The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
Missing Backpack
Penguin_Otaku
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So yesterday right around 5 When I was going to my friend's place I noticed my backpack missing. It contained a few things but most importantly my MacBook pro that I use to freelance and make extra money with as well as for school work.
I was just able to call my school and check the building's lost and found to no avail.
I've traced my steps back to my friends' places over the day and it's not there.
I have no idea where it went. The apartment was locked when I left at any point.
Here's the other thing. I've complained plenty about a sketchy fellow that lives with me to my apartment complex. Him and his suitemate are just odd people. One the other day complained about not having enough money for rent this month... Though not the one that's normally flighty.
Just yesterday I went to my apartment complex and talked to the manager directly about my issues with my roommate stealing little things (kitchen things) and that I feared it would be something bigger next.
So here I am. I'm not sure what to do. Do I call the police and report it missing or stolen? I'd hate for it to turn up and some point after I accuse these assholes of stealing it.
I was just able to call my school and check the building's lost and found to no avail.
I've traced my steps back to my friends' places over the day and it's not there.
I have no idea where it went. The apartment was locked when I left at any point.
Here's the other thing. I've complained plenty about a sketchy fellow that lives with me to my apartment complex. Him and his suitemate are just odd people. One the other day complained about not having enough money for rent this month... Though not the one that's normally flighty.
Just yesterday I went to my apartment complex and talked to the manager directly about my issues with my roommate stealing little things (kitchen things) and that I feared it would be something bigger next.
So here I am. I'm not sure what to do. Do I call the police and report it missing or stolen? I'd hate for it to turn up and some point after I accuse these assholes of stealing it.
Penguin_Otaku on
0
Posts
Also why do you live with people you find sketchy? School apartments? Do you have renter's insurance (if you don't, get some now in case this happens in the future).
If this is a dorm-esque apartment with other suite-mates, you can usually claim this shit against your parent's homeowners/renters policies (check).
Get a new lock, too. To file with your insurance(s) you'll probably need a police report so it doesn't hurt to call their non-emergency line.
I'm not sure if this would be covered under renters insurance since there's no proof that they stole it and you didn't just loose it somewhere. It would be your word agaisnt theirs. You might be SOL.
Also, your renters insurance should cover this. Do you have renters insurance?
What? To file a claim insurance just needs a police report number. Have you filed a police report?
Also, yes I have renters but just started the policy this week (thankfully) but am unsure how that will look.
Why is it the complex's responsibility? Are you all on seperate leases and in seperate units, or are you sharing a suite?
If the answer is no, it's stolen. Or may as well be. Anything else that was with it make note of. Bag, pens, blue tooth stuff, chargers, whatever. Make sure to include that in the renters/home owners claim. Many home owners insurances do cover college dorms/apartments as well. I'm assuming you're not paying out of pocket to rent but it's being taken care of by your school? That would explain why you've been hodgepodged into a suite with people you don't know.
That's why you have it. If they raise a concern about it that's why you got the police report.
Do you have a receipt for the macbook? Did you order it on a credit card (or did your parents?) The credit card offers theft insurance on stuff too (usually), so another avenue you may want to consider.
Separate, but it's a trail of him doing it before.
I'm still confused. Is this like student housing where you have a central communal space and bedrooms that lock?
And you DEFINITELY brought your backpack home with you?
Talk to student housing and move out. Also, don't leave expensive things in communal areas anymore, especially when you think your roommates are stealing things from you already. Strangers are strangers.
Have you checked Craigslist and local pawn shops?
e: Also, screw the Sooners...Hook 'em baby! (I went to UT :P)
File a police report now, because I'm sure time is ticking for insurance purposes.
His story was really sporadic and didn't make sense, cop saw it. He kept offering him the chance to just give me the laptop back and that would be that. Kept denying having anything to do with it.
Anyway, cop tells me he thinks my roommate is full of shit but has nothing else to go on.
So I left and went to clear my head, came back to the apartment and there is my backpack with my laptop in there, unharmed.
I'm thankful to say the least, but I want this guy out of here. It's been too much of a stress living with this asshole.
Is this enough to implicate him and get him out? The apartment complex has said that they can't do anything without a police report.
Well here's the police report with him as the suspect, but now that it's shown up (thankfully) there's nothing really linking him to it...
The CSI-watcher in me wants to say they can just dust it for prints, but I don't know how viable that is. The pack probably not. The laptop? That should be full of prints. Doesn't sound like your roommate is smart enough to avoid it.
Yes, moving will be a hassle. No, you didn't do anything wrong. But seriously, staying there on principal is just stupid. Pack your shit and have them find you a new space.
Definitely call the officer back and explain how the laptop just magically turned up after the police were involved. Also, take the police report and final details to the apartment management. If this is school approved housing, go to your schools housing authority (usually part of the enrollment office) and talk to them as well. Worst case, they can quickly find you new housing.
Do what those fellas have said.
But do everything you can to either get him out, or leave yourself.
It has nothing to do with a conscience. He was afraid the cops would come back with a warrant to search his room, maybe. Probably wasn't going to happen, but this goose got spooked when the cops showed up. That doesn't mean he has a conscience.
Know how I can tell? He stole his roommate's laptop.
I agree with this, the only reason it was returned is because the guy went 'oh shit the cop totally thinks i did it'. Its ridiculous that someone can nonchalantly take someones backpack containing their computer and not think anything of it until he is questioned by a cop, what do you think is going to happen!?
I think that right there is enough proof that you can tell your landlord you need to move or get him kicked out of the building. Although personally I would want to move so that douchebag doesn't know where I live
Lets put it this way, you cant 'borrow' things from people and return them later without permission. I cant just go to a random parking lot, jack a car drive it around for 3 days, then 'return' it to the parking spot as if it never moved. Thats still theft. A cop picking him up, putting him in a squad car, and taking him over to the police station, questioning him for 2 hours will probably elicit a confession. You know he did it, the cop knows he did it, its just a matter of getting proof that would work infront of a jury if the guy decides to contest the charge.
Consider it kinda like a locked room problem. During the time you left the house, did you lock it? Did anyone else enter? No? So he was the only one in the house when the laptop reappared? Really? Well duh. So some random guy that stole your laptop, broke back into your house to return it?
On the other hand, if you do press charges, the police will probably want your laptop for evidence for a while so you would have to be prepared to go without it for a while.
Can't say how thankful I am, thank you guys. Not sure why my first response wasn't to call the cops.
I'm definitely taking the police report to the apartment complex to hopefully get out of my lease so I can get the hell out of here, or in the least get him the fuck out.