I am tired of my appliances disappearing when the tenants move out. The police do nothing because it is a "civil matter". Any suggestions? Is there an inexpensive GPS device that might solve this problem? I have been learning from this site for a couple of years, but this is my 1st time posting anything. --108.219.xx.xxx

For rentals have never bought new appliances where bought used appliances on the internet sites. Here it is very common when kitchens are renovated all new stainless steel appliances are installed where the existing appliances will last three to five years. Then build the cost of appliances into the rent. If you can locate the former tenants then it would possible to take them to small claims court. --74.220.xxx.xxx

I don't get that civil matter thing when tenants steal things, I really don't. --173.22.xx.xx

--136.32.xxx.xxx

Once I do, I will input that system. --50.32.xxx.xxx

If they don't know it's a civil matter, good chance the fridge will show up. --50.32.xxx.xxx

I just report the model, serial number sometimes they ask for a photo, you want to report criminal theft - known suspect, sometime I have the tenant in the photo. --76.188.xxx.xx

Love the spray paint coding idea with tenant signing on move -in form. We are a small potatoes, Mom and Pop operation, but we try to operate and look 100% professional to our tenants. We are less likely to have tenants pull stuff if they know that we are not easily fooled or intimidated. --98.145.xx.xxx

We had one tenant moved refrigerator and one tenant moved a stove away. Recently, very strange, someone replaced a vacant unit refrigerator with a older one. I do not know how and who did it. We have code box one time use only for prospect and contractor has a key. --97.91.xxx.xxx

Is it OK to paint management name and number front of the appliance, or it looks too bad. We will buy nice stencil to paint. --97.91.xxx.xxx

You can always default to dinging the deposit to replace the appliance. --50.32.xxx.xxx

Thank you all for very good advice. NE, I should have mentioned that stolen appliances seem to coincide with evictions. There is never any deposit money remaining to cover this. Good tenants don't steal appliances when they leave. --108.219.xx.xxx

If tenant wants them, just say to buy them or rent them - that way they can get just what they want. --23.121.xx.xxx

BRAD --68.50.xx.xxx

If we had stopped their truck we could not have done anything unless you had reported the theft." --68.50.xx.xxx

I have come to realize that no single magic bullet exists to solve this problem. I will implement many of the suggestions offered on this thread. It is best confronted on several levels. Brad, I have been trying to get to a zero tolerance for late payers. Even so, I recently succumbed the sob stories of a single mom and a decorated ex-marine. I eventually evicted both. My leniency did not help them get caught up, and it certainly did not help me. I agree that fewer evictions should translate into fewer lost appliances. --108.219.xx.xxx

--68.50.xx.xxx

Scott - When I leased low income apartments, I too had a problem with appliance theft. I consequently stopped providing appliances. For my other rentals, I created a special personal property lease rider, which the tenants must sign, that describes in detail each appliance (make, model#, serial#, overall color, trim highlights, dimensions, accessories). The list also included ceiling fans, specialty light fixtures, and venetian blinds. (You never know when there could be a change out with a cheaper quality item.) I've had this system in place for 20 years, and I've never had a problem. --66.87.xx.xx

My gut reaction to bolting down a range was negative. Tenants would never clean under or around it. But heck, they never do anyway. My best tenant is a professional house cleaner. When I moved the range to replace a bottom element, I was disgusted. She has never moved it to clean. She has been there over 10 years. Brad, how about a brief description of your technique. --108.219.xx.xxx

--71.192.xxx.xxx

hope its understandable --71.192.xxx.xxx

One suggestion: This subject should be addressed at the upcoming Mr. LL convention. Following up John [MA]'s lead, there should be an open forum, with input from the attendees on how to effectively change this current wrong-headed "Civil Matter" stance. Just my thought: Why not first seek out the city/town corporation counsel or county state's attorney's office to seek out their stance, and find out how they would pursue the subject. If they consider it a "civil matter" then of course the police departments wouldn't want to waste their time dealing with it either! --66.87.xx.xx

I would suggest better screening to reduce the number of evictions... Hopefully to zero... Since you don't have this problem with regular move outs. --66.87.xx.xx

Pattyk, you hit the nail on the head! I stopped doing credit checks 8 or 9 years ago because all of my applicants had bad credit. That's about to change. I am going to start using mrlandlord.com's Credit, Eviction, & Criminal Reports. I have also learned many new screening skills on this site. My goal is zero lates, zero evictions, zero stress...gotta go, my phone is blowing up. Tenant has discovered deadly mold growth! --108.219.xx.xxx

--66.87.xx.xx

I put a brief description of the appliance with a serial number in the lease where it is explicitly states it my property that I am leaving for their use. Will it convince the police to pursue a thief who steals my property, I don't know, but it should. --70.210.xx.xxx