I'd like to make one minor clarification: I said "they will arrest and prosecute
him, because they get paid a commission from state and federal law enforcement
grants for each and every arrest that sticks; so do the courts, judges, lawyers
etc. The criminal justice system is a big, big industry in the good 'ole USA." I
did not mean to imply that it is the individual cops who get a monetary reward
for arrests that stick, it is the department they work for that applies for and
collects the grant money. Courts collect court costs, lawyers collect fees and
judges collect salaries. I am quoting a news letter mailed to voters in my
congressional district: "Since the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)
initiative was enacted in 1994..., the XX th congressional district has received
$16.4 million in federal funds to hire more than 260 additional officers." My
MG's are undoubtedly much safer now.
Jim
Jack Levy wrote:
> James I guess you did miss a couple of emails. I own a restoration shop in
> Hollywood Florida, I am also a licensed and bonded car dealer, I also have
> garage and shopkeepers insurance. A customer traded his car in for another
> one, at this point he canceled his insurance as the car was now technically
> mine, the car was still in his name but had no insurance it was in our shop.
> We rebuilt the engine, put a new tranny in, had the interior done, did the
> body work, painted it, put all new rubber and all this over a period of 4
> months. If someone had come in and stole the car or set the place on fire
> the insurance company would have covered it.
>
> I am not sure if you understand what all those pieces of insurance are for
> but they cover anything and everything even a$50,000 car that someone took
> for a test drive and wrecked, even if it was on consignment. What is NOT
> covered is if somebody with a key and alarm code walks out with that same
> $50,000 car. All I was relaying was the loss of my DREAM MGB, this was going
> to be titled in my name and I had spent not only time working on it, but
> lots of money getting it the was I wanted it, and now my drug addicted
> mechanic (now I know what his problem was) probably sold it for a couple of
> hundred dollars or stripped it, I doubt if he took it wherever he's going.
>
> As far as the issue with the cops, I only relayed what the officer that
> wrote up my case told me I didn't know they worked on commissions I thought
> they got paid a salary. I am not an expert on what cops do or don't do, that
> is why I asked if there were any cops out there with MGs to comment on this.
> All I meant to do in my original posting was to ask if anyone saw my car to
> let me know, thank you for explaining everything in such detail.
>
> I have the original title for the car, but the only current pictures are on
> a disposable camera with the car that was locked in a secured warehouse with
> an alarm.
>
> I think the thread at this point has gone far enough, thanks again to all
> that had kind words regarding my loss, they are appreciated, makes me feel
> better to know that some of you would actually keep an eye out for my car,
> even if I was a stranger.
>
> Jack Levy
> Driveable Classics, Inc.
> Hollywood, Florida
> Phone 954-986-4241
> Web site http://www.driveableclassics.com
> Repairs, Triumphs and MG car sales, used parts and restorations
> jack@driveableclassics.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: James H. Nazarian, Ph.D. [mailto:microdoc@apk.net]
> Sent: Saturday, February 03, 2001 2:18 PM
> To: MGTD1952@cs.com
> Cc: jack@cocoinc.com; mgs@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: Stolen MGB The real problem
>
> Jack,
>
> Maybe I missed a chapter or two, but this story is making less and less
> sense: if
> the car was indeed covered by auto theft insurance, and was indeed stolen,
> then
> the insurance company should either recover the car, or pay the insured for
> the
> loss. Employee theft is in a similar category as "mysterious disappearance";
> you'll likely pay extra for an umbrella policy to cover such hazards.
> Business
> insurance isn't meant to cover "big ticket" or unscheduled items like a car,
> any
> more than home owner's or renter's insurance will. A car has a serial number
> (even
> if it is easily removed like that of an MG.). Cars are covered by separate
> automobile insurance, not your basic business insurance. If you considered
> this
> car as inventory, that just so happened to be assembled into a complete car,
> and
> expected it to be covered by your business insurance, it is no wonder your
> insurance company won't pay. It sounds like you didn't have comprehensive
> fire and
> theft insurance on this automobile.
>
> As far as the involvement of police is concerned, they will follow up on
> your
> report, and if they have reason to believe that the ex-employee has stolen
> property of yours, they will arrest and prosecute him, because they get paid
> a
> commission from state and federal law enforcement grants for each and every
> arrest
> that sticks; so do the courts, judges, lawyers etc. The criminal justice
> system is
> a big, big industry in the good 'ole USA. Now for the but... BUT, what the
> cops
> will not do, is a full scale investigation to find an uninsured vehicle
> whose
> serial numbers can be removed in 20 minutes even by a slowpoke like me. If
> you
> cannot prove ownership of something, the cops can't do anything to help you
> recover it.
>
> It is unfortunate that any one of us should lose one of our precious MG's,
> and I
> do hope you get it back, but we all know that if the numbers are changed,
> and the
> identifying wheels or other accessories are exchanged, then that MG will
> look like
> any other MG. So, this story should be a lesson to every MG owner: insure
> them and
> have photos, an appraisal or some other way to verify the value to your
> insurance
> company.
>
> Jim
>
> MGTD1952@cs.com wrote:
>
> > In a message dated 2/3/01 7:33:40 AM Eastern Standard Time,
> jack@cocoinc.com
> > writes:
> >
> > > I was also
> > > shocked to find out that employee theft is not covered in most insurance
> > > policies unless a special employee dishonesty clause is added, this is
> never
> > > mentioned until after the fact.
> > >
> >
> > This is something to talk to you insurance agent about. If he wasn't
> > absolutely clear on this when he sold you the business policy, then 1) it
> may
> > be time to get a new agent; and 2) you may have an E&O cause of action
> > against him.
> >
> > Employee Dishonesty (or Fidelity coverage) is not part of any standard
> > commercial property policy. This is a known industry standard. It
> requires
> > a separate crime or fidelity policy, or a special endorsement to the fire
> > policy. There are some carriers with an enhanced "garage" policy program
> > that will automatically include this, but it isn't standard.
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