Ask Me Help Desk - American stealing money from a Canadian

I live in Canada. My friend invited her boyfriend from the States up here for the summer, and he ended up stealing a total of almost a thousand dollars from different people before taking off back home. He stole $300 from me.

I am just wondering if I have any options? I know exactly where he is living and going to school.

I would just hate to let this jerk (who also, obviously, broke my friend's heart) get away with theft.

Can anyone help? The other people he stole from are also interested in what we could do. We figure working together would be best, as the total of $1000 seems like a bigger deal than our individual totals.

Can we sue him? Does the fact that he's now in another country make a difference? Would police care that he stole $1000 from some Canadians? I can't seem to find appropriate information anywhere.I

Hello P:

When you're stolen from, you call the cops. Calling them NOW will be kind of funny because they're going to wonder why you didn't call them WHEN you discovered the theft.

Sure you can sue him. It DOES make a difference and it isn't going to be easy, but I'd sure do it.

excon

It wasn't exactly that he just took money and ran. What happened is that we all went on a brief trip together, and he never paid his share. We all still have all our receipts as well as emails stating our agreement to split everything evenly. The slimy bugger hardly paid a cent. Then he returned to Colorado saying he'd pay as soon as he could, and now won't return anyone's emails. I'm assuming I would call the cops in Colorado, where he lives, right?

Thank you so much for responding, excon! I really appreciate it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PenelopeLane

It wasn't exactly that he just took money and ran. What happened is that we all went on a brief trip together, and he never paid his share. We all still have all our receipts as well as emails stating our agreement to split everything evenly. The slimy bugger hardly paid a cent. Then he returned to Colorado saying he'd pay as soon as he could, and now won't return anyone's emails. I'm assuming I would call the cops in Colorado, where he lives, right?

Thank you so much for responding, excon! I really appreciate it.

That's quite a bit different than him stealing money. If you paid the money with the agreement that he would pay you back it is not a criminal matter but a civil matter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PenelopeLane

It wasn't exactly that he just took money and ran. What happened is that we all went on a brief trip together, and he never paid his share. We all still have all our receipts as well as emails stating our agreement to split everything evenly. The slimy bugger hardly paid a cent. Then he returned to Colorado saying he'd pay as soon as he could, and now won't return anyone's emails. I'm assuming I would call the cops in Colorado, where he lives, right?

Thank you so much for responding, excon! I really appreciate it.

This is not stealing - as you have been advised.

You would have to take him to Court where HE lives (that's the jurisdiction for Small Claims), take your proof - written, oral, whatever you have - and the Judge will rule.

Or an Attorney could write him a letter.

As far as involving the Police - I see nothing other than a loan (or loans) gone bad. I see no criminal activity and the Police are going to tell you that.

If this is some attempt to make your jilted friend feel better, I don't think it's going to work.

If it's about the money, go to Small Claims Court.

Thanks, I really should have made it clearer from the start. I should have known that there is a big difference.

The only reason that I see this as different from a loan is that he never ever said that he wouldn't just pay for his share along the way. Quite the opposite. We went on the trip under the assumption that we would all take turns paying for gas and campsites, hoping it would be even, with the agreement to even it out completely at the end. He hid the fact that he wasn't paying for anything with lies. There was no agreement that we would loan him money. The agreement never involved him owing us money. And then he left the second we realized he owed us so much money.

Colorado isn't that far of a drive from where I live, so I'll definitely be tempted to take him to small claims court even though I'm sure I'd barely break even.

Thank you all so much for your wisdom!

And JudyKayTree, haha, you're right that this is partially an attempt at revenge on someone that hurt my friend. But I'm also an artist, and $300 is a big deal to me!

Quote:

Originally Posted by PenelopeLane

Thanks, I really should have made it clearer from the start. I should have known that there is a big difference.

The only reason that I see this as different from a loan is that he never ever said that he wouldn't just pay for his share along the way. Quite the opposite. We went on the trip under the assumption that we would all take turns paying for gas and campsites, hoping it would be even, with the agreement to even it out completely at the end. He hid the fact that he wasn't paying for anything with lies. There was no agreement that we would loan him money. The agreement never involved him owing us money. And then he left the second we realized he owed us so much money.

Colorado isn't that far of a drive from where I live, so I'll definitely be tempted to take him to small claims court even though I'm sure I'd barely break even.

Thank you all so much for your wisdom!

And JudyKayTree, haha, you're right that this is partially an attempt at revenge on someone that hurt my friend. But I'm also an artist, and $300 is a big deal to me!

Absolutely no problem with the "why" part. I only threw that in because you would be amazed at how many people post when their very clear intention is simply retaliation.

If you can make the drive, sure, file, against him - he owes the money and hasn't paid it so go and get him! Take your proof and see how it plays out.

Sometimes winning 25 cents after expenses is enabling!

He was more likely an American Lawyer, since he didn't sign anything, courts can't make him pay, he feels?
I realize this is an old post.