can u get arrested for recieving stolen goods if you did not know they were stolen in the first place?

Answer 1

Yes it is called reset. You should always be able to explain where goods come from. Falling off the back of a lorry won't do.

Answer 2

Yes you can and will get arrested for receiving stolen merchandise.... Only way out is to get a bill of sale..
Law enforcement does not look at it like any-other way ..Stolen is stolen even if you had no knowledge of it being stolen...

Answer 3

first, you would probably have gotten more helpful answers had you written this question in the "law and ethics" section. you may want to ask again (the lawyers hang out there :)

depends on how u received the goods. and if you "should you have known" they were stolen. but most crimes require intent. being in possession of stolen property, is different than actually stealing it. contrary what most are saying, having no knowlege is a defense of being in "possession." BUT once you obtain knowledge (which you obviously have), then yes, it's a crime. you must turn it in.

a basic example. you go to the grocery store, ring your groceries, go to the car, then realize that a case of water is at the bottom of the cart. you totally forgot and did not mean to steal it. at this point, no crime. b/c you had no intent to steal. then you put the water in your car and leave. that's whaen you commit the crime. unrealistic, but the law.

Answer 4

Yes you can and a lot of people do. The only defense you would have against it would be if you purchased the stolen goods in a transaction that you had no idea was illegal.

For instance, if you purchased the stuff at a store that you believed to be a legitimate business, got a receipt, etc. then you may have a defense.

Answer 5

Not if you contact the police first. If you know you have stolen merchandise in your possession...and you don't say anything about it....you'll be charged as an accessory-after-the-fact and be considered guilty.

Let someone in authority know and be cooperative to give them any information they need. You won't be held accountable in that situation.

And if there are any misigivings about "squealing" against the person who gave you the stolen goods, betraying a friend's trust (etc)...then consider this: They didn't think enough about you to care whether you got in trouble or not, and they didn't respect your friendship enough to be honest in the first place. Don't put your neck out for someone who's ready to hang you out to dry.....

Answer 6

If you purchased then "in good faith" you cannot be charged with receiving stolen goods. "In good faith" means you purchased it for a reasonable price, believed that you were buying from the person that owned the property, in circumstances that would not arouse suspicion in the mind of the reasonable person. However, once the item is identified as stolen, you have no claim of ownership on it.

Answer 7

The law doesn't make that distinction. Stolen is stolen whether you knew it or not. How can you prove you didn't know they were stolen?

Answer 8

If you didn't know they were stolen then it's up to you to prove to the police that you didn't.

But however, if you now know that they are stolen and the stolen item(s) are still in your possesion you are committing an offence.

In possesion of stolen goods.

Hand the item(s) back in.

Answer 9

Legally the law sees the ownership of the goods being with the first rightfull owner, that would not be you as you obtained the goods without having the right to buy them, aswell as the the seller not being the rightful person to sell them on.

Answer 10

Afraid so. The burden of proof rests on you to prove beyond all reasonable doubt that you believed them not to be stolen.