Stolen or Not ?

[airspuds]

http://www.pdga.com/msgboard/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=722162&page=0&fpart=1&vc=1

anyone have any thoughts ?

[SIUFrolf]

I think it's a hot item.  First of all, where's the pole or even wheels.  I can't believe he's just selling the top.  Secondly, it looks way to beat up to be a personal hole unless he threw it against some rocks for a couple weeks.  Thirdly, the faceplate looks so unique and why would you have hole 7, or 9 on a face plate if you just bought it?  I hope the authorities find this guy.

[Jon Brakel]

It is possible to buy municipally used baskets legitimately. We had a real working parking meter from downtown Libertyville in our backyard that my Dad bought at a village sale once.

[J.R.]

It is possible to buy municipally used baskets legitimately. We had a real working parking meter from downtown Libertyville in our backyard that my Dad bought at a village sale once.

Yes it is possible.  But why in the world would he then saw off the bottom of the pole?  I certainly can't say conclusively, but it looks stolen to me.  If you read the whole thread, the seller has only been on e-bay for a month, and there was a number nine basket stolen from a course five miles from him...a month ago.  Proof?  No.  Preponderance of evidence? I say yes.

[mirth]

preponderance? maybe not. definitely circumstantial....

[Chainmeister]

Well buckaroos, it might not be time to throw a rope over a tree.  Frankly, it ain't ever time for  that.  We'll have to wait for the judge to ride into town and give this boy a proper trial.  I just hope somebody has alerted the sherriff to look into this here matter cuz the sicheashon shore do smell like a backed up outhouse! Who knows?, it just might be that somebody made some bad beans and we don't have a basket rustler after all. 

[Working Stiff]

It is possible to buy municipally used baskets legitimately. We had a real working parking meter from downtown Libertyville in our backyard that my Dad bought at a village sale once.

Red flags go up anytime a basket goes on ebay.  The stolen basket thing has been a problem since the very beginning of the sport.  You would have to answer the question of where you got it upfront to head off suspicion.  If your answer to that question is vague, expect to talk to a sheriff.

[J.R.]

I didn't mean to say it's enough to call him guilty, but enough to assume he probably is and investigate.

[Working Stiff]

Ha, ha.  They tracked down the guy and posted a link to his gangsta' myspace page:

http://www.myspace.com/bnh8ed 

All my doubts about his guilt have been erased!

[discmonkey]

One of his hobbies is making his mother smile.  He can't be guilty!

[Working Stiff]

Update: 

Theft: A caller reported Monday that someone was selling an item on eBay that appeared to have been stolen from a disc golf course in Silverview Park. Police tracked down the seller's address and retrieved the item, which the seller said was "found" in the park. No charges have been filed.

http://www.twincities.com/north/ci_6588241?nclick_check=1  It's the 11th item on the page.  Crime does not pay (especially if you are stupid!)

[J.R.]

I guess it'd be pretty tough to convict him given the evidence they have (or lack thereof), but it sucks that he didn't even get a slap on the wrist.  Good to know he also didn't get any money out of it.  And at least he probably won't steal any more baskets.

[Jon Brakel]

I guess it'd be pretty tough to convict him given the evidence they have (or lack thereof), but it sucks that he didn't even get a slap on the wrist.  Good to know he also didn't get any money out of it.  And at least he probably won't steal any more baskets.

It should be pretty easy to get a conviction. The police officer that recovered the basket testifies that the person was in posession of stolen park property. Smack the gavel, we're done!

[J.R.]

It should be pretty easy to get a conviction. The police officer that recovered the basket testifies that the person was in posession of stolen park property. Smack the gavel, we're done!

But how do you prove it was stolen?  As mentioned earlier, they have no serial numbers.  I suppose if it was sawed off, you could perhaps match the saw marks to the ones on the remainig pole in the park, but somehow I don't think they're going to do much forensic research for a disc gold basket.  Otherwise it's all circumstantial.  You might get a jury to convict anyway as the circumstantial evidence is pretty damning...bah, I'm no legal expert.  Who knows. 

I just hope the basket is still useable, then at least no ones out anything.

[airspuds]

It should be pretty easy to get a conviction.


sure it is

does the glove fit ?

OJ 's prosecutors thought the same thing im sure

[airspuds]

i have played this course
but
it was several years ago

there were deer on it while i was playing

and only  6  baskets if i recall

[ChrisPUTTS]

i don't understand why these companies that make the baskets cannot give each one a BIN (basket identification number)... that way when they show up missing it will eliminate at least the sale of the goods.

[Working Stiff]

I'm pretty sure baskets are stolen by casual losers who want the basket for their own back yard.  It would be hard to sell them since the only people who want them are disc golfers, and we would rather beat the snot out of a guy who stole a basket than buy it from them.  So a serial number might be nice, but I don't think it would have much effect.

The course I ran was set up with #18 by the parking lot.  It was stolen once a year like clockwork.  Ed Headrick used to laugh when I called..."Let me guess, you need a basket for 18."  The course was 20+ years old, and one time he counted the invoices and told me we had bought an entire 18 hole course in replacement baskets.  That might be another reason DGA wasn't interested in serial numbers.

I found one of my stolen baskets beaten beyond repair and abandoned in a creek at a park that had an object course.  The story I heard was some kids stole it and carried it around the object course so they would have a basket to throw at.  After they were done they would hide it in the park.  After a few weeks the basket attachment was so beaten from dragging it around that they just trashed the whole thing and threw it in the creek.  There was not much a serial number could do for me in that case.  None of the other baskets ever showed up anywhere. 

So I think this guy is a unique idiot in trying to sell a hot basket out in the open air.  By the way, he has a web page where you can post messages.  He has some entertaining messages from disc golfers there.  My favorite is

I'm in the stealing disc golf baskets business and I need some advise. I saw that you cut off the base of a disc golf basket, brought the basket home and attempted to sell it on Ebay. Pretty smart, I bet you made some serious cash for that.

Check http://www.showcaseyourmusic.com/241BNH8ED for the rest.