My wife's purse was stolen and her credit cards used at several places across town in a pathetic spending spree of gas and cigarettes. When we met the cops at one of the stores and arranged to view the video evidence, the cops and manager just went off alone leaving us standing there like idiots. When they came back the cops gave us a full description. So why couldn't we have just watched it? I live in California.
2006-11-08 19:03:48 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
The simplest reason is that the store did not want to allow you back there to view it. This may have been as someone else mentioned about not wanting to reveal location/information about their surveillance system.
Or it could have been because many companies have a police to limit liability that only allows any information on customers (including video of them in the store) only to be released to the police, and only under certain conditions, such as allowing the officer to view it in store, but not releasing a copy to the police without a subpoena.
Also, most businesses have a strict policy that only employees are allowed in certain areas, with exceptions made for police/fire/paramedics under circumstances that require their assistance.
While you may feel it is your right to examine all the evidence, it's not really. The police gather the evidence and examine it, then present it to the prosecutors, who also examine it. During discovery, the prosecution releases photographs, records, copies, etc., of the evidence to the defense attorney. Those are the only people who are involved in examining the evidence in a criminal case.
But, if you get with the detective investigating this, and talk to them about it, it's possible that he/she may allow you to come in to view the tape. Whether or not they allow you to do so is entirely up to their discretion, though.
All in all, my guess would be that you not being allowed to view the video at the business was due more to the business' policies than anything else.
2006-11-09 08:26:22 · answer #1 · answered by RJ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
File a case in court so that the store owners will be forced to present the video footages for you to use a evidence. The court will order the store owners to show the footages.
2006-11-08 19:58:13 · answer #2 · answered by FRAGINAL, JTM 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The store probably doesnt want to divulge info about its security system. Such as camera angles, clarity, ect.
2006-11-09 01:27:38 · answer #3 · answered by Rob 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Maybe they thought that if you recognized the perpetrators that you'd take revenge (do something violent, maybe).
Then they'd get fired, sued,.... whatever....
2006-11-08 19:07:18 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The haters like to feel superior, and don't want anyone interfering with the good deeds they do all day.
2006-11-08 19:13:33 · answer #5 · answered by bezsenný 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋
I see no legal reason, & one stupid reason . They should have let you watch the tape, just in case you recognized the crook. Dumb, dumb, dumb on their part.
2006-11-08 19:09:43 · answer #6 · answered by bob h 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋
cops are numnuts- you have a right to view it
2006-11-08 20:25:09 · answer #7 · answered by theWord 5 · 0⤊ 5⤋