5 days before an evicted tenant was ordered by the court to vacate his apartment, I got a call from a neighbor, telling me the tenant was moving the refrigerator, washer/dryer, and a chandelier etc. (all of which I had provided with the apartment - but were not noted in the lease) into his friend's truck.

By the time I got to the scene, they were gone, and I called the police. Frankly, as soon as I told the police about the issue, the much too casually stated that because the missing items had not been in a security deposit, the whole issue was a 'civil matter" and not under their jurisdiction."

Accordingly, I am hoping someone out there can give me some advice on this issue.

Thank you

Anywhere else that is theft. Landlords are the bottom of the barrel as far as lawmakers are concerned.

Mary, I am sorry to tell you that even if these appliances and light fixture were fully itemized in the Lease, with make, model, serial number and photos, the police would still assert "this is a civil matter" and would do nothing. It is a fact of life for landlords.

You can sue the former tenant for his theft of the appliances. In a civil context, the tenant's taking your property is called "conversion."

Maybe you can get him for vandalism? Bet he damaged something while removing the items. Talk to a lawyer. Maybe you can sue him for non-payment for the items he purchased (stolen appliances).

Dad but true, photos (always try to get tenant into the picture) and model serial numbers will be needed to gain any ground, just add the cost into the accounting statement of damages, send to tenant last known address registered and court approved method.

I had a tenant steal a couple of new rugs (on top of leaving my house a wreck during an eviction). I still had the receipts for these and pushed for a criminal charge.

I finally learned for a minimal fee ($10 in my county) I could take out a warrant against the one tenant who I felt had a stable job. This meant running to two different places to fill out the paperwork but I was so angry about all of this I did it.

Two years later she was finally picked up (probably on a routine traffic stop) and arrested because of this outstanding warrant. It took another year but we finally went to court and I asked for restitution on the items and, over a period of six months, received this in dribs and drabs.

Would I do this again? Sure. Again; the point is...I had to do the work getting this warrant (NOT the police). The OP might go back and find out how she can work this process instead of listening to nonsense that it was a "civil" matter.

I've been there too; and its truly disgusting! Especially since we supply such a large proportion of the taxation that goes to paying their salaries. I wish I knew how we could finally get organized and correct this injustice!

I experienced a very similar issue; only because I confronted the tenant and movers with the illegality of what they were doing, I ended up being charged with entering the apartment illegally and harassing the tenant. Unbelievable!

My case comes up next Tuesday. I will keep you posted.

TAKE A DEEP BREATH!!! and RELAX!!!

Itemize the appliances and light fixtures and other items that were stolen.

Also itemize the damages to the unit as well.

Take lots of pictures.

NEXT get the receipts for each of the stolen item. This should be easy since these items were written off on your taxes.

Also get a written statement from the neighbor that saw the tenant leaving and loading the appliances.

I am sorry this happened to you. I have a property out in the country I was working on and my neighbors son broke into my storage shed and stole my power tools for drugs.

I knew it was him from day one but could not prove it. I even had police come out and take finger prints (had to request it).

I talked to the detective several times even telling him his the thief's own uncle that lived on the other side of him called me one night and told me it was his nephew. The detective said I still did not have any proof.

Last night I got a call from this same uncle and was told his nephew was steeling tools out of a guys truck at Lowes and the owner of the truck caught him and took pictures and posted on Knoxville crime on facebook.

I posted and let him know the guys full name and then I called the police and let them know I knew who he was.

I hope they catch him and then maybe I can file charges too. Probably not though considering the corrupt system.

I have had this happen to me as well. Cops claimed civil matter. The best I was able to get was a warren in debt with thus "god bless you" women.

When I rented to her she had employment at the same job for 7 years. Since then she has been a job jumper.

Two quick takeaways I get from this.

1. ALWAYS include what is your personal property described thoroughly in your lease

Mary,

Just to ditto what others have said:

- cops will view this as a civil matter

- upgrade tenant pool

- rent to folks who are garnishable and go after a judgement

Sorry to hear of your bad luck, but it could be worse:

Hey Tom,

Please provide us with more information on what a "private criminal complaint" consists of, and the steps one needs to take to execute it.

I went thru this too. Non paying tenant in my "yuppie house"

took fridge, stove, w/d,and the master bed ceiling fan. The LR fan was too high for them to get to on the cathedral 12 ft ceiling. Also they took off the house thermostat off the wall after turning off the heat. This was during Christmas holidays, so if it was farther north it would have been a real problem, but we had a warm spell just then. Police told me the ABSENT items (couple thousand $ worth) would be dismissed, but I could file a vandalism complaint on the what was visibly THERE--iron marks in the carpet, wires hanging from the wall, and broken door locks and knobs.

The old tenants are just temporarily using them offsite.........so I think it is a good idea to just use their car.