Thieves Stole My Plants, cops found them, won't give them back.

[greenthmb]

Today thieves stole my beautiful plants. To make a long story short (if you want the long story, read my post under Outdoor Growing section, and read "Thieves Ripped me off, my crazy story."), I am legit, so I called the police, who ended up finding them, but now they refuse to give them back because they say it is evidence, AND they can't prove it was mine.

My question is: I can prove they were mine because of the same brown string tied around them as on my fence where the plants were located. And, if I am legit, I have a medical license, can they really keep my medicine?!?!?

If anyone knows the law regarding medicine and evidence, and whether or not they can really keep it, let me know.

greenthmb Reviewed by greenthmb on 09-20-2010. Thieves Stole My Plants, cops found them, won't give them back. Today thieves stole my beautiful plants. To make a long story short (if you want the long story, read my post under Outdoor Growing section, and read "Thieves Ripped me off, my crazy story."), I am legit, so I called the police, who ended up finding them, but now they refuse to give them back because they say it is evidence, AND they can't prove it was mine. My question is: I can prove they were mine because of the same brown string tied around them as on my fence where the plants were Rating: 5

[mdlforkfarms]

1t.

[Iceberg420]

what douchebags, go indoor... pigs are pigs

[drumbum420]

more information is needed. what state are you in for starters? What county? What is the local prosecutors take on this as well as the sherrifs? What are they saying as a reason not to give them back?

Basically if they are against medicinal cannabis you wont see them alive ever again. Eventually after thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours you may get their remains back but itll probably be useless by then. ut you could always sue them for loss of you medicine at that point.

If they truly agree with medicianl cannabis you may face a very small chance youll get them back.

[greenthmb]

I am in Northern California. They law is pretty liberal here when it comes to pot, they didn't even want to see my license and prescription when they came for the crime.
They say that although they know by circumstantial evidence that they are mine, they stated that "marijuana plants don't come with serial numbers for us to identify them." Bullshit. Also, the kids that stole the plants wrecked a stolen car while in a high speed chase, and the plants were found in the trunk. They are calling them evidence. A picture is worth a thousand words, and I'm calling it my medication.
I have pictures of the plants from the same day they were stolen. And again, the brown string I tied to them were on the plants when they were found, and the other half still attached to my fence after they were stolen.
I am so frustrated because the kids aren't even going to be charged with the crime of stealing them, or even possessing them... They are only being charged with GTA, evading the police, etc. So they basically get off clean for stealing my plants... Pisses me off.

[bikeTripper]

I am in Northern California. They law is pretty liberal here when it comes to pot, they didn't even want to see my license and prescription when they came for the crime.
They say that although they know by circumstantial evidence that they are mine, they stated that "marijuana plants don't come with serial numbers for us to identify them." Bullshit. Also, the kids that stole the plants wrecked a stolen car while in a high speed chase, and the plants were found in the trunk. They are calling them evidence. A picture is worth a thousand words, and I'm calling it my medication.
I have pictures of the plants from the same day they were stolen. And again, the brown string I tied to them were on the plants when they were found, and the other half still attached to my fence after they were stolen.
I am so frustrated because the kids aren't even going to be charged with the crime of stealing them, or even possessing them... They are only being charged with GTA, evading the police, etc. So they basically get off clean for stealing my plants... Pisses me off.

If you get no satisfaction from the police then find a good lawyer and see if you can file a civil suit against the kids and their parents to recover the monetary value of the plants. I am pretty sure the burden of proof is less in a civil case than in a criminal one (such as with OJs not guilt verdict in criminal court, but guilty in the civil case that followed).

Or if the amount is under a couple of thousand dollars (not sure of the exact amount, and it may vary from state to state) you can take them to small claims court yourself without a lawyer.

Since it is a legal product I'll bet you have a good claim to recovery of your loss, same as if they stole any other item of value.

Sue the little bastards, you maybe even set a legal precedent in the process.

[poptartjake]

If you get no satisfaction from the police then find a good lawyer and see if you can file a civil suit against the kids and their parents to recover the monetary value of the plants. I am pretty sure the burden of proof is less in a civil case than in a criminal one (such as with OJs not guilt verdict in criminal court, but guilty in the civil case that followed).

Or if the amount is under a couple of thousand dollars (not sure of the exact amount, and it may vary from state to state) you can take them to small claims court yourself without a lawyer.

Since it is a legal product I'll bet you have a good claim to recovery of your loss, same as if they stole any other item of value.

Sue the little bastards, you maybe even set a legal precedent in the process.

I agree with this^^^ Due to you have all the correct legal information to own the plants, I would assume they should be treated as any other stolen possion.(Besides the cops being fat pigs) Also, how far along were they? I ask because if they were flowering/all ready flowered they would have a certain amount of pot on them, thus increasing your value. How many plants were there? If they took more than $1000 worth of your plants then I would definitely go after their ass for another Grand Theft charge or go after their parents.

The way I see it your completely in the right here, although due to it still being bud plants, cops/law officials will often still look the other way. BTW on a side note; I would maybe consider putting a serial number on the inside/bottom of the plants along with a matching serial number and picture of said plant on your computer/wall. (I'd personally go with a hard copy of the pictures due to the piggies probably insinuating that you edited the pictures on your comp.) Good luck! Hope you catch them!

[Graywolf]

Local LEO's play their little games, but Americans for Safe Access stuffed it up the California HP's lower tract in the Supreme Court, requiring them to not only return all the legal property seized from patients, but pay close to a million dollars in legal fees! Sorry CA taxpayers!

Might I suggest that you contact ASA and describe your local problem to them. Perhaps they may just have the power driven enema required to get the local LEO's arrogant attention.

Good luck bro!