, despite the owners description of other characteristics the vehicle was left in the possession of the felons as the identification could not be proven. It may be possible to get the vehicle re registered by the DVLA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pampam Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Peter could i ask did you buy it off ebay, and what gives you the idea that it might be stolen? Did you get it hpi checked before purchase ? Was the v5 document with it , and did you go to the sellers home ,also did you check engine number?lsorry lots of questions i know ,but am looking to buy privately myself and wondered what more a person can do to avoid being "shafted" (is that word allowed on here?) pp:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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