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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Posts
    19

    Default Police Won't Investigate a Theft After the Stolen Item Was Returned

    My question involves criminal law for the state of: South Carolina

    I was about to leave for work and remembered I forgot something. I ran inside my house to grab it and when I came back, my snowboard was missing from my garage. When I got back home from work, it was sitting in my lawn (which is wasn't before).

    I called the police and when they gave me my copy of the police report it said "Lost and Found". I told him that it should be a burglary.... He said, "You said it was this morning, right?" I said yes? He then asked, "And you stated that your garage was open?" I said yes?.... They then asked me if anyone was hurt, I said no... He said this isn't a burglary and since I didn't see the person they don't have anything to go off of.... I asked them why they aren't dusting for prints? He asked how much the board was worth.... I said about $75 now, but $150 when I bought it. They informed me they weren't going to dust for prints and suggested that I hire a private investigator if I wanted to pursue this... Is this a normal response and would they have taken this more seriously if someone had been hurt or if my board was worth more? It felt like they really didn't care.....

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Posts
    3,212

    Default Re: Are Certain Crimes Taken More Seriously by Police Than Other One

    Law enforcement does not have the money or man power to dust for prints when a snowboard is stolen, be it returned or not. Be happy that you got it back. If someone has been seriously injured, it would be more than a robbery. Items can be replaced, people can't.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    38,867

    Default Re: Are Certain Crimes Taken More Seriously by Police Than Other One

    You have been watching too much television. They are not going to dust for prints for something this minimal but additionslly, for something that isn't even missing.

    Seriously, think about this for a minute; what thief would risk getting caught by returning the loot.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    1,279

    Default Re: Are Certain Crimes Taken More Seriously by Police Than Other One

    Most states require a structure to have surrounding walls and a roof in order to qualify for burglary. Garage doors usually comprise one side (surrounding wall) of a garage and if yours was open, a question may arise as to whether this qualifies as a burglary.

    Additionally, to prove theft one must establish an intent to permanently deprive on the part of the thief. The fact that your board was returned rules that out.

    Far more crimes are committed than the police have the resources to investigate. Because the circumstances of this event make obtaining a conviction unlikely, law enforcement is not going to devote any serious time to the mater.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    18,340

    Default Re: Are Certain Crimes Taken More Seriously by Police Than Other One

    Many police departments don't even send anybody out on burglaries. They'll take a report on the phone and send you an inventory form with a case number so you can give it to your insurance company along with the inventory, which you also send to the police so items identifiable with serial numbers can be circulated in case they ever turn up.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    California
    Posts
    20,594

    Default Re: Are Certain Crimes Taken More Seriously by Police Than Other One

    Yeah, property crimes go largely un-investigated these days. Many agencies will not even send an officer, much less dust for prints. Larger agencies will direct you to an online reporting system or maybe provide you a form to fill out and mail in. Sadly, the public really is not willing to pay for the resources that might be necessary to investigate most property crimes.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    in alto mare
    Posts
    1,123

    Default Re: Are Certain Crimes Taken More Seriously by Police Than Other One

    I had a surfboard (custom, expensive one) stolen out of the back of my pickup in my driveway. I had loaded up the truck, ran back inside for one more item, came out and it was gone. Filed police report. Put ads on Craigslist and Surfline.

    The board turned up a few days later. Someone had dropped it into my backyard, over the fence. I just called and cancelled the police report. I think someone brought it home and someone else (maybe a parent) asked questions. Who knows, but I was lucky. Long story short, they won't investigate further and don't ask. They don't have the time or the need to.

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