Sketchy board on craigslist

[windhorny]

where is the ad? I looked and could not find it.

[flip]

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/spo/247186071.html

[windhorny]

said it is deleted by author!

he knows.

[josha]

So, I have a board sitting in my trunk now :)

I also managed to get the serial # from the place I bought the board, Powerline sports (the guy there, Andrew, is awesome).

The lady hadn't sent photos of the board to my friend at all, and when he emailed again to ask, she said that it was sold. I then emailed her, saying that this might be my lost board, and asking if I could see it in person to verify the serial number. Since I hadn't heard back at about 9 last night (I'm leaving town tomorrow am for a bit), I decided to call the Alameda police department and see if there's anything we can do. I talked to an officer there who was amazingly helpful and who took a report. What I'd done so far (having a friend contact her, keeping track of everything, etc.) was the right first steps. In CA, it's a misdemeanor if you find something to not try at all to reunite it with its owner.

While I was talking with the officer, the lady emailed me back and asked me to give her the serial # I had or some other way of proving it is my board (of course, I didn't trust her to not just say that the serial # is different). The officer I was talking to asked me to forward him everything, and he managed to find her address and went to knock on her door.

She didn't answer her door, though, and the officer asked me to email the lady, saying I went to the Alameda police department for advice (not looking to press charges, just to get my board back), and to offer to meet in a public location (e.g. the police department lobby) to compare serial numbers. In her earlier email to me, she had asked if I'd sent her a "terse, threatening" email (someone had emailed her and said if there's a # on the board, she should give it back; hardly threatening) and said she'd had several offers on the board. I told her I didn't send her the terse email but that one of the interested parties was my friend, helping to ascertain if it's my board. I also said that if it is my board, there's a finders reward. I bcc'ed the officer, and you know that email was extra-nice and helpful :)

At about 2am, I received an email from the lady, saying she was "creeped out by the tactics and threats" I made, she was completely confused as to why I wouldn't just tell her the serial number, and that I "seem to enjoy drama." It was actually kind of funny. However, she had dropped the board off with the police.

This morning, I received a call from the Alamedia police department, verified ownership, and picked it up.

Wow!! That's a happy ending!

One thing I've learned is that in addition to writing down your serial number, engrave your name/# on a board. Most of what I'd written with a sharpie had worn off (you can see a small smudge now), and I can understand why she didn't call me (assuming it wore off before she had the board) :)

[windhorny]

so, was she hot?

[josha]

ha, i never met her in person.

[wjb]

Awesome end to this story.

[K. Cliff]

so, was she hot?

That's funny! LMAO! =D>