Legal Question in Criminal Law in Texas

I have recently been terminated from my job over the phone and my ex-boss asked me to take my personal belongings and tools from the work van. I did and then I e-mailed him and let him know I left the van on public property in front of my house so that he could pick it up. He is now stating he has done a tool inventory on my van and that I have stolen power and hand tools from him. The van had been broken in to about 8 months before being fired and my power tools along with some of the companies were stolen. He bought some new tools and told me these were to replace my tools that were stolen, so I thought they were mine and removed them from the van upon termination. In an e-mail he asked that I return them within 3 days or a police report would be filed and I told him I would gladly return them, just give me a time and date to come to the business location and I would return the tools in question and at that time he could return to me two broken power tools of mine he has at the shop. He never replied with a time and date we could meet, but did reply 6 days later stating he had filed a police report on me and the list of tools had grown substantially from the last list. I have the tools cited in the original tool inventory he took, but not the ones in the second inventory. I offered to give the tools back that I took thinking they were mine, but he would rather file a police report adding more tools to it that I know were on the van when he picked it up. Should I just contact the police department where he filed the report? Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated.


Asked on 9/23/09, 9:59 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Keith Engelke Law Office of S. Keith Engelke

Keep the email and your replies as well as the inventories as well as the offers. Did you discuss the original notice of termination with anyone where your ex boss told you to remove your personal belongings? If you did, perhaps you can get statements from them.

If you can prove any of the stolen tools that were replaced were yours, and your boss filed a police report about the theft and/or a claim with his insurance company you should get copies. He may may have a problem.

This appears to be a civil dispute. However I'd consult a local criminal defense attorney and discuss the facts and options.

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Answered on 9/30/09, 7:00 pm


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