| Author | Message | ||
| R. TERRY (152.163.252.163)
Rating: N/A |
I called the Stolen Vehicles detective assigned to my case to report my latest findings, information I feel is extremely germane to the investigation and more accurately reveals the true profile of the person most likely to have committed the crime. As I stated in my last installment of this story, all the arrows point in the same direction. The police never returned my call. I recently ran a search on eBay for completed transactions involving an RTS. One item popped up: An RTS sold on May 17th from a seller in Phoenix, AZ! Unfortunately, only one picture of the bus was provided, a completely worthless shot of the driver’s seat and side window. It was not possible to ascertain anything about the bus from that single piece-of-crap picture. I clicked on the seller’s information. It revealed that he was the high bidder on an old Lincoln limo. Then, through eBay, I emailed the RTS winning bidder asking for information on the bus he bought. Specifically, I wanted to know if his bus had the numbers 4504 (my stolen bus unit number) anywhere on it and who the seller was and how to contact him. I explained that I was not implicating anyone, just trying to establish any lead that might help locate my bus. The next day I got a company name and address, but no info on the bus. The following day I went to that address in Mesa, AZ. It turned out to be a private residence with a old Lincoln limo parked in the driveway. It also turned out to be very productive in the you-won’t-believe-it department. I knocked on the door. A man answered. I asked if this was All American Auctions. He said it was. I said I was investigating a stolen bus and wanted some information about the bus he recently sold on eBay. Instantly, this guy’s demeanor changed. Without further comment from me, he flatly denied having stolen my bus and declared that he had already spoken to the police about it. That was amazing news to me since I had only found out about him yesterday! He went on to say that he bought the bus from Randy Fulkerson, who he said has since disappeared. He said he had a title for it, and proceeded to show me. He grabbed a clear plastic folder from inside a car parked in the street and rummaged through zillions of titles until he found the one for unit #4412. All the while he was getting more and more agitated. (I never saw the bus to confirm that the title corresponded with unit #4412, the bus supposedly auctioned on eBay.) I asked him his name. He said it was Randall Rueben. What?? Another Randy in a case that already has three Randys in it? How UNLIKELY! First, he said he had already talked to the police before I had yet to meet the guy or have any knowledge of him, then he went on to accuse me of blaming him for stealing the bus when all I was there for was to rule out the possibility that bus on eBay was 4504, and finally, he had dealings with Randy Fulkerson from whom he had purchased the bus being auctioned. Damn curious. I asked him if he was Randy Ford. No, he adamantly proclaimed, Randy Ford was in Missouri. You mean to tell me, I asked, that Randy Fulkerson AND Randy Ford are BOTH in Missouri? Yes, he said. He went on to say, about a completely unrelated issue, that he never got a title to one of the buses he bought from Fulkerson, a Neoplan, but he didn’t know how to reach Fulkerson now that he had moved out of Arizona. By now he was very belligerent, talking too fast, and gesticulating rapidly with his hands. He threatened to have his lawyer sue me for killing the eBay bus deal, saying that I told the buyer the bus he bid on was stolen and that he, Randall Rueben, was going to make ME pay the auction price! I told him he didn’t know what he was talking about, and none of what he said was true. Rueben walked around to the back of my car, noted the license plate number and said he was going to call the Mesa Police. He headed back to the house yelling at me to get off his property. I stood there stunned by the whole episode. I got in my car and drove away. Less than ten minutes later, my cell phone rang--it was Randy Fulkerson. He had just received a wild phone message on his machine in Missouri from a disturbed fellow who said a guy had just been to his house accusing him of stealing his bus! The message rambled on for about two minutes including the business about the missing title. Randy asked me if I knew who that guy was. I said he told me his name was Randall Rueben. Randy said he knows that voice, the voice of the guy he sold those buses to, the voice of the guy who took over his storage lot -- the guy he knows as Randy Ford. I still don’t know who stole my bus, and I’m in no position at this time to accuse anyone of the crime. So far, though, all the arrows keep pointing in just one direction; my case keeps getting stronger. R. TERRY | ||
| Peter Broadribb (Madbrit) (170.215.38.162)
Rating: N/A |
Randy T, You will never guess what the message following yours in my inbox was advertizing....... >>Tell the Truth??? You need a Lie Detector Handy Truster is a handheld, portable LIE DETECTOR. More accurately it is a voice stress analyzer. When people lie the blood pressure changes in their vocal cords. This change is not audible to us but the Handy Truster is designed to pick up on these subtleties. The Handy Truster is built upon Israeli chip technology and boasts an 84 percent accuracy rate. Visit our site and orders yours today!<< If you want the URL, email me off the board.... LOL. I really think you should seriously get this whole thing put into a "Who Dunnit" screen play. Get Bruce Willis to play the lead, should make you enough money to buy a fully converted bus and then some. Good luck with this latest development, keep us informed as the mystery unfolds. Peter. | ||
