Actually, it works both ways. The ins. co. usually has a contract with some other firm (like a salvage yard) to buy all their totaled cars. The guys from this "other" company will either come pick it up themselves or hire someone else to pick it up for them. If you take a lot of items & it is really obvious (like motor, seats, wheels etc.), then eventually the company that bought the car will complain to the ins co & they might start fcking with you. However, if you stay low and take non-major items (such as a good stereo, or custom floor mats, hubcaps, speakers) then no one gives a ****e. You could also take items that the company who is buying the car will have no idea if it was missing already or even lost/damaged during collision (items like tail light cover, rear view mirror, side mirror, windows, muffler, door latch). If you strip a ton of items off or major items then there is a good chance you will be hearing from ins company. Of course, they probably won't send you to jail or anything but they might bump your insurance policy.

Okay, now where the fck is my rep?