Would you press charges against... UPDATE 11/4!

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I am so curious...how in the heck do you know where your camera is???

Ask me again on Monday.

 

[jennifermae]

Wow...cant wait til monday to hear more!!

By the way, I would press charges, and expect charges pressed if it was one of my daughters who did this!

 

[tonilea]

Just FYI, if the kid is on probation - at least in my state - they don't need a warrant. Just his probation officer. Generally, searches by probation is a condition of probation and/or parole.

Also, you would be suprised how many people agree to searches KNOWING they have stolen property, drugs, etc. in their posession. The parents could also consent to search. If he was an adult and rented a room from his parents, then they couldn't consent to a search of his room, but juveniles are not (and IMO should not be) afforded the same rights to privacy as adults.

 

[Scooby3x1y]

I thought I would just share my experience. I was at a church Christmas party. I didn't realize I had dropped my phone under my car until an hour or so into the party. I went back out to my car, with another phone in had to call it. It could be heard, but we couldn't tell where it was coming from. We thought, it's in the car, we'll find it when we get home. (we left then)

We continued to call it, even going back to the church thinking it was under the car, so maybe still there. Well, by then (1.5 hrs after it was dropped) it was gone. Finally after 2 days of realizing it wasn't going to be found, I bought a new phone. I d/l my pics from my online camera, and lo and behold, there were pornographic pictures that had been taken from my cell phone that was lost. The kid who took it even took pictures of his family with it. Calls were made across the country. etc. etc.

My dh and I went to the parents and said, your son has our phone. At first they said, "Really? Are you sure?" They confronted him, and he lied, they could tell too. After the intial questioning wasn't going anywhere, I was forced to show the parents the pictures. Hmmmm, the kid was squirming, didn't have a leg to stand on.

We contemplated charges, he was already on probation. As it turned out, we didn't have to do anything, he went back to juvie on unrelated charges. The phone was an expensive phone. The family had no money, it would have been like getting blood from a turnip. Now I had the phone and extra phone, and phone charges.

IMHO, if I were you, OP, I would first discuss it with the parents of the child who took it. (Did he take any pics that would prove it?) If you have the camera, short of fingerprints, can it be proved. Nonetheless, I think I would make sure the parents knew about how serious you are taking it.

Good Luck!

 

[PatsGirl]

I would absolutely press charges and would expect/hope that other adults would do me the same favor if my kids broke the law in such a blatant, self-serving way

 

[Inigo]

Being a teenager this record will not follow him. When he becomes of age the records will either be erased or sealed.

Not in every state, and even the records that are sealed are still accessible to certain parties. I'm a probation officer, and I can see sealed records.

In my state (Indiana), juvenile records stay forever and ever and will show on an NCIC records check, unless a judge specifically expunges those records. It is not automatic.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I am still patiently waiting til Monday. But, there is proof that the person has my camera. Yes, I know people are going to say anyone could have the same camera but it was a very unpopular camera (expensive for what it had) and by the time it was stolen it was discontinued. So based on the evidence I gave the detective, it is very probable that the camera is mine. IF it is not my camera I will be the first person to apologize. My gut tells me though at 99.99% accuracy that the said camera is mine.

 

[hegsag]

Any update?

 

[wvjules]

You must live in a very boring and/or safe town to have the cops running around looking for a camera.

 

[Scurvy]

I keep hoping there's an update - it's Monday, we need an update! OP, I do hope you've gotten your camera back.

You must live in a very boring and/or safe town to have the cops running around looking for a camera.

You say that like it's a bad thing. I don't know if they'd go look for a camera where I live now, but I know they would have where I used to live. It wasn't a boring place, but it also wasn't so crime-ridden that the police were too busy to help with a case of stolen property. I think that's a good quality in a town!

 

[MineMail]

If it were MY kid, I would want you to press charges.

ITA

or you taking pictures of him doing all this service with the camera he stole...

Now we're talking 'bout JUSTICE! LOL

I wish there was some way you could approach his parents. You can't do that if you don't know them, however. They could be the type that demand the child return the camera ASAP (and find another means of restitution for your trouble), or they could be the type that make excuse after excuse, enabling their child to continue on this path.

I wouldn't even bother - if the kid overheard it, he'd toss the camera and there goes the OP's chance. Even worse, there are some crazy "not MY child" parents out there. My brother was rear-ended by a teenager who had JUST gotten his license. The kid was alone in the car, driving and texting. After the accident, he texted his dad who arrived on the scene like a maniac, yelling and screaming -- at the cops, at my brother, but not his son, lol. The father tried to downplay the accident and his son's responsibility. When that failed, he tried to lie to the police and say that he (the father) was driving with the son so that his son wouldn't lose his license. Even got nasty with my brother when he declined to join the lying party. *shakes head*

Better to avoid all contact with the parents, if only to spare them embarrassment or yourself some harrassment.

I am still patiently waiting til Monday. But, there is proof that the person has my camera. Yes, I know people are going to say anyone could have the same camera but it was a very unpopular camera (expensive for what it had) and by the time it was stolen it was discontinued. So based on the evidence I gave the detective, it is very probable that the camera is mine. IF it is not my camera I will be the first person to apologize. My gut tells me though at 99.99% accuracy that the said camera is mine.

