45_auto
Member
But I know this much, innocent owners have a superior title than anybody else regarding the property they purchased in good faith and paid value for.
So let's say my $1,200 gun is stolen.
I report it to the police and show them my receipt from the local gun shop.
The thief sells you the gun for $400 and gives you a receipt.
The police catch the thief, he tells them he sold it to you. They recover it from you.
You have a receipt from the thief. I have a receipt where I bought it from the local gun shop. You believe that you are the "innocent owner" and get to keep the gun?
In the real world, I get my gun back. Your only recourse to recover your $400 is if you can recover it from the thief.
I haven't been doing it as long as you (only 12 years vs your 17), but I've handled a lot of stolen property cases and so far in every one the recovered property has been returned to the original victim. Haven't seen one yet where the purchaser of the stolen property got to keep it.