why do cops steal laptops from the people they arrest?

Question

I am referring to more than a few incidents, and none happen to involve any type of computer crime. In all cases they were drug related, in 1 case their were no charges filed and STILL all property except for 2 laptops, was returned. Yes, it is recorded on property/evidence receipts.

indicia justifies why the computer would be taken as evidence. It does not explain why the computer was never returned when nothing indicating criminal activity was found.

Let me elaborate: my computer was in the back seat of my boyfriends car. He was pulled over and arrested. The arresting officer allowed him to call me during the arrest. He explained that it was my bag with the computer in the back seat & that it was important I have it for work. The officer (Rampart LAPD) gave me his word he would personally see that my computer and other contents ofmy bag were returned to me. He claimed to have made it his personal responsibility and told me to pick it up the following day. I believed the reason the computer was not on the property or evidence reciepts was because he took it to his office.I went to pick it up as directed and he was not there. I called 3 days later and he told me it was accidentally taken from his office top Van Nuys were the Auto Detectives were, and he...

he told me the name of the officer to get the computer from. I called this detective. he told me he had reason to believe that my computer had something on it that "shouldnt be there". I understood and did not argue when he told me to call back the following week. I called back. He told me they still were not through checking the dard drive for crime. I backed off and didn't call anymore and then just around the time my boyfriend was sentenced I recieved a call to come pick up his property. I picked up a car load full of my boyfriends belongings. My compjer was not included with these items. I asked the same detective who had informed me my compu was being investigated for check fraud about my mising computer and he told me he didn't recall seeing a laptop and asked if I had a receipt proving that my compuputer had even been held as evidence at all. Then he told me to check the car dealership, that maybe it had ended up there when the car was towed back.

that is 1 incident...

he told me the name of the officer to get the computer from. I called this detective. he told me he had reason to believe that my computer had something on it that "shouldnt be there". I understood and did not argue when he told me to call back the following week. I called back. He told me they still were not through checking the dard drive for crime. I backed off and didn't call anymore and then just around the time my boyfriend was sentenced I recieved a call to come pick up his property. I picked up a car load full of my boyfriends belongings. My compjer was not included with these items. I asked the same detective who had informed me my compu was being investigated for check fraud about my mising computer and he told me he didn't recall seeing a laptop and asked if I had a receipt proving that my compuputer had even been held as evidence at all. Then he told me to check the car dealership, that maybe it had ended up there when the car was towed back.

that is 1 incident...

Answer 1

First of all, What I do not understand is that if anyone needs help (Either that: their family member or friend was shot, stabbed, killed, raped, kidnapped, or missing even dismembered.....Who are the first people you call??? Humm let's see maybe 911 !) And yes not all police officers are stand up citizens but honestly are there any bankers, cashiers, bus drivers, teachers ect....Are stand-up citizens? Answer to that is NO. And another thing you cannot judge the actions of a few and cast stones on all. Back to your original question....If you "actually" have a receipt showing that you have a laptop then what you do is take that down to the address on the receipt or if not to the station to get your belongings. Now if it is not on the receipts then shame on you for not checking your papers sooner (Do you ever walk away from a cashier without looking at your receipt and counting your money first....) Well it is the same deal here too. Another thing, it is all about common sense here, if there is a problem in my opinion ask yahoo should be the last place you should go. First go directly to the police station and handle the problem. Once you truely need the police and realize that thanks to them they found your missing loved one or solved the murder of your loved one or even put some sick jerk behind bars and thanks to them your kids can walk the block and ride their bikes with ease. You will be amazed how much stuff goes on in the world and you don't even realize it because the media limits and controls what we view. I am an nurse and I see so much on a daily basis that I stay amazed..........Good Luck with all your ventures !!

Answer 2

because cops are in it to make their ***** feel bigger and for the come up. copsll take anything they can get their hands on, i know a cop thatll back off and talk down the other cops if you slip him some dope. then there was the two cops that detained a friend of mine and confiscated his quad of ish and quad of coke, and gave him a ticket to appear in court which turned out to not even be a real ticket, cuz he failed to appear and there was no warrant put out. and as for the make their ***** feel bigger, next time you see someone thats been rolled, look at how the cop is standing.

if you don't think the majority of police are dirty, you need to take a good look at what's going on around us. like the guy below me said, protect and serve is gone. when was the last time a cop served you? just because they come when you call doesn't mean they're serving you, that's their job, if they don't show up they get fired. i ran out of gas right in front of the police station, and all they did was tell me i was ****** because the nearest gas station was 2 miles away. 40 years ago they wouldve given me a lift, or maybe even half a gallon of gas to get there. they just don't care. war on drugs. every cop knows that war is over, and drugs one. but they don't say that, because the more you scare people over it, the more money you can get to flow in.

and public schools? my ***. half the people leaving there can barely read. i dropped out at 15 to be a meth and opiate addict, i got sober on my own will, and your brain will still never work anywhere near the level mine does.

Answer 3

Drug dealing criminals in today's world use the computer as a tool for their business, much like the way legal businesses use them. Instead of saving information on a paper, they will enter their data into a computer. They save information like contacts, addresses, drop-off points, pick-ups points, etc. The bigger dealers have a lot of information to remember.

Answer 4

because we have this screwed up system that never questions a cop or his motive, our local law enforcement stole a cell phone from my brother, thier logic is well, they bought it with drug money, ok fine, YOU STOLE IT Mr. Law Enforcement officer, its one thing to be a criminal, but when the cops are criminals, doing the same thing they arrest people for, this system needs overhauled. And thier logic is...Well they could get information from a laptop or a cell phone that might lead to something bigger and a big step up in thier career. Sorry for the bad luck but as long as the system allows it to happen, it won't get better.

Answer 5

Great answers everybody, all ya'll ought to gft 10 points.
Cops are cowards that are to lazey to get a real job.The reason they steal laptops is because they can.When a theift walks up to you wearing a gun,a club, a can of mace,and a raido to call the rest of his gang, he can still what ever he wants.And you caint do a damm thing about it.From the president of the good ole U.S.A. to the mayor of your fair town is corruption.The law makers sit around thinking up laws to get money from the working man.It is the pigs job to attack the working man to fine him and get all the money they possibly can.They get paid a pay check to issue as much missery as they can.The laptops ,the drugs,the weapons are like a bonus that they are able to keep for themselves,and you caint do nothing about it.

....and justice for all.

Answer 6

usually because they can. they will also take confiscated dope, money, and anything else they can. to protect and serve left us a long time ago. they have quotas, their job is to issue citations and to put as many people in jail that they can. its all a money thing. our whole judicial system is corrupt. i cant believe im saying this, but in a way, i feel sorry for the cops because in order to keep their jobs they have to do things that they probably wouldnt do otherwise. 2 of my best friends were cops, and they let me in on some of the stuff that goes on. i hope i do piss off people in this catagory. time to wake up and arrest the real crimminals and leave the rest of us alone.

Answer 7

If its an apple product take it to a apple retailer. You would get all of your stuff again due to the fact that they again the whole thing in there method. As for the urgent costs you will have spoken to the officer so he would make a declare

Answer 8

I think you might want to back up that question with some real facts or risk ticking off a lot of people in this category.

Answer 9

Legally they can't unless the computer was used to document or commit crimes.

Answer 10

Because most mutants keep evidence of their lawbreaking on their computers.