The suspense is killing me. I hope it's your camera, it's undamaged, and he surrenders it without incident. (((hugs))) Tough decision to make, but I respect you - if he did steal it, he shouldn't be allowed to get away with it. It's important to learn consequences.

 

[wvjules]

You say that like it's a bad thing. I don't know if they'd go look for a camera where I live now, but I know they would have where I used to live. It wasn't a boring place, but it also wasn't so crime-ridden that the police were too busy to help with a case of stolen property. I think that's a good quality in a town!

I don't mean it in a bad way. It just seems like they would have more pressing issues to deal with. I didn't mean to imply safe = boring. Just that it is one or the other.

 

[lillygator]

hoping for an update soon.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Okay, sorry it took so long to update, DS is trying out for the school soccer team and that took most of the morning....

Here we go: I was right, it was my camera. The Detective went to the young man's house this morning. I was not aware at the time as we were at the soccer field. DD started getting phone calls from said boy. She ignored them. Finally I let her pick up her messages and the boy confessed to her and asked if she would please talk me out of pressing charges. He called a gazillion (okay I know it's not a word, but it felt like it) times this morning. When I got home the detective had left a message. I called him back. I had to confirm an additional serial number and he told me he had my camera. He didn't charge the boy yet and I have until tomorrow because..........


They have to keep my camera right now as there are pictures of another crime on the camera.


So you want to know how I found it.... MySpace. I checked every single myspace and facebook picture for each and every child that was at that party from April til this week. The goofball put this pic up as his myspace default....

Yep, that is my camera in the right hand side of the pic!

Now I can seriously say that youth of today are too absorbed in themselves.. Taking picture of themselves in mirrors... (my kids do this all the time also).

So there you have it. I will say that even though I said I would press charges, I am struggling as a parent giving the okay. I will probably have DH call and do it for me. DD is already feeling the pressure from this. Absolutely sucks as she did nothing wrong.

I am sure I will write more later about this but DS wants his laptop back. Please leave comments as I will need support and help with this. Thanks everyone.

 

[DizBelle]

I don't mean it in a bad way. It just seems like they would have more pressing issues to deal with. I didn't mean to imply safe = boring. Just that it is one or the other.

So, people can commit property crime because it "isn't as important" as other crimes? I didn't realize it was ok to break the law just because it as pressing as other laws being broken.

If it's a law, it should be enforced. If it isn't important enough to enforce, then why is it a law in the first place?

 

[lillygator]

They have to keep my camera right now as there are pictures of another crime on the camera.

goodness.....I'm so nosey. Did they tell you what it was?

 

[hegsag]

What a dope! I'm glad that you got your camera back (atleast out of that boys hands and soon into yours). He committed another crime & took pictures? I'm sorry but this boy needs help to save himself - press charges before his crimes get bigger and out of control because he was always let off the hook.

 

[dakcp2001]

DO NOT let yourself feel guilty and let this kid off the hook. You NEED to rpess charges! Teach this kid a lesson he clearly NEEDS to learn. Begging and calling to beg a gazillion times probably works on his parents, and look where that got him!

Press charges!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Forgot to mention, all comments are read and considered. Please don't get yourselves points over this. I really need the help in this and I do appreciate the comments for and against...

And just for the record, I live in a large suburban community to a very large city. I leave my doors open at night and the screen is locked. I feel a false sense of security that is probably very naive in this day and age. I felt violated even though it was just a camera....

And a nice shout out to the Detective who thought my camera was worth his time, it really did make a big impression on me and my kids.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Okay, sorry it took so long to update, DS is trying out for the school soccer team and that took most of the morning....

Here we go: I was right, it was my camera. The Detective went to the young man's house this morning. I was not aware at the time as we were at the soccer field. DD started getting phone calls from said boy. She ignored them. Finally I let her pick up her messages and the boy confessed to her and asked if she would please talk me out of pressing charges. He called a gazillion (okay I know it's not a word, but it felt like it) times this morning. When I got home the detective had left a message. I called him back. I had to confirm an additional serial number and he told me he had my camera. He didn't charge the boy yet and I have until tomorrow because..........


They have to keep my camera right now as there are pictures of another crime on the camera.


So you want to know how I found it.... MySpace. I checked every single myspace and facebook picture for each and every child that was at that party from April til this week. The goofball put this pic up as his myspace default....

Yep, that is my camera in the right hand side of the pic!

Now I can seriously say that youth of today are too absorbed in themselves.. Taking picture of themselves in mirrors... (my kids do this all the time also).

So there you have it. I will say that even though I said I would press charges, I am struggling as a parent giving the okay. I will probably have DH call and do it for me. DD is already feeling the pressure from this. Absolutely sucks as she did nothing wrong.

I am sure I will write more later about this but DS wants his laptop back. Please leave comments as I will need support and help with this. Thanks everyone.

Yowsa! Well, I guess it is in the hands of the law now with the added info of a CRIME on your camera.