RIPPED OFF! Oops...I Goofed!

[sirocco@telocity.com (Randy B)]

Ok, my $.02,

This guy seems to know what he is doing, stealing the MO's and then having
it shipped to someone else's address.
He has probably done this many times.
I would even venture that this guy does not even own a VW but has a
friend/aquaintence/buyer that does...possibly even in another state.
It seems pretty unlikely based on what I've read so far that you will see
the manifold or the money any time soon, if at all, through the police or
other strongarm means.

Ok Kevin, before you get too depressed, remember one thing....there are not
that many 50mm manifolds out there.
Even fewer that are polished to a mirror finish.
This is a "show" piece.
It is strictly a 16V part (and mostly a Scirocco or A1 <rabbit, jetta,
cabriolet, caddy> part)
It will pop up eventually, we just need to have people out there aware and
looking for it.

Since this guy will be hard to track down by normal means I propose a
different approach:

If I had this item (stolen or otherwise) I would eventually start showing it
off.
Get out the word to every VW forum, website, retailer, etc (with pictures
and any description that might differentiate it from other 50mm
manifolds).....that you had your manifold stolen since that is what truly
happened.
Ask people to be on the lookout at VW shows, GTG's, cruises, track days,
BBQ's, etc......
Remember that if someone thinks they found it, the owner may not even know
it was stolen so proceed with caution.

If the thief is the new owner of it he will probably do something to alter
it (paint it etc...but it will always be polished), but if he has sold it to
someone else there is a good chance it is still like you sent it.

Send me any pic's and I will put it on the front page of the Scirocco 1 Club
and my own Scirocco website and I would ask Brett and other VW based
websites to possibly do the same for you.
I have sent you a check in the mail for $20, I would ask other members of
the Scirocco.org list to also donate some $$ so hopefully you can re-coup
some of your loss. If the part is found or you get your money back....you
owe us dinner :)

HTH

Randy