cadillaclimo
Member
What is the name of your state? PA
My husband runs a small music store, which buys & sells used music equipment. He makes anyone selling stuff provide a driver's license, fill out and sign a form, etc.
Once in a while, dispite the form, he will find out that he's unknowingly purchased a stolen item, and will immediately notify police, etc.
There seems to be confusion, though, with police, on proper procedure on the item & my husband's money. A PA State policeman told my husband that if the (rightful) owner wants the item back, he/she has to reimburse the money paid to my husband....then press charges against the guilty party. In this case, my husband gets his money right away, and the case is between the rightful owner & theif.
But our local city police dept said this isn't correct, and they take the item into custody....usually my husband never recieves any reimbursement for the money he paid. (The majority of the time, the people involved know each other and never end up pressing charges, etc). But the local police claim that if he refuses to give them the item, he could be charged with recieving stolen goods.
Fortunately, this doesn't happen often, but we are not rich by any means, and cannot afford to lose this money. Can somebody please clear this up.....what is the correct procedure?
My husband runs a small music store, which buys & sells used music equipment. He makes anyone selling stuff provide a driver's license, fill out and sign a form, etc.
Once in a while, dispite the form, he will find out that he's unknowingly purchased a stolen item, and will immediately notify police, etc.
There seems to be confusion, though, with police, on proper procedure on the item & my husband's money. A PA State policeman told my husband that if the (rightful) owner wants the item back, he/she has to reimburse the money paid to my husband....then press charges against the guilty party. In this case, my husband gets his money right away, and the case is between the rightful owner & theif.
But our local city police dept said this isn't correct, and they take the item into custody....usually my husband never recieves any reimbursement for the money he paid. (The majority of the time, the people involved know each other and never end up pressing charges, etc). But the local police claim that if he refuses to give them the item, he could be charged with recieving stolen goods.
Fortunately, this doesn't happen often, but we are not rich by any means, and cannot afford to lose this money. Can somebody please clear this up.....what is the correct procedure?