If someone steals money from an unlocked drawer is that a crime?

Question

I stay in a dorm. I have a roommate, I do not know him. We have seperate rooms, almost like an apartment but no doors leading into the bedrooms.

One day I had gone out to class for most of the morning and when I came back, there were these bunch of guys in the joint room, basically a living room. i had never met them before but they say my roommate let them in. When I went to go talk to my roommate he wasn't in the dorm. I didn't really have time to ask them who they are and all that because I was already late for another class. But when I came back from finishing my last class I had gone to my room to get some money out my drawer and found nothing in it.


Is this a crime? Is there anything I can do about it.
Another thing, later during the day i found out there names.

Answer 1

If it wasn't theirs & they opened a drawer that wasn't theirs to find it, it is a crime. Never leave anything you value unlocked. It was an expensive lesson, & hopefully one learned. I hope you can get it back, but you probably won't.

Answer 2

If it doesn't belong to you, it is stealing plain and simple! So yes, a crime was committed. However some universities consider it a crime if the theft falls into a specific dollar amount and will take a report.

Talk to the person in charge of your dorm. It is your word against theirs and since your room mate let them in and left them there then I am not sure what your options are. Just keep everything under lock and key from now on and don't trust anyone.

Answer 3

Yes, taking anything that isn't yours is a crime. But this definitely is a theft because your money was left in YOUR drawer in YOUR dorm room. Doesn't matter if it was locked or unlocked.

You should report the theft immediately and give names. No one may admit to it, but it needs to go on record as a theft. Also, it will deter those people from stealing your stuff again if left in your dorm room in the future.

Answer 4

it is a crime. Unfortunately, based on what you said, you have no proof that they stole your money or that you even had money there to begin with. I would confront your roommate about the issue and in the time being, try getting a safe that bolts to the ground. I believe that small ones cost about one hundred dollars

Answer 5

Stealing money is a crime, but proving that any one of those individuals did it is another matter and might be impossible.
Don't leave money in an unlocked drawer where strangers can get to it.

Answer 6

stealing is a crime, period. it is a crime against morality.if there is a community fund, that can be unilaterally withdrawn from, then it is incumbant on all members of the fund, to record date, and amount withdrawn, then to re-contribute, when able.
can you prosecute it? not without evidence. the very best way to gather evidence in this sort of circumstance, is by camera. if you have a webcam on your p.c., then run a search for free downloadable drivers, that will allow you to monitor an area from your p.c. with anonimity

Answer 7

You could report it, but I don't think it will do any good. Unless you have proof of it, or can say they broke into your room without your roomates permission then you might be able to file a charge. But word of advice from now on. Don't leave your money sitting in an unlocked box. In fact either keep it on you or in a bank.

Answer 8

Yes, it's a crime. But can you prove who did it? The only thing you can do is confront them with the acusation unless you can prove that a certain person did it. Chalk it up to experience and get a box that locks and keep it hidden.

Answer 9

Yes, it's a crime. Report this to your RA immediately. I would also check into changing roommates. Good luck!

Answer 10

All theft are crime, even if the drawer was open!

Guilty as said, 5 to life