The cops told me that I will be charged because I bought a laptop from a man off the street. I did not know it was stolen.
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The cops told me that I will be charged because I bought a laptop from a man off the street. I did not know it was stolen.
I bought a laptop a few days ago from a person I met on the street. The police came to my door and notified me that it was stolen. They took the computer away. The police told me that I will be charged but they didn’t take me away. Now I have no computer. What should I do?
Asked on April 12, 2009 under Criminal Law, Colorado
Answers:
N. K., Member, Iowa and Illinois Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 15 years ago | Contributor
You could be charged with theft by receiving stolen property. Depending on the value of the laptop, it could be a misdemeanor or felony.
Usually, it must be shown that you knew or believed that the laptop was stolen when you bought it from the person on the street.
However, you should get an attorney to represent you in case the police do in fact charge you.
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