Co-Owner is Stealing Items From the House

[karenrae]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Michigan
Short and to the point. Co Owner of home has been stealing items from the house that do not belong to him. He has broken into by bedroom using a credit card and stole 30+ dvd's, a 1 carat cluster diamond necklace that was given to me after my grandma passed away. We wrote up a rough draft contract regarding the larger items in the house what he kept and what I kept. We both signed it as so did a mutual friend. Just a few days after signing the contract he had taken items on the list and told me specifically that the items in question did no longer belong to me and that the contract we signed was invalid and that there was nothing I could do about it. County Sherriff said all I can do is file a civil law suit against him. I have all the receipts to the house in which everything was paid for by using my debit card. There is about 2500.00 worth of building materials and supplies that have up and walked away within the last 4 wks. I have been keeping notes of everything. We both have our own storage rooms upstairs and within the past cpl of weeks I have began to put the remainder of his things into his room and mine in my room as to avoid any further conflict. I had decided to clean my storage room upstairs yesterday and get some things organized. I did take pictures of before and after and also took pictures of a box of Screws that were in one of my planters and also a two part mixrure of some Apoxy stuff that was in a tote. As returning home today I went upstairs to put some things away up there and had noticed things have been moved around and somethings are missing.Both items are no longer where I had put them. There is a lock on the door and all he did was use his credit card to gain access, unfortunatly I do not have a security camera set of YET,but will. Now my door upstairs where I am storing my things has a lock and also a No Trespassing sign on the door. Yet he found his credit card to work on getting that door open as well. I do plan on taking this matter to the State Police but want to take an hour tomorrow and make sure I have everything missing wrote down. Any suggestions would be very helpful.. Thank You!

[aardvarc]

State police don't generally get involved in matters at this level. Your county sheriff's office IS the correct agency. State police are going to either refer you back to the sheriff's office, and/or ALSO tell you to file a civil claim against him. For general theft, yes, your local police or sheriff would typically be involved. HOWEVER, the minute you both signed a contract over property in the home, you effectively took law enforcement OUT of the picture and turned the matter into a civil contract violation, rather than a criminal theft. Take your receipts, contract, and any other evidence and sue him for the value of the missing items. Be prepared for the judge to ask you exactly how you know HOW he accessed the items (how do you KNOW it was a credit card, as opposed to a butter knife, plastic spatula, etc.) and why, if multiple incidents occurred, you're thinking of the obvious expense and hassle of security cameras rather than a functional deadbolt.

[karenrae]

The reason why I stated the using a credit card is because he had recently mentioned in front of a 3rd party that he had to do it because he locked his keys in his bedroom. Yes he could have used any of those items, except I say Credit Card because he recently in front of a 3rd party stated he had to use his CC to open his bedroom door because he locked his keys inside. Your right on the dead bolt, that will be taken care of tomorrow. And the security camera for my bedroom.. I just never in a million years thought things would have gone this far. HE has many valuable items upstairs and even thru out everything going on I have not even considered to do anything to his things.. But as far as him entering into my space upstairs with a sign clearly stated on it No Trespassing and the door locked, and items removed from the room that are not on the list but my personal property.