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My Craigslist Nightmare
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Like others have said, you're only digging a hole for yourself. Just cooperate with the Police. Resistance is not only suspicious, but will also just cause you more time and trouble. If they want to, they WILL get all of your info and do whatever they have to get the information they want from you.
I asked for a Sheriff's badge number before he was going let me go without a ticket, because I thought I was a badass 18 year-old and didn't like they way he treated me, he replied "Sure, I will put it on the bottom of a ticket for you." -Lesson learned, when I look back at that I can see what POS I was. Should have shut my mouth and thanked him for dealing with people like me all day-every day.
I asked for a Sheriff's badge number before he was going let me go without a ticket, because I thought I was a badass 18 year-old and didn't like they way he treated me, he replied "Sure, I will put it on the bottom of a ticket for you." -Lesson learned, when I look back at that I can see what POS I was. Should have shut my mouth and thanked him for dealing with people like me all day-every day.
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Nick42983 gives good advice...get a lawyer...that is why they exist...you never know what the police will do or try to charge YOU with. Get an attorney..."he who represents himself has a fool for a client"
He's in jail. This is why you should cooperate with the police if they have that much evidence that it's stolen.
I laugh reading posts like this. Folks are always in such a "dilemma" about what to do. Use your head and get in touch with your local law enforcement agency and discuss it with them. If a legit police officer is calling you, they could find out, hell maybe even meet down at that station. I seriously don't understand the mentality of posting on a public forum asking for advice on this sort of crap.
Ah, Craigslist. The odds are good but the goods are odd. Get your folks involved, get a lawyer involved. Turns out the $2K was an expensive lesson in life and only the tip of the iceberg for this little project.
I plead the fifth, or whatever.
I have to disagree in the strongest possible terms with your first sentence. By the time the police are coming to you, there is no situation - none - in which you can help yourself by cooperating. It's unfortunate, and I wish we lived in a society with a justice system that rewarded good-faith communication, but we don't. The police have a crime to clear, they are measured by cases opened and cases resolved, they want to shut the books on this issue. If it's easiest for them to slot you in as a co-conspirator and charge you with some crime that screws up your life for a few years, they'll do it. Not maliciously, but they'll do it.
The other situation, where you see crime and want to report in order to help your community and be a good citizen, is completely different. If you're not involved, report the crime, anonymously or not, and go on your way.
I have to disagree in the strongest possible terms with your first sentence. By the time the police are coming to you, there is no situation - none - in which you can help yourself by cooperating. It's unfortunate, and I wish we lived in a society with a justice system that rewarded good-faith communication, but we don't. The police have a crime to clear, they are measured by cases opened and cases resolved, they want to shut the books on this issue. If it's easiest for them to slot you in as a co-conspirator and charge you with some crime that screws up your life for a few years, they'll do it. Not maliciously, but they'll do it.
The other situation, where you see crime and want to report in order to help your community and be a good citizen, is completely different. If you're not involved, report the crime, anonymously or not, and go on your way.
^ This. "The right thing" is far removed from law enforcement's priorities. Clear the case, and clear it fast: that's law enforcement's priority. They couldn't care less if you are an innocent purchaser. If clearing the case means screwing you over, making your life difficult, or even abusing process, they will do it to lessen their administrative burden. See it all the time.
So the best advice really is, never willingly or voluntarily talk to the police, unless you are reporting, or are an innocent witness to, a crime.
First.. You do not have to speak to the police at all. You don't even have to identify who you are unless they are detaining you for a crime.
I understand the pickle you are in. While the original owner (store or person) would be happy to retrieve their merchandise, and they should, it leaves victims like you in an almost unrecoverable position with the only option to sue the thief. And even if you won, collecting isn't always easy.
Don't tell them anything or even acknowledge you have the laptop or even know the person they are referring to. If they are only calling you you are not obligated to do so. And it's not incriminating yourself if you do not choose to answer you are merely exercising your rights.
If they have strong evidence, which sounds like they don't, they could issue a subpoena. But that's if they decide to go further. Most police agencies are so backed up that for these types of crimes are not pursued aggressively at all. But then it comes down to your morale compass as well.. While stores usually carry insurance for this type of thing buyers don't. Personally, I would probably give it up, but if you decide to keep it, chances are you probably would not get into any issues. But, talk to a lawyer to CYA.
I understand the pickle you are in. While the original owner (store or person) would be happy to retrieve their merchandise, and they should, it leaves victims like you in an almost unrecoverable position with the only option to sue the thief. And even if you won, collecting isn't always easy.
Don't tell them anything or even acknowledge you have the laptop or even know the person they are referring to. If they are only calling you you are not obligated to do so. And it's not incriminating yourself if you do not choose to answer you are merely exercising your rights.
If they have strong evidence, which sounds like they don't, they could issue a subpoena. But that's if they decide to go further. Most police agencies are so backed up that for these types of crimes are not pursued aggressively at all. But then it comes down to your morale compass as well.. While stores usually carry insurance for this type of thing buyers don't. Personally, I would probably give it up, but if you decide to keep it, chances are you probably would not get into any issues. But, talk to a lawyer to CYA.
