Making a Late Report of a Burglary

[Melissa Ann]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: New York

About two weeks ago, my apartment was broken into while I was at work. The thief took my laptop, a pair of designer sunglasses, my laundry room card (for our building's laundry room, had $30 on it), but most importantly, they stole my money orders for my rent. I had neglected to finish filling out the money order, so the "To" was made out to my building's leasing company, but I didn't put my name or anything else on it. Also didn't take off the receipts on the top.. I know, dumb move!

Anyway, I didn't initially go to the line of thought that someone broke in, as when I came home, I didn't notice that anything was missing at first. Initially I thought I lost the envelope, although I distinctly remembered putting the envelope with the money orders in my dresser before I left for work that day. Wasn't until I thoroughly tossed my studio that I realized that my laptop, laundry card, and sunglasses were also gone. So the cops weren't called until a few days later. They've given me a really hard time with filing the lost property report. At first I thought there was nothing that could be done in regards to the money orders, but on a whim I went to my local post office where I purchased them and asked the manager if there was way to reprint my receipt from the purchase (also was in the envelope with the money orders). I paid for the money orders with my debit card, so I had the date and exact amount of my purchase. I also remembered what time of day I came in to buy them as well as the clerk I went to, so after about 20 minutes, he produced the reprint of the receipt with the money order tracking numbers.

I filled out the USPS form to do the inquiry, and found out that the money orders have been cashed. I should be receiving a copy of the money orders in the next few days according to the accounting dept rep I spoke to from USPS. I've also contacted the billing department of my rental company but they said they can't do anything yet until I have the copies of the money orders.

So all of this explanation aside, in the next few days, I will have (hopefully) the name of the person who potentially used the money orders to pay their rent (I have a strong feeling it's someone on my floor who went into my apt.), proof that the money orders were purchased with my bank card with the bank statement to prove that it was me who made the purchase, and God willing a report from the police that the money orders were stolen. Would all of this be enough to have this pursued by the police as a crime? I'm not sure what the outcome will be in terms of the rent, but I'm hoping the rental company will transfer the money to my account, but I still feel like whoever did this needs to be prosecuted or something, because I definitely left the money orders in my dresser drawer, and that was not the only thing taken. They had to come into my apartment without my permission to take them and that's a crime right?

[Mr. Knowitall]

Make your report, providing the evidence you have collected. Let the police worry about the rest.

[adjusterjack]

As for your rent, if it's due, go pay it.

The LL is not going to forgive a month's rent just because it got stolen from you.

If you don't pay it on time you may get hit with late charges.

[Disagreeable]

You seem to have a compelling argument for the prosecution. Unfortunately these issues take time and getting the credit back may take months which will not relieve you of your obligation to pay for the months rent.