Son’s car keys were stolen at school and car was moved

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand, he gave his key to one kid, and then another kid stole the fob, moved the car and put it back? It sounds like he lent out his car and is trying to cover now that you know and are mad.

The obvious solution here imo is that your kid takes the bus until he solves the key problem by getting it back or saving enough for a new one.

Did you even read the very first sentence of OP's first post? Her kid didn't "give" the key to anyone. She says right off the bat that someone STOLE the key right out of her son's backpack.

[Anonymous]

Call the police. Surely the kids think it’s a fun prank, but the police should be called anyway. What idiots! They need a scare

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our son’s car keys were stolen from his backpack and the car was moved in the parking lot. The key fob was returned but the key was not. The kid claimed that he gave the key to another student but he denies it.

We only had one key for the car as our son purchased it used from my FIL. Since the kid who stole the keys is a minor, we do not know who he is or his parents. He could still have the key for all we know.

We will need to get the car rekeyed and new keys made and would like to get reimbursed by the family of the kid who stole my son’s keys.

What are the rules here. We are mad about the whole thing. Any advice?

Do you have a copy of the report from the local Police Department?

[Anonymous]

I wonder if the kid that stole it even has a license?
Or if he's even a minor--it's towards the end of the school year, plenty of seniors have turned 18 already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Usually the other kids know though. OP doesn’t your kid know? If not, other kids definitely do.

Yeah you’re more likely to get it from kids than the school no matter how long you stay. But in the long run, I don’t see how you’re going to force someone to pay. There is so much he-said-he-said here and likely insufficient evidence to get you anywhere.

Tell them you will report the theft unless they pay for new keys

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our son’s car keys were stolen from his backpack and the car was moved in the parking lot. The key fob was returned but the key was not. The kid claimed that he gave the key to another student but he denies it.

We only had one key for the car as our son purchased it used from my FIL. Since the kid who stole the keys is a minor, we do not know who he is or his parents. He could still have the key for all we know.

We will need to get the car rekeyed and new keys made and would like to get reimbursed by the family of the kid who stole my son’s keys.

What are the rules here. We are mad about the whole thing. Any advice?

It’s super stupid not to report this to the police. What’s your reasoning, OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The school has camera footage of the kid with the keys showing it to other students and the police are going to review more school camera footage tomorrow. The police and the school is not giving us information about the kid since he is a minor.

Well, I'd do my own research and figure out who the parents are and contact them yourself.

Also, call your insurance. Depending on your policy there could (big emphasis on could) be coverage, and they could seek reimbursement from the kid and his parents. This is kind of a long shot, but worth a phone call.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does your school have a PTA or someone who produces a directory?

Otherwise if you know the kid’s name you/your kid can start asking around. If it’s a neighborhood school someone has to have an idea where he lives.

It's not 1988. OP can use google to find out if she knows the kid's name.

I'm pretty sure OP knows who the kid is through her own kid - she's trying to figure out who the parents are in order to contact them.

[Anonymous]

OP. Talk to the kid who took it. Explain that he has to find the key or all info on the stolen car/keys will be turned over to the police (not the SRO, but real police) and insurance to track down. If it goes to the police, charges will be filed for actual crimes. If he finds the key and returns it, no charges will be filed. Explain that as the one who committed the theft, he is responsible for getting and returning the key. If he gave it to someone, he needs to get that person to return the key.

If he doesn't come through, then follow up. File a police report, ask to file theft charges, and report it to you insurance along with the police report number. Guarantee that your insurance will make the kid's parents pay for the damages, e.g. rekeying.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t bother to contact the parents or the kid. Call the police. Actions have consequences.

[Anonymous]

For all the people advising OP to call the police:

Anonymous wrote:The school has camera footage of the kid with the keys showing it to other students and the police are going to review more school camera footage tomorrow. The police and the school is not giving us information about the kid since he is a minor.

[Anonymous]

The police don’t have to tell you the name in order for you to press charges. Now if there is no evidence to support what OP is saying, that’s different, but if the boy is on camera doing it, OP can press charges.

[Anonymous]

I would leave this to the police or your insurance company. The insurance company can go after the family.

[Anonymous]

But you better be 100% sure your DC is telling the truth about the keys being stolen before you go to the police. It sounds a little fishy to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For all the people advising OP to call the police:

Anonymous wrote:The school has camera footage of the kid with the keys showing it to other students and the police are going to review more school camera footage tomorrow. The police and the school is not giving us information about the kid since he is a minor.

From the details that OP has been giving, it sounds like she has been working with campus police.

We are advising her to contact the real police. Campus police can withhold information, like the kid's identity or his parents' identities. The real police will not do that. If the kid or campus police are not forthcoming, she needs to involve the real police. They have the authority to demand compliance and campus police will not be able to conceal information to an official investigation.