Sold a puppy a couple weeks ago. Well I accepted a $250 check. Got it back with ACCOUNT CLOSED stamped on it. I've been to both his bank and mine. The account was closed day after I took check. I went to prosacuting attorney and got some paper work started. They have other checks from the guy. Address on check is bad. The guy has stolen my dog. I've spent the last few days looking for him. Not sure what to do next?? Can I have him arrested? Any suggestions on what I can do next.

 

Not sure of the laws in your state, but here in Iowa that is considered 3rd degree theft and yes you can press charges. I'm sure if you talk to the police other charges could be filed as well. That being said, this clown needs to be found first. That could cause the problem. If you give the police a describtion of the guy and the vehicle he had, or at least what you remember of him would help them alot..

 

We took a picture of the woman with him with the puppy but she did not write the check. Getting the pictures developed today. I will be stopping at the police department today also to get police report and see what kind of charges I can file.

 

Thats one reason why I won't take checks from any Joe Schmoe.

 

Yes, you can have him arrested. GO to small claims court and/or your county attorney and file papers. Because , it is for $250 ,( I am assuming in your state) it is most likely a felony instead of a misdemeanor, In other words he can actually go to Prison on this deal- so most likely he will pay you or he will have a vacation . Do not have any contact with him at all. Sometimes crooks will turn that around to threats towards their lives- in which you will be in jail. Don't even go and find him. That is the court systems problem once you file. With those other outstanding checks - he is in deep $##t, and most likely has no chance to get out of his debt with you when he appears in court. I will warn you that the court system often takes a year to get your money although. Better than nothing .. Good luck.

 

When I used to accept checks from people I'd have them make the check out to themselves, then sign the back with a note they were turning the check over to me. This made passing a bad check a Felony. Don't know if this is still the law. When I would inform someone of this after the check came back most didn't believe me. I'd give them a couple days to check on it, never remember a time where I didn't get the cash.

 

One more thing, if you just want the puppy back. Call all of the vets within 15 miles of where you are, and tell them about it. Give them the name of the people, if you got it, a description of the puppy (breed, sex, birthdate, markings, litter AKC number, whatever you gave the people for paperwork). Tell them you just want the dog back, and they may help you out. They don't really like to accept bad checks, either, and that will be your ace in the hole.

 

The thing that surprises me about this is that we still use checks at all. With color photo copiers and printers, you can have a pile of fake checks in a few hours. Not to mention stolen and outright no goods like this.

 

Check your newspaper for ads in the classifieds for your breed of puppy. He may have stole it with the intent to resell it since it sounds like it must have been a purebred.

 

This is why we are running out of prison space. If your up to it write away, because I will stick you in jail.

 

Yea, we have an item on the ballot here to change 3 strikes. The ads in favor talk about these poor guys who have a bad check as their 3rd strike. Hey, theft is theft, just because the guy uses a pen instead of a knife, he should still pay.

I say all's them that want to go to prison should be accomodated.

 

Copied checks have tell-tale signs of being copied. Signature line is all one line instead of dotted (on mine anyway) - even high end scanners can't get resolution down to what it is on check printing equipment.

You might fool joe schmoe and maybe a newbie bank teller but not an experience bank teller and definitely not the bank's processing personnel.

To the original poster: Whether you get action out of your prosecutor/ county attorney/DA/State's Attorney/Queen's Counsel depends a lot on how busy they are. Yes it doesn't sound right but that's the way it is. Marion County [which is Indianapolis] prosecutor's office is so busy with the daily murder, rape, and robbery/burglary cases it's too easy for bad checks to fall thru the cracks.

Where I used to live in Illinois, a single State's Attorney handles a county of about 5500 people. Not withstanding the single triple homicide, doesn't have a whole lot to do. Bad check writers often pay and repeat offenders do time there.

Secure competent counsel and see what the Prosecutor can do for you. IANAL, but you might find yourself having to sue to get your money or dog back.

 

good luck getting it situated.

i have a feeling with the identity theft situation with credit cards, and fake checks, society might get smart and go back to cash. i only deal with cash when i can. makes things simple and youve always got your receipts.

 

A vet or anyone else (any state I have ever lived In ) can not legally return your pup to you. Do not involve anyone besides the law, or you may find yourself in deeper trouble than him, as well as the Vet. You may not want the pup back anyways as it may have something now- that it didn't when you sold it. Legally a representive of the law-after a court order, a collateral company or their agent is the only person that "take back " your property. Do yourself a favor try and see the county attorney- which is the highest ranking law official in your county. A regular policeman or sheriff in most cases can't do anything for you , many times they will give you the simplest advice. After years of working in the business , you know one thing for certain, few law enforcement (policemen, sheriff officers) officals know "the Law" -- they in fact can really mess up your case. They do it everyday- that is why lawyers get people off on technicalities, I am not trying to put anyone down it is just not their specialites- it is attorneys and judges that interpet the law- not police or vets.

 

Anyone can print perfectly good checks themselves. You can download software for free.
Someone I do a lot of work for prints his own checks. The tellers never question the "look" of the checks, but the checks won't "scan" with their equipment. They still try several times, then have to enter the numbers manually.

I like the idea of contacting area vets. You can ask them to call your local P.D. if they run across the guy. You could print something up with the guy's name, copy of the check, pics, etc, and fax it to vets, pet shops, etc. I'll bet they don't want to get burned, too. I'd go more than 15 miles, though, the guy may be traveling around. You don't have to drive everywhere, call and fax.

Good luck, Fordman. Stay in touch with the P.D., and prosecute if you get the chance.