For law enforcement or attorneys - is this vehicle theft?

A "friend" of mine asked to borrow my car for a specific amount of time and purpose. His intension, however, was to take my car and not give it back. I didn't know when I lent him the car that he'd gotten into trouble with the law, and was intending to flee in my car. I let him borrow the car for a short time to run an errand, but it was not returned on time. In fact he had fled. I got the car back after it broke down and he took it to a shop for repair. He left my car at the shop and took their loaner, which he ran off in and abandoned in another state. Was my car stolen, and was there a crime? I live in Illinois.
Additional Details
I have not reported the crime because I wasn't sure it was theft, as I gave him the keys. I did get the car back after I paid the repair bill.

Chris Wife n

Prosecutor's discretion there! 50/50 on that one.
Make the police report & pray

uga23dawg

In Georgia it would not be theft of a auto it would be theft by converson. The reason that it is this is cause you gave him your keys to borrow your car to run a errand and to be back by a specific time. but since he had already plan to run in your car but he said that he was running a errand he knew what he was really going to do so that is why its then by conversion.

Michael R

Filing a police report would not hurt you and also a civil claim against your "friend" for the repair bills

Bianca

Sure is theft, he misrepresented his intentions and did not, nor have any intention of returning the car. (based on your side of the story). You should have reported it stolen (and still can if you choose)

ROBERT H

To prove it was a theft, you would have to prove his intent. Intent is necessary to prove a crime. If you can prove thru witnesses or other facts, that you knew for a fact he was taking your vehicle and not planning on returning it, then it is a crime. But it comes down to what your local district attorneys office will file any charges and what charge. Most of the time their office can file other charges that is related to a certain act..

Sandi A

From what I understand the law to be on grand larcency is that it isn't theft if the owner of the vehicle gave the keys to the person that took it.

nothing

Your question in reality cannot be accurately answered here, because there are very significant variables in the scenario you provided, and a slight change one way or the other can alter the entire perception of your stolen car report.

From a very literal sense, if your statement, if true, complete and accurate as it stands and there's no omitted relevant facts, it leans towards being a stolen car.

But it's my best guess that there's so much more to the story that if one knew what it was, it could reduce the entire event to you making a poor decision to who you permitted to drive off with your car and now you're left with a repair and towing bill and who knows what else.

Your scenario didn't state whether you have any objections to the way anyone has handled your report. What is the complaint that you have, or what is it that you want people here to agree with you about and why?

joy m

why don't you no ? when you gave him the car!how did you get the car back from a shop? without out giving the loaner back, there;s a couple of loose strings here!!

fr_chuck

It will depend on how the laws are written in your state,

Nromally it is not theft but falls under a fraud charge, since he had legal custody of the car

also since you did not report it as soon as you found he had run off with it, the longer you wait, the less likely the police will take it seroius. next of course you will have to prove you did not ok him to use it this way, almost impossible to prove, sinc eyou gave him the keys and let him drive away

A crime yes, one that can be convicted, most likely not

thylawyer

It is grand larceny or larceny by false pretense. Whatever it is called, it is a prosecutable offense because he had no intention of returning it and did not return it.

a.fricker

I am not a cop or a lawyer but I think that is auto theft.

Zelda

Sure it was - but you got it back - but you never reported it. If you don't report a crime, has a crime been committed?

"hearts"H-town Cutie~

You should have reported that car stolen, you will be responsible for all actions.

kustomflames@verizon.net

It all depends did you report the car stolen, that is the big question if not you could be liable for the repairs and also possibly be charged with aiding and abetting his escape

david_d112

Yes it was a crime, and you should report your cars stolen. If you loan your car and its not returned in the specific amount of time it goes as stolen.

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