"Stolen" Laptop bought on craigslist

[Fat Pie]

Hm. Most people on this site usually say 'lawyer up and don't talk to the cops'. I understand that the circumstances here are different than usual, but still, I thought everyone would say 'fuck no, don't go'.

Smaxie, what if they're looking to nail him regardless?

[dizzle]

And luckily if the laptops worth less than $2500 it would only be a misdemeanor. But it's the United States so they may try claiming it's value is $2501 or something else ridiculous.

Funny story-

When A friend of mine, well a FOAF used to steal from The Home Depot, all the time...... And the regional loss prevention manager knew him. Well, the regional LP waited until one day where FOAF was stealing a kitchen faucet, nice and pricey one, at that, to bust him.

I mean, the LP LITERALLY told FOAF about the last 5 returns he made and how he was right next to him other times when he was returning stuff with receipts found in the parking lot, but these were only $20-30 dollar items, and how he was waiting to catch him on a larger item.

So he gets busted, the LP is grinning like "we got you now fuckwad!" the whole time before the cops get there. Then, just as they're trying to write up FELONY RETAIL THEFT charges, one young cop comes in and says,

"Wait, this is $149.99, that is a misdemeanor"
Dumbfuck #1 (LP) and #2 (copper) had this grin on their face and said "You have to include tax"

Young cop says "Nope, tax isn't included, and felonies are $150 and up this is a misdemeanor, look, its right here *raises up police officer manual*"

What a day, FOAF was out shootin dope within 12 hours.........

[nick]

Hm. Most people on this site usually say 'lawyer up and don't talk to the cops'. I understand that the circumstances here are different than usual, but still, I thought everyone would say 'fuck no, don't go'.

Smaxie, what if they're looking to nail him regardless?

If that happens,he shuts up and asks for a lawyer(which he can do at any time).

There's being in trouble and looking for trouble-big difference.Personally,my life's messed up enough without me going looking for a hard time.

EDIT,The best policy with LE is to keep a low profile and try and stay of the radar.

[Fat Pie]

If that happens,he shuts up and asks for a lawyer(which he can do at any time).

There's being in trouble and looking for trouble-big difference.

I'd say the line between incriminating and exhonerating oneself is very thin; that video that JM posted is a good example (basically, don't talk without a lawyer, regardless of how it makes you look, because one wrong word or slip up and you'll be the one in the dock).

[nick]

I'd say the line between incriminating and exhonerating oneself is very thin; that video that JM posted is a good example (basically, don't talk without a lawyer, regardless of how it makes you look, because one wrong word or slip up and you'll be the one in the dock).

Fine,I was simply pointing out what I'd do based on a fair bit of experience of dealing with cops and avoiding jail.

What anyone else does ain't my problem.

[Fat Pie]

Fine,I was simply pointing out what I'd do based on a fair bit of experience of dealing with cops and avoiding jail.

What anyone else does ain't my problem.

I have talked to the police before (I OD'd on coke and ended up in hospital; they came 'round to question me), and maybe in hindsight I shouldn't have, but I didn't incriminate anyone and nothing happened. However, when my dealer was called in for questioning it was obviously a bit more serious, so he brought a lwayer with him and walked out the next day.

My impression is that things are done on a different level in America, by and large.

[lordtrey]

You already told them what you know. If they all back I would tell them to stop calling me. If they alled again I would file a harrisment complaint against the officer. I am a libertarian and as such would give them way less info than you did. Also I likely would have told them to fuck off after the second phone call.

[jimmyfingers]

You already told them what you know. If they all back I would tell them to stop calling me. If they alled again I would file a harrisment complaint against the officer. I am a libertarian and as such would give them way less info than you did. Also I likely would have told them to fuck off after the second phone call.

Police should be respected even if you don't want to. I always show respect to the police and thank them for what they do even though I don't want to. Telling an officer to fuck off is a good way to end up with your face bashed in or behind bars. You talk much shit on the web but I bet it is different is real life.

[thisisthehaunt]

Contact attorney. Get actual legal advice. Take that actual legal advice and not the advice given here, unless it is "go get legal advice from an attorney".

That is all.

[hanna]

If you have to lawyer up, get him to subpoena Craigslist for the original laptop ad. Craigslist will likely have a backup of everything within the last year. Have your beak present that to the police. If as JM says, unknowingly receiving stolen prop. is not offenceable in WI. that should be the end of it.

And tho' I try and stay off pig radar you'll never hear me say "sir/maam" to bacon. They're not, and never will be, our "betters". What they are is the largest group of armed thugs in America. They make the toughest gangs look like "the little rascals" when it comes to committing serious crime. I've been in tough countries and trusted the police there more than I ever would in America.

[SHELLEY]

talking to cops never helps anything

also, whatever "really" happened, your situation looks like absolute shit
talking to the cops won't help

[Woody Bear]

The best advice in this thread:

If I were you, I would contact your cell phone service provider and get copies of your call logs for the last six months. Mine are available on line if I want them. Then you need to go back through them and narrow down the number you contacted said gangsta white dude on and provide that either to the cops or your lawyer so you have something to substantiate your claim.

