I'm new here but I'm in a moral dilemma or sorts. There has been a 2003 SR5 4runner parked in my appt complex for over 5 months now. The appt manager knows I have the exact same rig and told me last week that no one in the appts had claimed it (apparently she went door to door) and that she was going to have it towed. She said if I wanted to grab any parts before then I could. I'm slightly hesitant bc I have no idea the status of the rig. I'm not sure whether this thing is stolen, somebody couldn't make payments, or simply just left. Significant damage on passenger side looks like a roll but I'm sure there are plenty of good parts I can pull. Any ideas?

 

i would contact the police before you start taking parts off it..

 

Unless you have a title to it, or enjoy jail time, I would leave it alone.

If you strip parts off it, and the owner suddenly decides he wants it back, you are going to be up S creek without a paddle. Thats theft, and the law doesn't care how much you love Toyotas or can use the parts.

What you COULD do, is have the apartment manager file an AVR with the local police. That will notify the owner that its time to get it out of there or else. Maybe its a stolen vehicle and the owner would really like it back? If its not stolen and is abandoned, have the manager fill out the AVR. After 15 days, he can file for a title (assuming there is no Lein on it) and take possesion of the truck. THEN you can take all the parts you want off of it.

 

cool, thanks for the heads up. AVR? I'm no good with acronyms

 

Abandoned Vehicle Report, maybe?

and x3 on not taking parts from a vehicle that's not yours.

 

Different munincipalities call it different things, but the cops will understand if you call it an AVR or a Junk Vehicle Report

 

thanks dc, I'm going to try and get my landlord to get on that, because I need a brake caliper, the rubber sheathing on one of the pistons has a slight tear and the piston is now frozen

 

interesting to see how this turns out. Depending on what all it has I might be intersted in some parts for our 4th gen, if you end taking the vehicle.