Can you get in trouble for buying property that was stolen by another?

• A. No
• B. Only if you knew at the time
• C. Only if you were in possession for more than 30 days
• D. Yes

Answer: (D)

Buying property that was stolen can lead to criminal liability because receiving or possessing stolen property is itself an offense. The law often punishes someone for acquiring stolen goods, even if they didn’t commit the initial theft or know it was stolen at the time of purchase. This discourages participation in theft by penalizing those who end up with stolen items, whether through knowledge or through a failure to exercise reasonable care to verify ownership. For example, if you buy a laptop from a street seller and it is later proven stolen, you could face charges for possessing or receiving stolen property, depending on the jurisdiction and your actions. A common defense is showing you believed the goods were legitimately obtained or took reasonable steps to verify ownership, but the general rule remains that you can get in trouble for buying stolen property.