If you have to lawyer up, get him to subpoena Craigslist for the original laptop ad. Craigslist will likely have a backup of everything within the last year. Have your beak present that to the police.

Following all the "Pigs are shit, don't speak to them", advice is going to get you arrested.

[nick]

The best advice in this thread:



Following all the "Pigs are shit, don't speak to them", advice is going to get you arrested.

Woody's right-not to mention it's an offensively ignorant attitude.

[Fat Pie]

Following all the "Pigs are shit, don't speak to them", advice is going to get you arrested.

Woody's right-not to mention it's an offensively ignorant attitude.

True, but if you check out the video that was posted, even the cop says not to speak to the cops, and that if they talk to you they are there solely to try and convict you, not help you!

I was surprised, I thought the officer would have a ripost to the 5th Amendment rule, but he said it himself. Seriously, check it out. He backs up everything the defense attorney says.

The politest you can be to the police is to say 'I wish to retain the services of an attorney before speaking to you' regardless of how that makes you look, because even if you walk in there clean as a whistle, their job isn't to help corroborate your story, it's to help find flaws in it so that they can pin the crime on you (and there are a variety of ways they can do that)!

You can't think of this in good faith terms, their job is to find someone to lock up, and if they think it's you, then rightly or wrongly, you're who they'll pursue.

An attorney isn't a sign of unwillingness to talk, nor is it a sign of guilt (I suspect that's police misinformation/reverse psychology to get people talking), it is merely to protect you from either unknowingly incriminating yourself or the police trying to do so, that's all. He/she will tell you what to do, so get some legal advice (I'm sure there are toll-free hotlines, at a minimum) before doing anything.

If they pull you in, don't talk, wait to be represented. You will make your attorney bash their head against the wall if you do.

Note that things may differ in the UK regarding our laws and/or law enforcement. I'm going on what I saw in JM's video, which stunned me.

I also say this as a person who has nothing against police officers; they do a service that gets them a lot of hate and very little thanks, but I know what side of the line I'm on, and it ain't theirs.

[Count Zero]

IIRC no one said don't speak to the cops, they said don't speak to them without a lawyer present, which I imagine is pretty good advice.

[Fat Pie]

IIRC no one said don't speak to the cops, they said don't speak to them without a lawyer present, which I imagine is pretty good advice.

Yeah, as long as he knows that. It's purely to ensure that his rights are protected.

[Michael]

Yeah, I'm no huge fan of cops but I don't hold an comical level of hatred for them either. Why bother being rude to them? It does you more trouble then it's worth. Best to just treat them like you would any stranger, with some civility.

[Ryouge]

Thanks for the advice everybody.

[Indy]

You're fine. Even with the pawn ticket they can't prove you stole it, and if they ever do arrest you the public defender's office has an IT department that can check that there was an ad up for it, and check your phone records that indicate you called it.

--- auto merge ---

Yeah, I'm no huge fan of cops but I don't hold an comical level of hatred for them either. Why bother being rude to them? It does you more trouble then it's worth. Best to just treat them like you would any stranger, with some civility.

Maybe in australia but cops out here are assholes as a rule. They never show you any respect, and try to push your buttons because they want you to get angry or run so they can fight/beat you. The worst part is they'll try to make anything look like evidence that you're a serial killer or something. I had a bag full of groceries with a box of trash bags sticking out of the top last time I got pulled over and the cop wouldn't stop asking me "what are the trash bags for?" I told him, "um, garbage?" and of course, they LOVE this line - "you need to watch your attitude" or "you trying to be a smart ass?".

[tui]

^not australia, nz

[Count Zero]

You're fine. Even with the pawn ticket they can't prove you stole it, and if they ever do arrest you the public defender's office has an IT department that can check that there was an ad up for it, and check your phone records that indicate you called it.

--- auto merge ---



Maybe in australia but cops out here are assholes as a rule. They never show you any respect, and try to push your buttons because they want you to get angry or run so they can fight/beat you. The worst part is they'll try to make anything look like evidence that you're a serial killer or something. I had a bag full of groceries with a box of trash bags sticking out of the top last time I got pulled over and the cop wouldn't stop asking me "what are the trash bags for?" I told him, "um, garbage?" and of course, they LOVE this line - "you need to watch your attitude" or "you trying to be a smart ass?".

Lol. what he wanted you to say is "I have 4 dismembered bodies in my basement and I need the trash bags to get rid of them"-those cops are pretty sly that way...

[Dr. Doper]

I really hope this works out for you, but I agree with Shelley. Your situation looks bad. I would try to find that number on your own time or something that can prove your innocence. Like others said, try and get a paid lawyer if you can afford one. Good Luck

[Indy]

^not australia, nz

It's all kangaroos and shrimps and barbies and whatnot to me!