I would have at least taken a baseball bat to the windshield of the vehicle after he loaded it up. Let him watch me do it and tell him exactly why I'm doing it. Maybe even use it on a few other vehicle parts as well.

Why on earth would you ever talk someone out of justice? Imagine how good your friend would have felt kicking his ass.

They look like Some Kids in the Basement

Someone already made a visual ID, heard him say he "builds pinball machines" and then saw games being loaded into a trailer attached to a van with Michigan plates. Pretty good link there.

Other reasons; We no longer have decent auctions in Michigan.
Perhaps he is hiding somewhere between Michigan and North Carolina so he cannot be served with a Summons or two. If his prior tax returns get opened by a Judge (after a Judgement is declared) His last employer will be served with a Garnishment notice to have 25% of his pay sent to the court/plaintiff's Attorney. Of course Microsoft, Apple, Google or NASA will respond back saying that "he no longer is employed here". Then the search for him begins. At an hourly rate, he will be looked for.

Kinda hard to find someone using only cash and drifting/living with friends several states away. He needs to swap plates on the van next.

Hope the OP took a pic of the van so the plaintiff's attorney will have some proof where the crook was on what day.

For the record; I don't have an iPhone. I consider myself "someone".