Thief or conman?

[Brainticket]

This is a post about a "so called friend" rather than a relationship.

I've known my "so called friend" for almost 30 years, but he moved away because of his job and returned to my village about 6 years ago. We bumped into each other on the day he returned and we had a catch up, he was telling me he's into some different sports and hobbies now and these are the same as mine. I got him into the local clay pigeon shooting club, took him to my air rifle target shooting club and he quickly made friends and was welcomed with open arms. I also gave him a few items to help him and make life easier.
A couple of years ago, during the break up with my ex, he agreed to store some of my possessions at his home and some at his friends. I knew what was kept where and had it all listed on my laptop and stored on a memory key. In March of this year, I was settled in my new home and in a position to take back my "stuff". I contacted him and told him the situation, he seemed sheepish and said, "you told me I could have it", I replied, "I did no such thing and want it all back". After a few days, he brought some of my possessions back from his home, but there was some items missing, he claimed he didn't have them, nor did his friend, I know better and showed him my list of what was where, he denied that he'd had this stuff or placed it in storage. I was livid.
I contacted the police, who informed me that it wasn't a legal matter and they could not do anything. As I'm a person who keeps detailed records, I have the receipts and details to the point of being anal and was wondering what else I could do. I'm now stuck between a rock and a hard place, with nowhere to go, can someone offer me some advice as my next step? There's about £5,000 of my property in question here.

Since this issue, I have spoken to a couple of people who know him and both have informed me that he is a bit of a magpie and will try to claim anything as his own. He owes money to a couple of local garages and regularly has men in suits knocking at his door. I have photographs of all of my stuff for insurance purposes and the serial numbers to match, but I cannot claim, as it's not been stolen. Even if I try to claim it's been stolen by him, all he has to do is say I gave it to him or he bought it from me. This is doing my head in and has me very worried as I want to get back to my hobbies.
Any ideas please?

I would forget about it, sorry OP.

Friendship over though.

After a couple of years, did you really need them/want them? If it were my friend I might wonder if I was storing a load of stuff for you. I know its not the point, but I think you might get involved in a whole wrangle, legal or otherwise, that will achieve what?

I agree with PP that you were totally taking the piss by expecting someone to store your stuff for YEARS. Not only in his home, but in the home of one of his friends! He shouldn't have sold them, but I would feel really embarrassed in your place tbh.

Update.

The idea to store my possessions at his place was his, not mine, he offered and he stated, "they can stay here for as long as you want, they're not taking up much space and I have plenty". I have mentioned to him on previous occasions, "is my stuff getting in your way?" Every time, the response was, "no". Had he asked me to move them, I would have made arrangements to put them elsewhere. Most of my stuff is fishing tackle, which in all in an old wardrobe, this is in his garage that stores his 3 large cars, with enough space to park another car and his 5 motorbikes.

My solicitor has just returned from a weeks salmon fishing in Scotland and I was talking to him when walking my dog this morning, his advice was to send him a letter outlining that I want my property returned and if he refused, he would be getting a following letter from my solicitor outlining my intention to take him to the small claims court. When I got home, I wrote a letter and hand delivered it to his house, I also took a photograph of me pushing it through his letterbox, so he cannot deny that he never got it.
He has 5 days to reply.

@Brainticket did you get a response? I think today is day 5? I hope you get an apology and your stuff back, he definitely sounds a chancer if not an outright conman!

Please accept my apologies, I've been rather busy with my health and children. I can confirm, that my situation has been resolved, a lot of my property has been returned and I was given an envelope, containing a substantial sum of money, that more than covers the rest of remaining items that he has lost, misplaced, used or sold. I'd placed a value on the items and to appear to be a gentleman, I offer him a sum of money back, he refused, stating, "I want nothing more to do with you"!
I countered this with, "had you been honest and truthful with me, we would not have reached this situation and if you ever think of trying to cause me any trouble, the camera above my door has recorded this conversation and I shall be downloading it onto a memory stick for my protection, so think on".
At this, he walked away. I can honestly say, I've bent over backwards more times than enough to help this character out, spending my money, time and effort, so he cannot claim that he's been my best friend and that I've done nothing in his favour.
I reckon I should be able to sleep at night, knowing my property is back in my possession and I have some money in my bank account. Apart from things I've already mentioned, I've done many other things for this individual, I've had things delivered to my house, so that his wife doesn't get to know, done 200+ mile round trips to collect stuff and provided him with an alibi or two, again, to keep his activities a secret from his wife.
I'm the kind of guy, who would give someone the shirt from my back and buy them a coat or jacket to keep them warm, the scumbag I called a friend, would complain that the shirt wasn't good enough or the jacket the type he wanted.
I'm well rid.