My Wife and I had our 2002 Honda ATV Sporttrax's stolen in 2004. Mine was a 400EX and the Wife's was a 250EX. I just got a call today saying that the Police have recovered the 250EX.

Right now the ATV is being held as evidence, but the Officer wasn't sure if it will returned to me. He told me it will be up to the courts. I paid for it and it was stolen from me. We didn't have insurance on them, so we were not reimbursed or compensated from them being stolen. In short, we are out of pocket ourselves and nobody else has any financial investment in them, so I don't see why it wouldn't be returned to us..... Has anybody had any experience with this?

Also, I was told the ignition was popped, the vin was grinded off, it was painted and it still runs, but I don't know the overall condition other than that.

Mike.

 

The vin being ground off would be the issue I could see them having. Also, if you did get it back, you'd have to do some explaining as to why you have an atv with no vin.

 

I guess having the vin gone would be a problem.... The Police actually had to have an insurance investigator assist them in identification.

Still have my fingers crossed that the Police find the other one.

 

Good luck on the other, hope it's found with the vin.

I wonder if they'd let you keep the parts, minus the frame? If nothing else you could resell those and at least get recoup some of your losses.

 

If an insurance company paid you off they would own it, but since they didn't it should still be yours.

 

how'd they id the atv as being yours with the vin scratched off and the rest of it painted?

if it is yours and you did call the police to report it as stolen- you'll get it back.
and if you don't- it's only $35 to file a small claim against whom ever is holding your bike- they have no legal right to the bike after the case is done at trial.

if you recieved any money for the bike- then you won't get the bike back. it'll got to the agency that cut you a check (which you said there was no ins claim)

 

From what I was told, it was a combination of things, but the main thing was the engine serial number.

Heard from the Detective today and an arrest was made and they can't prove the guy actually stole it back in 2004, but he was charged in possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

I was also informed that the ATV will be returned to me once the trial is over. It's good news, but I have no idea what to do with an ATV without a VIN number??? I also still do not know the exact condition either.

 

Wish all the atv manufacturers had a separate hidden vin #plate like they had on the Polaris water craft. Some were hidden under fuel tanks,some models inside the hull at different locations. The riveted plate on the back was easily able to be removed and changed,but a lot of thieves didn't know about the second vin#,at least the casual thief didn't,not sure about the pros.Hope it turns out ok for you. OPT