tenant steals appliances

What should the home owner do when a tenant, moves from the house he is renting, without owners knowledge, and steals all of the appliances. over $10,000. worth of appliances. the owner has reciets and pictures of the appliances? thank you for any advice. landlord, ghrenko --66.233.xx.xxx

tenant steals appliances (by Robert,Ontrario,Canada [ON]) Posted on: May 9, 2009 6:10 AM
Message:

One can contact the police as this is theft. If one has the model and serial numbers of the appliances then the police can investigate. --216.209.xxx.xxx

tenant steals appliances (by Jason PA [PA]) Posted on: May 9, 2009 7:34 AM
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If the police are no help, here in pa we can go to the local district magistrate and file a private criminal complaint for free. This goes to the district attorney to see if they want to prosecute. You have been a victim of criminal theft. --69.253.xx.xxx

tenant steals appliances (by Rich [RI]) Posted on: May 9, 2009 7:36 AM
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Got Insurance? Might be covered at least in part. --68.229.xx.xxx

tenant steals appliances (by billy [MA]) Posted on: May 9, 2009 7:48 AM
Message:

if u had 10000 in appliances there i hope u covered yourself well.anything not nailed down is stolen in my opinion.i hope u have model numbers and serial numbers .if so i would call cops.i would never be so exposed.maybe a refrigerator and stove but thats about it.i trust no one.best wishes --208.58.x.xx

tenant steals appliances (by ManateeAlley [FL]) Posted on: May 9, 2009 7:52 AM
Message:

This is where your original application sheet comes in. The references and contacts including employment history are tools for the police to use to pursue the perpetrators. This would be "Grand Theft" and a felony in most every state I know. You should also post the debt and circumstance with the 3 credit bureaus with the link available here. I would also canvass the neighbors to locate a witness to the appliances being sold or loaded on the moving truck. Have their statements written down and notarized for use later for any civil or criminal proceedings. --169.139.xx.xxx

tenant steals appliances (by Jim in O C [CA]) Posted on: May 9, 2009 12:12 PM
Message:

If your local PD says it is a civil matter contact your county district attorney's office and seek their help and guidance. Please post how things turn out for the other Taxifornia landlords.

Thanks --72.25.xx.xx

tenant steals appliances (by Brad [IN]) Posted on: May 9, 2009 3:39 PM
Message:

What the heck kind of appliances do you have that are worth $10,000 And in a rental? Are they gold plated? --66.228.xxx.xxx

tenant steals appliances (by Robert J [CA]) Posted on: May 9, 2009 9:22 PM
Message:

I would file a police report and provide them with copies of receipts, serial numbers, make a model. I would speak with other tenants/neighbors and see if anyone saw them move out and take the appliances.

--207.200.xxx.xxx

tenant steals appliances (by Chris [CA]) Posted on: May 10, 2009 5:13 PM
Message:

Years ago, I had a similar issue. Then there was a $ 400 value point. $ 10,000 is way above that. My Q is why you waited so long?

Pull all the plugs, press charges. Bring witnesses and receipts and do it right now!

Q: the tenant has a job? What do you think made him act like this? Does your lease say anything about which appliances are included? --125.25.xx.xxx

tenant steals appliances (by Chris [CA]) Posted on: May 10, 2009 5:16 PM
Message:

Bring witnesses or pay for them to make notarized sworn statements. Ideally, one who knows these appliances were in the house and one who witnessed their removal by the perp. --125.25.xx.xxx

tenant steals appliances (by xxx [AK]) Posted on: May 10, 2009 8:30 PM
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911 --66.131.xxx.xxx

tenant steals appliances (by Hamlet [GA]) Posted on: May 11, 2009 11:12 AM
Message:

I have had this unfortunate experience.

You can and should file a police report, but the (ex-)tenant can just say "They were in there when I left the property." Unless you have a witness that saw them driving off with the appliances, you won't be able to go very far with this. Or unless you can prove that they have possession of the appliances now. Don't expect the police to do much in the way of investigation. --98.66.xxx.xx

tenant steals appliances (by ManateeAlley [FL]) Posted on: May 11, 2009 3:05 PM
Message:

My rental agreements contain an inventory of items included in the rental, and a checklist of condition at time of move in. "Tenant acknowledges responsibility for contents listed until LL is presented keys by tenant at termination of agreement". --67.191.x.xx

tenant steals appliances (by Mike45 [NV]) Posted on: May 11, 2009 4:56 PM
Message:

Chris: "My Q is why you waited so long?"

Did you read a different post than I did? Ghrenko said nothing about how long he waited. For all I know, the Tenant moved out on teh night of May 8, Ghrenko discovered it on the morning of May 9, posted it May 9 and filed a police report on May 9.

I share Brad's curiousity as to what appliances in a rental are worth over $10,000. If a Tenant takes the fridge, dishwasher, range, washer and dryer from one of my places, it is not going to add up to $10K!

My experience has been the same as Hamlet's. The cops won't spend much time on this, and the Tenant will claim that someone else stole them. Very difficult to get a criminal prosecution on this type of claim.

--216.175.xx.xx

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