Arrested for handling stolen goods. Unfair?
Discussion
Sorry dont follow you...
You have CCTV proving what happened and didnt use it, you had already given the laptop back and done a good deed, then got done for having the same laptop still in your posession?
So you gave it back or didnt? Or gave one back and had another stolen one?
Im lost on that bit.
You have CCTV proving what happened and didnt use it, you had already given the laptop back and done a good deed, then got done for having the same laptop still in your posession?
So you gave it back or didnt? Or gave one back and had another stolen one?
Im lost on that bit.
I dont understand, just because you touched a stolen computer, doesnt mean you 'handled it', did any of the policemen touch it too? Did they arrest themselves??
Why did the police steal/take another computer off you if you successfully did your duty and returned the stolen laptop to the owner?
Did you not have a lawyer in with you? Where you just not laughing at them during the ineterview, asking how stupid they can be? Repeatedly, as thats what I (would like to think anyway) would have done.
Did you not ask to speak to someone with intelligence, did you ask on what basis you were 'handling' stolen goods? And again, are they 'simple'?
Why did the police steal/take another computer off you if you successfully did your duty and returned the stolen laptop to the owner?
Did you not have a lawyer in with you? Where you just not laughing at them during the ineterview, asking how stupid they can be? Repeatedly, as thats what I (would like to think anyway) would have done.
Did you not ask to speak to someone with intelligence, did you ask on what basis you were 'handling' stolen goods? And again, are they 'simple'?
PH21736 said:
I apologise if I'm a bit confusing. To summarise, I gave it back to the owner, the police now accept that, however there arrest is because I had the laptop in between taking it from customer A and giving it back to the owner. When they came I didn't have the laptop, the owner had it because I gave it back to him
In the future contact Police asap and inform them that you have some stolen property. Thats what cash generators etc do, are you involved with Immobilise?. A huge online database that lots of shops use to check goods that they get in, have a look into it. Its not down to you to get involved with reuniting someone with their stolen property. The guy who got his laptop back is free to make an allegation against you, the police are duty bound to act on it and investigate it. That investigation resulted in your arrest, did they search your shop?
PH21736 said:
I assumed that handling meant like selling it on or using it etc, and when I went to the police station I didn't ask for a solicitor because thought explaining to them what had happened would make them realised, my 'handling' was simply taking from the customer and giving to the owner.
Hopefully the police will take no further action, however it was a mistake to not have legal advice. I would think it will be very clear to the police you didnt 'handle stolen goods', as you returned it to the owner as opposed to selling/reparing it after knowing it was stolen. Or is common sense to allowed these days.PH21736 said:
I've never heard of immobilise, I'll look into it, thank you. They did search it, but I did show them CCTV with the owner taking back the laptop, so there wasn't anything to be found.
Its a great system, people log the serial numbers etc of goods on there and when they're stolen they update the system. Lots of shops like CEX ect check the system upon receipt of goods, it shows them if they are stolen or not. It protects them from taking in nicked gear, gives the police an enquiry as to who stole the item and also returns the item to the owner. The Police will need to prove any dishonesty on your part, however if it happened as you state then they wont be able to but that doesn't make the arrest unnecessary. I think you have been more naive than anything else.
PH21736 said:
He got his own back, yes. But when he called the police he conveniently forgot to tell them I returned his laptop, but try telling the police that.
So the police just selected another laptop at random and took that?? Could you not prove that one was bought legitimately? Sounds very very strange to me. And making you install their CCTV??? Never heard of anything quite like that. Trax said:
did any of the policemen touch it too? Did they arrest themselves??
Why did the police steal/take another computer
Where you just not laughing at them during the ineterview, asking how stupid they can be? Repeatedly, as thats what I (would like to think anyway) would have done.
And again, are they 'simple'?
Hmmmm......Why did the police steal/take another computer
Where you just not laughing at them during the ineterview, asking how stupid they can be? Repeatedly, as thats what I (would like to think anyway) would have done.
And again, are they 'simple'?
I can understand why they'd want to investigate in this manner. The risk of missing a substantial handler is probably too great.
There may be some unknown things, too. Intelligence, for example: "X is regularly stealing laptops from Y railway station. He takes them to an unknown laptop repair shop in the area of Z".
Always have legal advice. I'd be quite confident if you have no previous convictions for acquisitive crime, didn't know or believe it to be stolen (hard to prove) and run a legit business you'll be released without any further action being taken.
There may be some unknown things, too. Intelligence, for example: "X is regularly stealing laptops from Y railway station. He takes them to an unknown laptop repair shop in the area of Z".
Always have legal advice. I'd be quite confident if you have no previous convictions for acquisitive crime, didn't know or believe it to be stolen (hard to prove) and run a legit business you'll be released without any further action being taken.
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