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Ferris Bueller's day off?

Wheelin98TJ

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It’s called “Misappropriation”. That’s taking without permission with the intent to return. It is illegal, but to a lesser degree. By all means stake out your own vehicle but don’t approach until LE is there. Too many things can go wrong in that situation in this day and age. Let LE get control of the situation then approach.
AKA “joyriding”.
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IamPro2A

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OMG, I know exactly how you feel today.
The wife's new Wrangler was originally supposed to arrive at the dealer on April 4th. Then last week it bumped up to March 12. Then it showed up at the dealer earlier this week, and we arranged to pick it up this afternoon. This morning, she gets an email or txt that the new Jeep has been added to her Jeep app, so she goes to look, and the app says there are 297 miles on the odometer! My head almost exploded. Months of waiting on a special order, and now I'm going to refuse it because I have no idea what kind of Ferris Bueller abuse it saw for virtually the entire breakin period.
While I'm stroking out on the floor, my wife called the salesman. No idea about the app, but the odometer reads 12 miles. Whew! Crisis averted.
 

NC_Overland

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(NOTE: I am not an attorney and cannot give legal advice. :))

If it was my truck, I would keep an eye on the airtag. When it shows its at a location it shouldn't be at, I would go there and take photos.

I would also take a spare key with me, call the local police when I locate it and advise that I found my Jeep at XXXX location when it should be at body shop XXX. I would ask them to send a unit to make a report because I planned on recovering my own vehicle since I thought it had been stolen from the body shop. Its my property after all.

As long as whatever paperwork I signed when I dropped off the truck doesn't say they can drive it, I'd ask the police if I can file charges for unauthorized use of my vehicle. Then, I would charge the body shop manager for allowing it to happen. If that was a no go, I would contact my local TV or newspaper and see if they want to do a story on the body shop use of vehicles in for repair.

The worst part isn't the miles or gas usage. Its if they get behind the wheel drunk and kill a person. And, you are now on the hook in the lawsuit.
There’s ZERO chance you’d be liable in this instance.
 

punk'n

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There’s ZERO chance you’d be liable in this instance.
In the end, I 100% agree. But, you certainly will be named and dragged in (as well as your insurance carrier). It will cost $ for an attorney to get you out with a motion to dismiss.

They will go after the most money, which is your insurance carrier (because the body shop probably won't have much). And, that is tied to you as the owner.
 

legacy_etu

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OMG, I know exactly how you feel today.
The wife's new Wrangler was originally supposed to arrive at the dealer on April 4th. Then last week it bumped up to March 12. Then it showed up at the dealer earlier this week, and we arranged to pick it up this afternoon. This morning, she gets an email or txt that the new Jeep has been added to her Jeep app, so she goes to look, and the app says there are 297 miles on the odometer! My head almost exploded. Months of waiting on a special order, and now I'm going to refuse it because I have no idea what kind of Ferris Bueller abuse it saw for virtually the entire breakin period.
While I'm stroking out on the floor, my wife called the salesman. No idea about the app, but the odometer reads 12 miles. Whew! Crisis averted.
Ha, I know this feeling. When I bought my corvette I installed the MYchevrolet app and the salesman setup all the connections remotely. I am in RI and the dealer was in NJ.

So I login the app and see 112 miles on the odometer!! I was like WTF, you told me the vehicle had 11 miles on it. Keeep in mind I'm 300 miles away from the dealer so I can't just drive over and check it out. Salesmen says, " ugh, that's the fuel range left, I wish they'd change that in the app because everyone thinks that the first time they open the app". So the app is a bit confusing in that it displays the fuel range prominently and you have to toggle the reading to see the odometer. In the end , the car had the 11 miles the salesman said but for a minute I was pissed.
 

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antihero23

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Don't those air tag things only ping off of other air tags and/or people that use air tags?

Pardon my ignorance, but I don't believe those things are super accurate as the rely on a bluetooth network of similar air tags and people that use them. It's not "GPS". Is it possible this is just a glitch or inaccuracy from an imperfect tracking setup? How close to the body shop are the places your Jeep allegedly went?
 

Wheelin98TJ

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In the end, I 100% agree. But, you certainly will be named and dragged in (as well as your insurance carrier). It will cost $ for an attorney to get you out with a motion to dismiss.

They will go after the most money, which is your insurance carrier (because the body shop probably won't have much). And, that is tied to you as the owner.
I don't know that you can assume the body shop won't have much. I'd think they have a typical auto policy.

But the shop is probably only liable during work hours. If someone is driving after hours and without permission, it's probably on the driver's insurance.
 

WestwallNF104A

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I don't know that you can assume the body shop won't have much. I'd think they have a typical auto policy.

But the shop is probably only liable during work hours. If someone is driving after hours and without permission, it's probably on the driver's insurance.
The shop is liable so long as your vehicle is there. Doesn't matter if it's after hours or not.
 

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Wheelin98TJ

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The shop is liable so long as your vehicle is there. Doesn't matter if it's after hours or not.
The details of the circumstances will dictate who is liable.

If someone is driving it after hours and without permission as I said, the shop isn't liable. It's a stolen vehicle.
 

DirkG

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Stakeout your own vehicle?

Years ago I helped shut down South Coast Acura (with the help of Acura corporate) because they were just a terrible dealer. Terrible. I'm not saying you need to shut down the dealership, but you as a Jeep owner have more power than you think.

For me, I'd want nothing to do with this scenario. You mentioned drugs and retaliation. Bullshit that you don't need in your life. Tell the dealer you want another body shop (you have every right to request that) and/or take it to another dealer. Period.

Flush that Sherlock Holmes sh#t down the toilet. You deserve better than that.
 
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Lost1wing

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Me, patiently waiting for an update to the stakeout.
1772817512319-w5.webp
Well, the timing is perfect. My daughter had her baby last week. I have been out of town since the 8th. There was no movement until the 8th when I was out of town.
 
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Lost1wing

Lost1wing

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On another note, my original batteries are getting a charge every now and then.
 

Janster

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Don't those air tag things only ping off of other air tags and/or people that use air tags?

Pardon my ignorance, but I don't believe those things are super accurate as the rely on a bluetooth network of similar air tags and people that use them. It's not "GPS". Is it possible this is just a glitch or inaccuracy from an imperfect tracking setup? How close to the body shop are the places your Jeep allegedly went?
They’re a lot more accurate than you think. They PING off other devices in the area, including phones, watches, ipads, airtags, airpods, or anything that’s new enough to have the technology. As you know….these devices are everywhere.
It’s pretty impressive how it works. Same thing as *Find My Phone*
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