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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
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    Default Landlord's Staff Stole Money During an Apartment Inspection

    My question involves criminal law for the state of: California

    I live in a low income affordable housing apartment in San Francisco. The staff working for the apartment "requires" everyone living in the building, some 50+ apartments to have a monthly bedbugs inspection (A one day notice is always given before the day of inspection, the notice itself sometimes contains misspelled words). The inspection consist of a few members of the staff ranging from 2-6 people come into each apartment and flip every bed sheets they can find to check for bedbugs. Normally someone will usually be here to keep an eye on the staff when it is inspection day. My mom, my little bother, and I are so paranoid about these people coming in every month and today (9/28) our paranoia was confirmed. No one was home at the time when the inspection happened. When my little brother came back from school and check his wallet, which was left on top of the table, he tells me that 291$ is missing from his wallet. Since neither my mom nor I was home during the inspection, we know that it was the inspectors that stole the money. I know 291$ isn't a lot to most people, but to my family and I who are living in low income housing, it is a lot to us. All the staff workers are gone for the night, so I am considering calling the police in the morning to deal with this matter in front of authorities. I humbly request any advice regarding this matter.
    Thank you.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    California
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    20,594

    Default Re: The Staffs at My Apartment Stole Money from My Place

    You are free to call the police and report the petty theft. You can also complain to the management and even make a claim for damages. However, my guess is that your little brother will not be able to prove that the money was taken by the staff so chances are the police will not be able to identify a suspect that they can charge, and management will deny the claim. He can take the management to Small Claims Court, but, evidence will still be a problem.

    I would suggest that either you decline the monthly checks if you can, or, you make certain that any valuables are secured prior to them.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
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    4

    Default Re: The Staffs at My Apartment Stole Money from My Place

    Update: I called the Police and they came by and took pictures of the inspection notice, the desk where the money was stolen (the amount was actually around 600$ total, after further looking around the room, another 300$ was stolen from another wallet). The police told me that they'll write up a report and give it to a police inspector, and the police inspector might come over to check the security cameras if he deems this is a good case. The police also said that even though the security cameras can prove that the staff came into my apartment, which they had a legit reason to, the cameras cannot prove that they stolen the money; the only way the cameras can prove the staff stole the money is if they were waving it around the hallway in front of the cameras. And if we accuse the staff of stealing the money, the police said that the staff can turn it around on me and say that it was I who stole it, since I was the last person to leave the apartment. . .. . . ...

    I don't know what else to do now, I feel like there's no hope after that last statement they told me. I guess all I can do now is wait.

    To clarify, the 291$ was in cash inside one wallet, and another 300$ in cash was stolen from another wallet.

    Thank you for your advice though! Helped me make my decision to call the police today instead of tomorrow.

  4. #4
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    Default Re: The Staffs at My Apartment Stole Money from My Place

    These are monthly inspections of every apartment. How many apartments are we talking about? Dozens? Hundreds? How many others have reported incidents of theft associated with an inspection?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
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    18,340

    Default Re: The Staffs at My Apartment Stole Money from My Place

    Quote Quoting Bt_sf
    View Post

    To clarify, the 291$ was in cash inside one wallet, and another 300$ in cash was stolen from another wallet.
    This is either BS or stupidity.

    You knew in advance that staff was coming in to inspect and everybody left the apartment and left two wallets lying around with almost $600 in them.

    That defies common sense or you're trying to scam the apartments.

  6. #6
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    Sep 2016
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    Default Re: The Staffs at My Apartment Stole Money from My Place

    There are around 50+ apartments in the building. I don't know about other incidents; the policemen didn't have a record on hand/don't know. I would suspect there should be many other incidents.

  7. #7
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    Default Re: The Staffs at My Apartment Stole Money from My Place

    Quote Quoting Bt_sf
    View Post
    I would suspect there should be many other incidents.
    The police will know if there were multiple calls associated with that particular round of inspections, and would know if they have been called out on a regular basis after the monthly inspections.

    If multiple unit owners have reported their wallets being emptied out after inspections, then the police may be able to piece together who inspected the apartments and create at least a circumstantial case that somebody who works for the complex is stealing.

    If you are the only tenant who has ever reported a theft, between that uniqueness and the fact that you're reporting theft of large amounts of cash, it's much less likely that the police are going to be able to build a case.

    It is unusual for people to leave their homes without their wallets, so to leave two wallets at home, both overflowing with cash, is going to make some people suspicious of your story.

  8. #8
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    Sep 2016
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    Default Re: The Staffs at My Apartment Stole Money from My Place

    The first wallet was left on his table by my little brother. He thought that I would still be in the apartment while the inspection is going on and I did not check carefully what was on his desk before I left, so I guess it's more stupidity.

    The second wallet was mine and it was fairly hidden under some stacks of papers. I did not notice anything before my little brother came back and told me that his $291 was missing.

    I guess I was too stupid to leave the apartment without properly checking whether there is wallet laying around in the open or not. They always seem like really nice people. They would try to strike up a conversation and make a joke or two whenever they see us/ other residents.

    I think my case is unique because the amount stolen was a lot larger than the other people? I don't really know, I don't really know what to do.. I'm just waiting for the policeman to contact me.

    My little brother and I don't like carrying wallets when we go out. We would just take the essential amount needed/IDs. We thought or I should say we hope that our apartment was safe enough, but I was too stupid to think so. yeah, I understand this story might sound fake, but I can post picture of the case number the policeman gave me if it helps; I don't know if its illegal to post case numbers or not.

  9. #9
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    Default Re: The Staffs at My Apartment Stole Money from My Place

    It's not illegal, just foolish. You're told to keep things anonymous when posting to protect yourself.

    Your having made a police report signifies this: You made a police report. It's not confirmation of what you told the police.

    Let us know what the police determine.

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