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Bob in Big D wrote:If nothing happens then your insurrance should payup.

The problems with insurance are (1) the deductible, typically 1% of the insured risk. That could be $1,500 in this case. (2) Theft insurance generally pays the depreciated value of stolen property, which can be a small fraction of replacement cost.

Certainly most people could improve their home security. An alarm system encourages burglars to move on to easier pickings.

- Jim

That was his problem. The incident took place in Nevada, but I doubt there is any state where you can effectively commit armed robbery to "steal back" your stuff.

- Jim

OCD wrote:If I was 100% sure it was my stuff and I gave the police first shot but they weren't interested, I would probably get a few friends and recover my property from the thief (or his fence) using reasonably necessary force.

If you are think of PC 9.41 and 9.42, keep these clauses in mind:

...if the actor uses the force immediately or in fresh pursuit after the dispossession...

... to prevent the other who is fleeing immediately after committing burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, or theft during the nighttime from escaping with the property;

These defenses are not available if you find someone in possession of your stolen property after the crime has been committed.

- Jim

Crooked cops would not be that stupid. They would fence their stolen goods in another city.

The problem with Galveston PD is short staffing due to budget limitations. Most of the time all the patrol officers are tied up with active calls vehicle crashes, and arrests.

IMO, they spend too much time on minor drug offenses and prostitution, but I'm not in charge.

The letter writer would have gotten better results by complaining to her city council member. Unfortunately, the incident is now eight months past.

- Jim

I think the victim would need to prove that the stuff belonged to her (the letter writer) and not to the Craigslist seller. Unless the item is serial-numbered and registered somewhere, it's difficult to prove.

I really don't know what happens if you tell the police you want to bring a charge of theft without any evidence.

- Jim

From a letter to the editor in the Galveston County Daily News:

This house and three others were broken into in March, and the thieves took about $6,000 worth of things from our house. The following Monday, we found our things on Craig’s List with name and phone numbers, and reported it to the police, and we have never heard anything. We call the investigators and do not have anyone return our calls, and no one will answer the phone.

http://galvestondailynews.com/story.las ... d9964501f5" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Now here is an interesting situation: Burglars stole from your house and are brazenly selling your stuff on Craigslist in the same community. Let's assume here that you can prove the goods are yours, not just the same model.

The police are indifferent.

The obvious temptation is to set up a sting and somehow get the police to be present so that they can arrest the thief. But how do you do it? The police generally frown on "civilians" doing their job, even when they are not doing it.

There is something in the Texas statutes about seizing a person who is in possession of stolen property and taking him to the police or a magistrate, but I can't remember where it is or find it.

Keep in mind that the thief is a felon (burglar) and may be an all-round bad actor. Also, the Craigslist seller may claim to have bought the stuff at a flea market, and it may be impossible to prove otherwise.

- Jim