Ex GF ripped me off - what to do?

[Dick Meat]

I was living in an apartment with a girl for 5 months

Recently returned home from a few days away with work to find out the bitch stole about $10,000 worth of my property, as well as moved out. Kinda glad she's gone, but I want my stuff back.

Been through the ringer with the RCMP. Everything has been reported, but they say this is a 'civil issue' and they can't press criminal charges.

The have a statement from her admitting she has everything. She even told them it's all in a storage space, but they seem to be wanting to do nothing to help me. I have receipts and serial numbers, bank statements, etc. for 90% of the stuff, and most of if was bought years before I even knew her.

The cops even told me that she has some history of pulling this scam before, and of course no criminal record because no charges could be filed.

What do I do now?
I live in Alberta if that makes any difference.

 

[lusciouslin33]

Could have been worse....
You could have married her only to get f**ked over down the road and having to pay 10x your loss now plus even more grief.
For future reference, there is something called a Cohabitation Agreement that spells out individual property. Rather perfunctory but certainly more protective.
Small claims court is your only real hope and even that is ludicrous, costing money, lengthy wait times and no guarantee of success.

 

[Papi Chulo]

You could hire a private investigator.. or a hitman.


If it happened to me, I would probably choose the second option... or just do it myself

 

[Robio]

Does she or her family have anything of equal or greater value?
Take it .it should only be a 'civil issue'

 

[RTRD]

This....

The have a statement from her admitting she has everything. She even told them it's all in a storage space, but they seem to be wanting to do nothing to help me. I have receipts and serial numbers, bank statements, etc. for 90% of the stuff, and most of if was bought years before I even knew her.

The cops even told me that she has some history of pulling this scam before, and of course no criminal record because no charges could be filed.

...sounds fishy to me.

She admits to having the goods...and reports where they are...you have proof that you purchased them...AND she has a "history" of such things...but the authorities can do nothing?

If it is all true I do not know that there is much you can do...except appeal to the owner of the storage facility. That is, outside of administering some payback of your own...which would seem fitting, if what you say is indeed true.

Again though...sounds fishy to me.

Lesson learned...something I've preached for years...never live with anybody you are not married to.

 

[Bella6969]

im so sorry you have to go through this hun .. i know how cruel some ppl can be

 

[Dick Meat]

Yeah sure as shit it sounds fishy, but it's the truth. The RCMP says because we were living 'common law' it's a civil, not criminal matter and I have to take her to court.

While I doubt any Judge will award her any 'common law' entitlement to things that were bought before I even met her, I still have to take her to court to prove it.

Even with the evidence I stated the cops say they can't do dick all.

Maybe I'm missing a loop hole or technicality somewhere that I could use to my advantage?

 

[Robio]

you can get free room and board for 5 or so years . Kill her !

 

[Robio]

seroisly though why are you using the RCMP and not local police


I would think this is not a federal matter

 

[Dick Meat]

buddy I live in a small city 500 km Northwest of Edmonton. The RCMP is the local police.

 

[jwmorrice]

Lesson learned...something I've preached for years...never live with anybody you are not married to.

And never get married!!

jwm

 

[tboy]

It still sounds fishy to me...you aren't common law until at least a year...5 months just indicates you did actually live together.....sorry, but I'd be contacting a lawyer immediately and the newspapers. The way I see it: if she took your car, she'd be charged with auto theft. If you have proof that you purchased the items before you lived together that doesn't give her any right to remove them without your consent.

I'm not a lawyer but even if you did live together for a year that STILL wouldn't give her the right to automatically remove common property without your knowledge or permission. If two people own the property, both parties have to agree to the conditions of their disposition.

 

[Robio]

Sounds like you could get away with murder

No provincial or municipal police?

wait a minute, 500km north west of Edmonton isn't that the Yukon or Alaska?Turn off her heat that will teacher her LOL

buddy I live in a small city 500 km Northwest of Edmonton. The RCMP is the local police.

 

[Esco!]

buddy I live in a small city 500 km Northwest of Edmonton. The RCMP is the local police.

Damn, it must get cold there in the winters

 

[Caveman]

No provincial or municipal police?

wait a minute, 500km north west of Edmonton isn't that the Yukon or Alaska?Turn off her heat that will teacher her LOL

There is no provincial police force in Alberta. RCMP does the policing outside major cities.

 

[Garden of Eden Ladies]

Yeah sure as shit it sounds fishy, but it's the truth. The RCMP says because we were living 'common law' it's a civil, not criminal matter and I have to take her to court.

While I doubt any Judge will award her any 'common law' entitlement to things that were bought before I even met her, I still have to take her to court to prove it.

Even with the evidence I stated the cops say they can't do dick all.

Maybe I'm missing a loop hole or technicality somewhere that I could use to my advantage?

Many times the police will say that they can't do anything when in fact they can if they want to. To me saying that its a civil matter is a cop out and if they really wanted to they could get involved. I think that they don't want to get in the middle of a she said he said because its possibly too much work for them and what would happen if you two get back together. I am sure it won't happen to you but it does happen.

If you want my advice, I would do several things. First I would talk to a lawyer and ask him what the police are really required to do. The police are required by law to handle complaints and reports of stolen property in a certain matter. Knowing what they are required to do by law is important. Second I would take her to court. Once you have a court order it is easier to prove your case. Once you have won your case in court the cops can't question it or aruge with you.. Its a court order and it has to been enforced by someone. The truth is that the cops can't make judgements, they can only enforce them. You really need the courts to prove that the stuff really belongs to you and isn't a she said he said..

No offence to cops because I like them, but they are sometimes in a position were their hands can be tied and they can be limited in what they can do... They're really are just foot soldiers that are here to enforce the laws that the courts make.. Its not their position to say who is right and who is wrong and if they are put in a positon where they could possibly have to do that, they're told to not to make that decision and let the courts work it out...

I am pretty sure that had you told the cops that someone has broken into your place and has taken your property without you knowing and you think its located here.. and leave out all the drama story about who you think it is and who the lady is to you and how you know her, I think it might have worked out differently.

The point I am trying to make is treat the LE like they treat you... Tell them only what you think they need to know and let them do their job. Sometimes the more you talk the more it hurts you in the long run..

I think that given your current situation you really need a lawyer to get involved, at least he can tell you where your getting screwed. You can't ask the cops to be your enforcers and the lawyer knows all the answers.


Thanks



Nicole

 

[kbluejayk]

It really is a civil issue between you and the girl.

1. It's your property...you have the papers to prove it.
2. She moved it out without your permission.
3. She tells police it is in storage.

You either have to start legal action to retrieve it all....
or, you could try to offer, say $1,000 - $2,000 to her to
get it back (rather than give it to the legal profession) and then
chalk it up to experience. Perhaps a mutual friend could mediate?

There are alternative criminal remedies if course, but that's a no-win
situation for you...'cos then the Mounties WILL come a-calling upon YOU!

Hardly worth it for the $$$s involved!

 

[Robio]

Google APPF

Alberta Provincial Police Force (APPF)

There is no provincial police force in Alberta. RCMP does the policing outside major cities.

 

[papasmerf]

You will likely have to go to court to get your stuff back.

 

[Dick Starbuck]

I think that given your current situation you really need a lawyer to get involved, at least he can tell you where your getting screwed.

Yeah, then your "lawyer" can get in on screwing you, too!!

You're probably right, Nicole, but I hate the fact that we need lawyers to take care every little legal issue that comes along, like buying a house, for Christ's sake. As soon as lawyers are involved, even the "winners" are losers...