What charges can police have against you for taking a wallet that was left behind?

|â–’â–’Kebert Xelaâ–’â–’|

How did I know this is exactly what you meant by being "entrapped by the police"

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AmW_.PgPY2Xt.Ln3DzNF8xzsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20090330034904AAARI3g

It is theft. Nobody needs to press charges, and if the police were there watching you do it, you'll be charged.
As for what can happen, it depends on how much the contents were worth.

- Don't steal things......it's illegal

Gregory

It is still theft. The owner does not have to press charges. It doesn't belong to you. You have an obligation to either find the owner or turn it in to the Police.

goz1111

Depends on how much monies where in the wallet, plus the fact after reading your other post, 20K bail is no small thing, then added on the fact your are on probation equates to not only the theft charges on the wallet but also VOP, violation of probation charged as well

Ms. N

Since identity theft is such a concern these days, being caught with someone else's wallet (especially if the wallet contains identification documents ie license and/or social security card) they might be able to charge you with attempted identity theft. That's kind of a stretch as I haven't seen that charge on anyone so far, but being in possession of someone else's ID can't be good. Also, you run the risk of being involved in something bigger. What if the wallet was left behind due to an assault, etc. You might get yourself involved even if the wallet was all you came in contact with.

If the owner knows you have the wallet it sounds more like theft than finding a lost item and if you found it and were confronted by the owner why would you refuse to return the item when you know it isn't yours? The finders keepers principal is pretty juvenile.

Carolyn

If you hand it into the polica and say there was no money in it then they cant do anything but investigate

Honestly, now

The above answerers are correct, but I'd advise you not to turn it into the police. They don't want the hassle of returning lost wallets and will try their best to find a reason to arrest you.

fangtaiyang

It could be called theft. the gravity of which is determined by the value of the contents and the actual wallet. Using any credit cards or cash in the wallet is theft. Simply putting it down and leaving it where you found it is not a crime. Holding on to it and attempting to find the owner is not a crime. Taking a reward on your own is not right. Just turn the wallet over to police or attempt to find the owner from I.D. in the wallet.

delive_rance

IF THE WALLET was left behind and you personally do not know the owner then there is no crime involved unless the wallet was taken to the person itself while sitting or sleeping that is qualified theft. The police cannot charge you of anything for taking a wallet you just pick up in the street. It is either left behind or fall from the person while walking or was a product of a pickpocketing we never know unless there is a thorough investigation conducted with it.

You said 'DOES THE PERSON WHO OWNS IT THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN PRESS CHARGES?' In actually form yes, because he owns the wallet. But he must clearly state that the wallet didn't fall in his pants but was stolen from him by the person otherwise there is no crime involved. Even if I give one wallet to a police officer in one corner of the street and told him I found a wallet you think the police will arrest me already? Of course not. This is ridiculous on the part of the police to do this. The police will look for ID and some papers and notify the owner of the wallet.

lance m

hello, first of all, being in possession of someones wallet and telling police that it was left behind so you picked it up is not goin to fly. the charge depending on what state you live in could be misdemeanor theft or felony theft depending on how much doe was in the wallet etc. im sure you already spent the cash, and they cant really prove that you spent the cash, but if you used the credit cards, this will be a problem. if you simply picked up the wallet and spent the cash, and ditched the wallet, it will be hard to prove a case against you its completely hearsay evidence. but if you have people that saw or observed you pick up the wallet, they can press theft charges against you based on the statements of witnesses. if your on video etc, and they can identify you on camera, your stuck! without knowing all of the details, i cant tell you exactly what your options are, thats why im taking my best shot here. if you are worried because you got caught with the wallet, or you are being blamed as a suspect not yet charged etc. as an ex cop, im telling you, deny it to the end. tellling people you found it is not going to fly. if you were not videoptaped, and no one saw you take it, but your being blamed, deny it! never ever confess too anything that any cop is questioning you about. the cops are not your friends, and any questioning you can ask to stop until you speak to a lawyer. when being questioned by police, NEVER VOLUNTEER OR ADMIT TO ANYTHING! IT WILL ONLY BE USED AGAINST YOU LATER!!! IT WILL NEVER HELP YOU! sounds like a flimsy case, so just deny it! if you were caught on videotape or your screwed on the deal, admit it and get it over with! its only a misdemeanor theft typically. but again, if they have no evidence, deny deny deny deny! the next best thing to the truth is a lie stuck too! ha ha! take it from me, im an ex cop, and i now hate cops!!!

guard dog

I'm thinking it sounds like you stole it and so the charge would be for theft. How much of a charge against you depends upon the value($ and such) inside of the wallet. If you took the wallet and brought it to the police right away, then none. However, by the tone of your questions it does not sound as if you did this. GuardDog

selina

tell me, im being charge with felony in va, for finding a wallet in mcdonalds, then putting a note in the mailbox saying please dont lose your wallet i said happynew year cause it was three days after now they got me for a felony of taking 200 dollars and whats so bad about it there was no money, i wish it was!!! june 27th is my date

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