1965 Stolen Bus Stolen From Spokane - Missing for 35 years.

[roamer]

[arthurnugen]

[Mr Mike]

I’m in agreement with Roamer on this one about the stolen bus. I don’t see much fault with the owner.
I’m not a lawyer but as I understand it, once the bus was reported stolen, it remained “stolen” until she got it back.

Had this been my bus I’d want it back also.

Think about this, carefully, without emotion….
Once the bus was taken, who ever rigged up the next title
In order to sell or transfer it had to do it fraudulently.
It other words it was a dummy. Regardless of the curcumstances, and intent of the person, it was not a legitimate title. The bus was stolen.

From that point on, regardless of the intent/motive of the next buyer/ owner, it was all bogus. Don’t let the emotion of the money spent on the bus blind you to the fact;….the bus was still a stolen bus.

And, as in this girls case, were you, or I the owner we’d still want it back, regardless.

So, what about Allstate? Well, with all their wisdom and
a platoon of corporate lawyers, they apparently never got a clear title after they paid off on the bus. As someone has pointed out, even back in the day, $2,500. was chump change for them, particularly for a Volkswagen bus. One that was almost or near nine years old at the time anyway.

Thus, as the newspaper story reports, after the auction, without a proper title, the deal went “south”. The new (auction) owner(s) backed out of the deal. Wisely so.

Keep in mind also that Ms Squires, the original owner was willing to let the bus go, even though she expressed a desire to reclaim the bus to Allstate. She’d been paid off.
She took no further action until she learned the auction deal collapsed.

I think it was to the credit of the court that they brought everyone together ( all the interested parties) to settle the matter, allowing the original owner to reclaim her property.

In the end it should be noted the court had to order a new title for the bus in the Original owners name, to make it right.

finally, who am I to judge the motives of someone else?
Someone I’ve never met.
The good lord chose not to provide me with such insight.

It’s interesting to note the lawyer who worked with her did the work pro bono, (for free) an indication that Ms Squires is not super wealthy, lets see she’s a bar or restaurant manager?

And so, about flipping the bus. That hasn’t been addressed in any of the news storys I’ve seen. I’m gonna hold my piece on that.

But,….but, even so.
How many times, on this very site have I seen the expression quoted…
“…it’s your bus, do what you want.”

Since I “don’t have a dog in this fight”,
its no skin off my nose if she does decide to sell it. Its her bus, end of story.
So,….. at least from me, there’ll be no judgement of her character or moral’s, or a desire to see her worse off.

I figure this is life, and certainly its one of life’s unique storys. The bus was stolen. The bus was returned.

That’s my spin on it.

[roamer]

[motofly196]

Why all the hating on the Spokane owner? I've been in the same position as her...had my motocross bike stolen...my race bike, the day before a HUGE race. Ruined my season, ruined my credit...ect. ect.... Oh sure, I got a little for it, but the insurance never asked for my title when they paid me. A few years later it was recovered, and the police called me to recover it from the impound yard, as I was still the "Legal" owner. I still had the title, which I had to produce when I retrieved the bike. I immediately called the insurance company, and repaid the money. Long story short, it was mine...and I wanted it back. Probably the same way she feels. If you've ever had something stolen from you, you know what I mean. I'm just happy there's another SWEET ass bus gonna be cruising around Spokane when this damn snow melts!!!

Scott

[LAGrunthaner]

Regarding the "deal" made in court on this bus I can't imagine the restoration guy walking away as "friends" without some cash for his materials and labor. I would like to know if the original owner paid him for the work or made a deal that if & when she sells it he received some of the profits. I know they can't talk about the deal but the "walls have ears" as they say so lets keep them open

_________________
American Red Cross Safe And Well:
https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/...bsite.html
Maui Roadsters
www.mauiroadsters.com
http://www.oacdp.org

[Randall]

[cdennisg]

[Lind]

[cdennisg]

I had a similar situation. My rented house was broken into a few weeks before I planned to move west. I recovered all of my CD's the next day at a friend's music shop, and the thief left his name and address when he pawned them. By noon that day, the cops had arrested the kid at school. Two weeks later, the cops still had my stuff, had engraved case numbers on all the items, and planned to keep them for an unknown amount of time. I bitched like a bay steer and got my stuff back a few days before a 1400 mile move.
_________________
nothing

[oarse]

[jennyt]

I didn't even bother with the local cops when I spotted my stolen bike lifted off my front yard a year ago...I followed the kid until she parked in front of a store & just walked up and snagged it. The bike was upgraded with nice modifications too! It's just that now I'm hesitant to ride it around...

Back on topic: Are any of you Spokane/Coeur d'Alene area VW apprecianados going to attend the welcome home party for the bus this coming Tuesday (that is...if outsiders are invited in the first place)?

[cdennisg]

apprecianados

Good word, I like that.

I may be in Spokane on Tuesday, but I don't expect to be at the homecoming party. I have too many things to get done, as I only get to Spokane once every few months, and I try not to stay there too long.

Is the party open to the public?
_________________
nothing

[LAGrunthaner]

So my stolen laptop, cell phone & PDA is owned by the cops now? I had a feeling about that

[hitest]

[motofly196]

Drove by the Cathay Inn tonight...it was dark and I didn't see "The Bus" there...but I did see what looked like a 62-65 Beryl green bug in the parking lot. If I had more time, I woulda' done a drive through...I really want to see this ride in person!!

Scott

[cdennisg]

I was in Spokane today, but I don't even know where the Cathay Inn is. I was headed out of town at about party time anyway. Oh well.
_________________
nothing

[pyrOman]

Stories like this one is why once I get titles for most of my vehicles, they are driven eventually right into the ground. I prolly scrapped more than have sold.

I, last owner!

_________________
Some people are so busy being clever they don't have time enough to be wise.

[arthurnugen]

[Randall]

In case you missed the party yesterday (Tues. Dec. 14) here's a video including some on-camera comments by Michelle Squires.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/40678120#40678120
She says, "... and we paid the guy in Germany some money, too, so he wouldn't feel left out, we hope."

The guy from Germany is Axel Hecker. I say there's likely a big difference between getting reimbursed for some money and all of the money he paid Donn Dabney, the classic car dealer from Sonoma. This is a "feel good, human interest story" but I doubt if Mr. Hecker feels as good about the outcome as Ms. Squires does. (And I was annoyed last week when I was charged $6.00 for a $5.00 Subway sandwich.) If I were in Mr. Hecker's shoes I would be bitching and fuming to everyone who would take the time to listen. I wonder what he thinks of American jurisprudence now.