How do I prove someone stole my car parts and used them on their car?

General Discussions Forum
1

They took my bumper, all four wheels, my rear trunk, and a spoiler. I know who has them, and I’ve got some proof: a DOT number from one of my tires and a photo of a unique marking on the bumper. I’ve read that tire pressure monitor sensor (TPMS) IDs can help, but I’m not sure how to get those numbers without having the wheels. If I can figure that out, it could make my case even stronger.

2

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3

If you’re sure they have your parts, maybe you should take this to small claims court.

4

Dior said:
If you’re sure they have your parts, maybe you should take this to small claims court.

Let’s say the police and I manage to get the sensor ID numbers safely. How do I prove they belong to me?

5

@Rowan
The sensor IDs are stored in your car’s TPMS module. You’ll need to check if they match the ones on the stolen parts.

6

Honestly, proving it to the police might be tricky. Take them to small claims court and show your evidence to the judge.

7

You might want to ask this in a police-focused forum. There’s one called AskLEO and a few others where you could get advice.

8

Kingsley said:
You might want to ask this in a police-focused forum. There’s one called AskLEO and a few others where you could get advice.

Yeah, AskLEO or ProtectAndServe could be good places to ask for advice too.

9

The police don’t decide to prosecute; that’s up to the district attorney. If the DA isn’t pushing for an investigation, the police might not follow through. Your best options are small claims court, contacting local politicians, or even applying public pressure.

10

You can read TPMS numbers from the car’s control unit if they haven’t been overwritten yet. You’ll need a TPMS scan tool to do it. The sensor IDs are also printed on the sensors themselves, but that only works if they’re programmed and not reusable.