Hi I need spme advice. My boyfriend bought a new cellphone and I don't know where he got it from, we were living together for 6 months and when the day I left the place in where I lived, he told me to grab his new bought cellphone on a coffee table. So I went to grabbed it and I didn't know that I grabbed the wrong phone. 3 weeks later cops went to my parents house (where I live now) to ask me questions because apparently, someone on that house from where I lived before said that her phone went missing. I told the cops that I do have an extra phone on me and I told him its my boyfriends new phone that he just bought and I showed the phone to the cop and confirmed that the phone that I have which is suppose to be my boyfriend new cellphone is the same phone that went missing in that house. So basically I grabbed the wrong phone and I have no idea that it was somebodys till the cop came to my parents house and told me that the phone isn't really my boyfriend's, so now I don't know what to do and I don't know if I will be charged or now. This is the first time that happened to me, I don't have a theift record or any criminal record before, and right now I'm at school and really confuse of what's going to happen next.

Hello s:

I don't know what's going to happen either. But if the cops approach you again, don't talk to them. If they arrest you, hire a lawyer.

excon

I also heard that the phone that is missing is from the pawnbroker which is basically a second hand phone. Does the pawnshop keep the serial numbers of the phone they get from the costumers?

Hello again, s:

Nahh. Most criminals snitch on themselves. You might have done that when you talked to the cops. Only time will tell.

excon

I don't understand what you mean.. can you please explain it further? Sorry I'm really confuse

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Originally Posted by excon

Hello again, s:

Nahh. Most criminals snitch on themselves. You might have done that when you talked to the cops. Only time will tell.

excon

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Exie, you're so cryptic. Just come right out and tell her she messed up.

Well, I didn't tell the cops that the cellphone is from the pawnshop. And it was confirmed and its from somebody else. I have to see the cop again to give my another statement soon..

1. yes pawn shops keep a very detailed record of serial numbers, the ID of who sold it to them.

2. What they are trying to say, most times police don't need any records or investigation, the person who is being questioned, gives the police all the info they need to convict them.

3. police can and do lie all the time to get you to confess or give them more details.

4. Don't talk to them about any criminal offense ( even if you get caught red handed with evidence in your hand) don't admit it, till you talk to an attorney

So right now, the best thing to do is talk to the lawyer then.. because the cop told me last night that if I won't give any statement, I'm going to get charge from the owner.

Yes, owner can't "charge" you, the police can submit their info and the DA will decide if there is evidence to charge you.

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Originally Posted by Fr_Chuck

4. Don't talk to them about any criminal offense ( even if you get caught red handed with evidence in your hand) don't admit it, till you talk to an attorney

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U mean admitting that I stole it? If that's what you mean, then you are right. I am not admitting anything that I stole it because I never meant to steal the phone. I just went and grabbed the wrong phone and I thought it was my boyfriends so.. im not going to admit anything that I stole it.

What is DA? Is that mean district attorney?

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Originally Posted by excon

Hello again, s:

Nahh. Most criminals snitch on themselves. You might have done that when you talked to the cops. Only time will tell.

excon

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This is very true. Most people snitch on themselves, not only criminals. A person has to be convicted of something first to become a criminal. Anyway, I would seek legal counsel first to figure out if you even need a lawyer. Secondly, if you do need one, don't talk to the police without the lawyer being present. A good rule of thumb I learned during my short stint in government; if the police come knocking with an attitude, don't say anything without a lawyer.