Lol anyway this is why I use ebay prices may be a little more than craigslist but you can look at sellers ratings and you get paypal/ebay buyer protection.
What do mean exactly by the bolded? The seller usually says Apple doesn't track purchases by serial?
My answer might differ a bit, but ....
I have to agree with the last couple people who expressed a distrust for law enforcement today. At least here in the USA today, there's *easily* at least one news story a DAY about the police doing something completely illegal, corrupt or just plain unfair/unjust. The system recruits the wrong type of individual to be a cop and they squeeze out the types with actual emotions and feelings. They're looking to build up more of a paramilitary strike force than they are average people who really want to "protect and serve" the public they work for.
If things were different, I would assume that any detective or officer coming to reclaim this alleged stolen property I innocently purchased would put JUST as much effort into getting me my money back that I paid for it. But you know what? They simply WON'T.
If a character steals a Macbook Pro from a retail store and sells it to you online, all they care about is catching the guy who did it and secondarily, returning the property to the store. At that point, they feel like "our work is done here" and you're going to get thrown under the bus -- because hey, you're the one who "bought stolen property".
I know the way I'd look at things, I wouldn't buy a product from someone that admitted he or she stole it. But otherwise, I feel like I should be able to accept a transaction at face value. I conducted myself properly by paying the agreed upon amount (and didn't cheat by trying to pass any counterfeit currency), and received what was agreed upon. IMO, this is why stores have insurance. If they can't get the stolen property back (including from whoever actually stole it, if and when they're arrested), they should take it up with insurance. Otherwise, what REALLY transpired is the police simply changed out one theft victim for another; you!
I have to agree with the last couple people who expressed a distrust for law enforcement today. At least here in the USA today, there's *easily* at least one news story a DAY about the police doing something completely illegal, corrupt or just plain unfair/unjust. The system recruits the wrong type of individual to be a cop and they squeeze out the types with actual emotions and feelings. They're looking to build up more of a paramilitary strike force than they are average people who really want to "protect and serve" the public they work for.
If things were different, I would assume that any detective or officer coming to reclaim this alleged stolen property I innocently purchased would put JUST as much effort into getting me my money back that I paid for it. But you know what? They simply WON'T.
If a character steals a Macbook Pro from a retail store and sells it to you online, all they care about is catching the guy who did it and secondarily, returning the property to the store. At that point, they feel like "our work is done here" and you're going to get thrown under the bus -- because hey, you're the one who "bought stolen property".
I know the way I'd look at things, I wouldn't buy a product from someone that admitted he or she stole it. But otherwise, I feel like I should be able to accept a transaction at face value. I conducted myself properly by paying the agreed upon amount (and didn't cheat by trying to pass any counterfeit currency), and received what was agreed upon. IMO, this is why stores have insurance. If they can't get the stolen property back (including from whoever actually stole it, if and when they're arrested), they should take it up with insurance. Otherwise, what REALLY transpired is the police simply changed out one theft victim for another; you!
He could be in jail or he just never bothered to come back and tell us what finally happened
This story smacks of a troll. My late mother when through law school and so I learned a lot about law. Also I watched the original Adam 12 which "captured a typical day in the life of a police officer as realistically as possible"
All of the following assumes US law.
1) No cop with even half a functioning brain is going to call a person out of the blue regarding stolen goods.
That is a great way to make any possible evidence "disappear" or worse make a controllable situation potentially more dangerous...hence why real cops don't do it.
2) Such a phone call would qualify as an interrogation and is covered under the Miranda rules.
No prosecutor likes their case complicated by some slop-cop forgetting Miranda. Doing phone calls like this slaps Miranda around like a red head step child and would result in thrown out evidence.
3) Once the "I'm not going to speak to anyone without my attorney" phase is invoked that is it.
"Legally the police may not continue to question you once you have invoked your right to counsel." (Know Your Rights, Jay K Ramey Attorney At Law)
Real cops know this.
There is just so much wrong that this sounds like a troll. But then again I would never use Craiglist or even Ebay to buy stuff...just too iffy for my tastes.
All of the following assumes US law.
1) No cop with even half a functioning brain is going to call a person out of the blue regarding stolen goods.
That is a great way to make any possible evidence "disappear" or worse make a controllable situation potentially more dangerous...hence why real cops don't do it.
2) Such a phone call would qualify as an interrogation and is covered under the Miranda rules.
No prosecutor likes their case complicated by some slop-cop forgetting Miranda. Doing phone calls like this slaps Miranda around like a red head step child and would result in thrown out evidence.
3) Once the "I'm not going to speak to anyone without my attorney" phase is invoked that is it.
"Legally the police may not continue to question you once you have invoked your right to counsel." (Know Your Rights, Jay K Ramey Attorney At Law)
Real cops know this.
There is just so much wrong that this sounds like a troll. But then again I would never use Craiglist or even Ebay to buy stuff...just too iffy for my tastes.
Second best line in this thread, right after the butt-shaving for jail bit.
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