If there is no evidence, there may not be a whole lot they CAN do.Quoting policetac
He should contact the police and tell them he has found his dog. Perhaps meet them there to show them the dog. If he has had the dog licensed properly, it should be easy to prove provided he has his tags or has a subdermal "tag" device implanted under his skin.Now, friend has found the animal, but the thieves in possession never let it in the yard unattended. Friend wants to go into the res. told him no would be Burg 2, possibly even invasion robbery. He feels he has no choices.
Legally? Almost none. The level of enforcement or investigation is more a policy and a political question than anything else.QUESTION: To what extent is law enforcement responsible for helping him positively identify the animal as his.
They would have to have probable cause to believe that the animal IS the stolen animal. Like any other suspected stolen property, to inspect the dog they would have to have the cnsent of the owner, some exigent circumstance, or a search warrant allowin them to seize the dog. Whether there is enough evidence to show that the dog belongs to the original victim really depends on the details.Considering the original crime of burg 2 by the one currently in possession of the animal, wouldn't it follow that law enforcement would have standing to force identification of the suspect animal?
- Carl

