Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

last month someone broke into my house and stole my laptop. i filed a report with the police station. yesterday i got it back but i had to steal it back. do i have to tell the police that i got it back and how i did it?


Asked on 10/09/09, 4:48 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Brian Dinday Law Offices of Brian R. Dinday

Well, if you reported the theft and didn't tell them that you had it back, you would be committing the crime of making a false police report. If you lie about how you got it back, same deal. And you STILL lay yourself open to this thief turning the tables on you, which he can easily do, and most thieves are eager to play games like that to play the system. Believe me, he knows much more about the system than you do. And No, you did not "steal it back". You stole nothing. Trespassing, yes. Don't add to it with false police reports.

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Answered on 10/09/09, 5:05 pm


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