| Greg (207.174.177.221) Rating: N/A |
A few ideas here.... Did the Ebay buyer back out of the deal with Randy Rueben/Ford? If so, then Rueben/Ford still has the bus. Try to find out where his yard is and see if you can spot your bus. Even if the deal did go through, Rueben/Ford may still have it. If you find the yard, and your bus is still there, GET PICTURES, and take them to the police, it should get them off their rear ends, albeit slowly.... Get as much info possible out of the Buyer, but let him know for user that you are not after HIM. There's a good chance he will want to help, because: 1- He does not want to get tagged for receiving stolen property, plus lose his money to boot. 2- If it is your bus, he just about got shafted by Reuben/Ford, and may not be to happy about it. 3- He's probably a decent guy that wants to get rid of all the scum on Ebay, and here's his chance If Reuben/Ford did steal the bus, he knows you are on his trail and may want to cover a few pieces of evidence. Now is the time to keep an eye on him. Whoever he is, he smells like three day old fish to me. You've rattled his cage for sure, now keep an eye on him and see what he does. Best of luck to you. I think you are on the right track. Please keep us informed. Greg | ||
| Just-trying-to-help (165.247.74.244) Rating: N/A |
Additional info - here's the results of a "whowhere.com" search Randall Ford Phone: 480-962-4548 351 E 9th Ave, Mesa, AZ 85210-3717 Is this also the address of Randall Reuben ?? | ||
| Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat) (68.7.217.217)
Rating: N/A |
Hmmmmmmm...It certainly seems like Randy Fulkerson and Mr Randy whoever he is in Mesa are awfully knowledgable of each other, and talking to each other more than you'd think... even after the nice post from Mr. Fulkerson here a few weeks back explaining everything from his point of view, it's interesting that he is close enough to Randy of Arizona that he'd be getting that kind of phone message about your visit... and it's even more interesting that the mystery Mesa guy even knows who "Randy Ford" is...I'm left wondering how much in "kahoots" the two of them really are!!!! Well,I both hope you are closer to getting your bus back and I sure want to see how this all unfolds!! Too bad there isn't a retired PI who reads this board who'd lend ya a hand in figuring it all out!!! Best luck Gary | ||
| David & Lorna Schinske (Davidschinske) (64.24.236.139)
Rating: N/A |
Do you have a cell phone? You should have called the cops yourself! Your bus may be gone again! Perhaps it's time to go to the local newspaper? Ask if they have a journalist who may be interested in your story including the eBay angle ("eBay Buyers Beware! Could You Be buying Stolen Merchandise?") Lorna | ||
| Johnny (63.159.193.74)
Rating: N/A |
I'm with Greg--try to find the bus, and try to get pics (Polaroids are best, since you can shoot more if they come out crappy). If it's not yours, oh well--but if it IS yours...BINGO. | ||
| Mike Eades (Mike4905) (206.15.153.113)
Rating: N/A |
I think that area of the country breeds scams and and very dishonest people. Two years ago, I bought a computer for my wife for Christmas on Ebay. Scam' Gave the FBI and Postal people locations in Pheonix. Ended up on TV and in the Wall Street Journal. Ebay insurance paid a whopping two hundred less a fee of $25 Loss 1400.00 Ouch No More. What is it about AZ area. Mike | ||
| toddVP (Tvp) (68.114.6.110)
Rating: N/A |
hey .. sounds like you found the guy!!! if you do your homework a little more , you notice he sold a flx on ebay as "azparkandsell" he was also known as something like "aztitleloan" and he had 3 names he bid with during the BIG "just buses of AZ" ebay auction when I got mine . Randy Fulkerson seemed to have nothing to do with Randy Ford , they only talked about money while I was there ,, i.e. Ford was buying left over (non paying bidders) buses and was taking over the old yard in AZ .. Randy Ford knows EXACTLY where your bus is !! after all he took over the lot !! he cleared the lot AFTER Randy (Richard) Fulkerson moved to AZ , so he was renting the storage space out and was there , it sounds like , when your bus dissappeared . Also , Randy Ford speaks SEVERAL south american languages and was bidding on LOTS of stuff from honduraz (sp??) .. he even bragged about taking buses down there to sell , that's why I mentioned it being further south than just mexico ... I was there superbowl weekend , picking up my bus from Randy Fulkerson , and met this person , I think . He thought nothing of speaking spanish in front of me like I didn't know he was talking about me to Randy Fulkerson's helpers !! one of those 2 helpers probably drove your bus off the lot and knows EXACTLY where the bus is !! it's not like just anyone can figure out how to start a bus , didn't yours have the air start too ?? where did they get compressed air from ?? ...feel free to email me ... I was there for over 6 hours and probably met you and walked though your bus  TVP | ||
| Peter Broadribb (Madbrit) (65.73.177.110)
Rating: N/A |
Mike, I don't think it is just Phoenix area. I have heard of many scams from all over the country. Don't blame us in Arizona for the antics of a few wandering scam artists. They travel through the whole country causing their misery and mayhem and then move on when things get too hot for them to stay longer. Btw, many residents of this State are recent immigrants from other States. Peter. |