Ethical question about buying stolen property?

[hanso612]

I just had both my fog light assemblies stolen on my wifes car. I stopped at the dealer and was told it is a common thing and only takes one hand to reach under and unscrew the nut and unplug the light. Cost on relacement is 230 each plus 60 to install. My question is, who is robbing me worse? And second, who do I buy the replacements from so it doesn't start a game of musical chairs. If I buy from a salvage yard that buys stolen goods, am I giving my tacit support? Who, without stealing them, has extras to sell on internet anyway? If I buy from the dealer I pay the Outrageuos price that fueled the black market in the first place. So who do I buy from?

The auto maker has been no help, but I feel they are partly to blame for designing something so easily stolen, One person from toyota even suggested they were made easy to unplug and unscew so you could lock them in your trunk. Hans.

( Notr from Admin,please read forum policy before posting again,Thank-You.)

[Valv]

Definitely the dealer is the "thief" in this case, and legalized too.

Anyway, salvage yards don't buy stolen parts, they are under strict scrutiny, I would look into Ebay to find stuff like it.

North of the cities there's a large auto parts warehouse that sells these foglights at $ 89.50 each brand new.

[trackerbrent]

Speaking of Toyota parts getting stolen, my aunts' RAV 4 just got the spare tire cover stolen. $700 from the dealer. That is rediculous. I think the automakers are partially to blame for having the overpriced items so easily stolen off the vehicle.

[moderation]

Valv

Sorry to disagree with you but I know for a fact that junk yards do have stolen goods. My truck was stolen many years ago by a well known junk yard dealer just out of Duluth and parted out. Watch your step when buying from junk yards.

[Powerstroke]

Well, moderation it sounds like the junkyard was never on the up and up anyway if the owner is the one who stole your truck.

Any big time salvage yard worth their salt will avoid buying stolen goods because buy and selling them is both illegal and they wouldn't want to face that.

[Tom7227]

Maybe part of the problem is the way that cars get fixed after an accident. My wife was attacked by a deer last year with her new Saturn Vue. The rt headlight was broken and a little dent in the hood. The independent appraiser hired by the insurance company looked at it and the total ended up at over $6,000. The insurance company really doesn't care because they just jack up the rates. Maybe I'm seeing ghosts but it sure smelled to me at the time.

If you find a deal that's too good to be true it usually is, and that probalby means you're buying stolen parts. Be a real PIA if the cops were running a sting at the time and you got nailed buying the lights to replace the ones stolen from you.

[vitalshot5]

If you do get knew ones and don't want them stolen...put some locktite on the threads and then they won't be able to get them off by hand.