Someone broke in into my apartment and my roommate suspects me ?

2 views 4 answers
My apartment was broken in and they took my roommate's cash and nothing else. I live with my girlfriend and I have lost the key but on that same day I decided to drop by during lunch and try to get a nap outside of my apartment in the staircase. We called the police and they checked the camera and they saw me going in and out( Before going inside my building there is a locked door that requires key and before that door there is another one that remains unlocked. I sat down there in between because I didnt want to sleep outside to the public's eye). My roommate is doubting me. Even though I am innocent can the police arrest me just because my roommate told the police he thinks I did it ? Don't they need a solid evidence of someone actually stealing to make conviction ?

Attorney Answers

4
Joseph A Lo PiccoloCriminal Defense AttorneyGarden City, NY ·
They need evidence. How solid it is depends on the evaluator. Make no further statements to ANYONE about this and consider hiring an attorney asap! Joseph A. Lo Piccolo, Esq. Immediate Past President, Criminal Courts Bar Association 11'-12' Hession Bekoff & Lo Piccolo 1103 Stewart Ave, Suite 200 Garden City, NY 11530 516-408-3666 (o) / 516-408-3833 (f) [email protected]
0 upvotes
Benjamin Lieberman ·
They dont need solid evidence - just probable cause but just because someone thinks you did it wouldn’t be enough.
0 upvotes
Jay K GoldbergCriminal Defense AttorneyNew York, NY ·
There is a difference between the roommate saying he thinks you did it and you did it. Because you live in the apartment, there is no evidentiary value in your being there. If there was no forced entry, and no one was in the apartment other than you and the roommate, and his property went missing, that might be enough to warrant an arrest. Do not speak with the police without first speaking to a lawyer.
0 upvotes
Eric Rothstein ·
The police need probable cause to arrest you. The surveillance puts you at the scene so that is bad. Don't make any statements to the police without a lawyer present.
0 upvotes