Is this really stealing or a District Attorney run amuck?
923795
If we're talking about random hairs that have fallen into the suitcase, I'd say he's just cleaning.  He has a reason to open the bag and the hair is just there by accident - he's just cleaning it out for them.  So what if he "throws them away" in a box in his bedroom at home?\n\nSure, it's weird, but seriously, stealing?  I don't think so.
1098220
Sure they can.  The question is will they?\nAttorneys are bound by a code of ethics and stealing surely is outside what is allowed.\nGenerally, for a settlement to be completed, you will have to sign off on the settlement agreement, and what is often called a "Mutual and general release".  This is a document that states that the claim has been resolved or satisfied and that you no longer have any cause of action regarding this matter or against that party. The terms of the settlement are usually set out clearly in this document. \nAny funds recieved on your behalf by an attorney should be deposited in an escrow account and the attorney needs your permission to withdraw those funds to pay himself and you.\nIf you believe the attorney has stolen your money, contact the local bar association and file a grievance.  Attorneys get disbarred for stealing clients money.\nNote, however, the attorney is entitled to be paid for his services.  What was your agreement with the attorney?
430752
could be obstruction of justice\ncoulde be filing a false report\ncould be larceny
243457
easy, don't eat pacer leads!\n\nbut to be serious, maybe u should get the staff to sign out for the stuff they take, then if a big amount of stuff goes missing then u well call a meeting about the theft.
99352
UMMMMMMMMMMMM theft of merchandise
915419
I would listen to the D.A in this case. Unless there is absolutley NO proof or enough evidence, I'd say the DA knows what they are talking about. Bless your heart and I hope everything works out for you.
928671
CONTACT ATTORNEY AND DA.
377139
it's not fraud.  fraud requires deception and there was none here.  there was simply a lack of notification.\n\nthat is improper service and the statute of limitations depends on the state you live in.  get a lawyer and get your property back.  the alternative is to recover the value of the property.  either way, this is probably too complex for a non-attorney to handle on his/her own.
459384
Stealing and getting caught.
17772
It depends on the state, but it is usually a misdemeanor.  I've included a couple of definition links below.\n\nEDIT: I see the previous poster has taken a fancy to copying my links....
168477
Possesion of stolen property.
502496
No, that's unethical and illegal, and not correct law enforcement practice.  Take it up with a superior at your local police station and make them pay for it.  This is why I don't think much of cops...they always seem to want to abuse their power...
584642
Check with your County Attorney.
1123713
you should call the cops and tell them that you had some stuff stolen from your property they may or may not do something about it....
959402
As a police officer, I would appreciate you going the extra mile and giving me the phone numbers the thief has been calling.  I would then try to track down the bad guy.  (I've actually dealt with a situation exactly like yours... except it was the first time stolen. I recovered the phone and charged the bad guy with theft... and recovered a stolen car from his driveway).  The problem with your situation is if you get a cop that is lazy (and there are many of those!) he/she is just going to take a report and either toss the numbers you gave him or throw them into evidence... and most likely it will never be followed up on.  My advise is to still call the police and file a report, give the cop the info you acquired and ask the officer if he/she is able to call a few of those numbers and try to track down the bad guy.  Then, I would either buy a used phone and save your insurance... or use your insurance even though they are going to cut you off - and then be VERY vigilant about keeping an eye on your new phone.
971667
tell his wife to go to talk to the district attorney, or give her the person's job address.\n\nok
1138885
In answering your question I have to address two distinct legal ramifications (1) criminal (2) civil. Your question appears to call for a criminal asnwer b/c you ask if it is "unlawful" breaking the law IE: committing a crime, but you later refer to "small claims court" which is civil. Where do your interest most lie? In the criminal or civil arena.\n\nIf you can prove who the culprit is there could be a criminal case for a crime such a vandelism, destruction of property etc. I doubt that theft would fly. The conduct described would require something else it is too far of a stretch, more of a leap from vandelism to theft. To charge someone with the crime of theft they state must be able to prove certain elements beyond a reasonable doubt (the highest burden in our country)\n\nThe elements differ in each state so you would have to look at your state's criminal code, (revised statutues) Common elements are:\n(1) the person\n(2)took something of value\n here you have to be able to prove the actual value , of the paper (not of its potential earning capacity as a marketing and advertising tool) the value is what determines the grade or level of the theft, whether it is a misdemeanor or felony\n(3) Belonging to another\n(4)without authorization\n(5) with the INTENT to permanently deprive the owner\nYou have to be able to prove each element Beyond a reasonable doubt, not just a few. SO even if you have concrete evidence s in your example a photogram (and that is assuming your photograph would ever be permitted into court as evidence b/c the rules of evidence are another whole story, but each piecce of physical evidence has to be authenticated, proven to be that is what it purports to be. When you have a photograph and it is taken by a police officer during a criminal investigation, then during a motion to supress the evidence (which you can always count on the defense attorney to fiel in an effort to exclude any evidence that is prejudicial to his client. in the above example the polioce officer would be able to testify at the hearing as to the authenticity of the photo. He would be able to say that he toook the photo on such and such day, that there was nothing obstructing his view when he took it, that the camera was functioning properly , it was checked for any date or imaging error s prior to its use and the results of that test were logged and he of course has that log with him in court. And yes he is trained in the field of taking photographs at night or whenever it was at that partivuliar angle and so on and. so on... No it was not raining that day, here I have my notes it was a bright sunny day etc. \n"officer what day was the photo taken?"\n"Feb 10, 2006\n"and today is June 21st?""yes"\nwhere has that photo been between Feb and now how do we know that it has not been tampered with or altered in any way. "b/c as soon as I took the photo on my digital camera I printed it in the presence of oficers a & B, then I I initialed the back of it and dated it, placed it in an acid free phot safe protective sealed bag, put a tag on the bag and again initialed the bag. the bag was then sealed with this red label that cannot be removed w/o a knife. It was then transported the the evidence room and here is a copy of the evidence log showing where i truned i over to sgr. smith a t1.22 p.m, and it has not been checked out for any reason until today, where the log shows that the state and i checked it out for court and the balif escorted us to court with it. \nso it is physically impossible that the photo has ever been in anypne's hands but your, yes ! yada yada yada\nCop then takes out knife breaks seal in open court, i.d the photo, then the d.a. ask him "is theis photo in the same or exact condition it was in when you toook it?\nok, does this phot accuratel and faily depict the the image that you took on Fef....\n\nso assuming you can prove all of the other stuff lets