Why would the police take a laptop?

Question

Hi, this is quite a sensitive question i think so i will be as detailed as i can.

basically about a week ago, my sisters boyfriend (who she lives with), was stopped and searched by the police. They said it was something to do with terrorism. The police were happy and nothing more was heard.

today, apparently, he had a phone call from the police and they told him they were going to come round and take his laptop. they came around, three police officers, took the laptop. no search on the house, nothing. They didn't sat why they took it either.

Now, does this sound right to anyone? Does this sort of thing happen? why would the police take a laptop?

OR - is this an elaborate story being used to cover up the fact that he has lost/sold/had stolen etc the laptop?

Any advice would be hugely welcome

Thanks again

Answer 1

its to check the files in the laptop to see if he had been planning a terrorist attack or had researched strange Bomb/terrorism related things or check his email adress to see if he was communicating with terrorists.

Answer 2

Strange,   How did they know he even had a lap top?

Answer 3

You've made what is probably a very astute guess there at the end. How nice a story for him. The bad ole secret terrorism police came and took the computer. And such polite police. They even called first to make sure they didn't disrupt the household.

No. If they're going to seize the computer, they DO NOT call up first to let you know they'll be around to get it.

Tell him you found out they couldn't have been real police, so you've called the real anti-terrorism squad, and they're coming to investigate who is going around impersonating their officers. (He's obviously dumb enough to believe it.)

Answer 4

The police needs a court warrant to do that.

However, in this days I'm sure that they can steal and be covered but some anticonstitutional law or a law loophole.

Like in "drug asset seizures" that require no more than a "reasonble suspicion". No legal procedure, no evidence, no return of the money.

OR

It doesn't sound right that the police called in advance. I wouldn't have my laptop there by the time the police arrives.

Answer 5

Okay,

Number one, a police officer would not call to tell you he was going to take your laptop.  That would only give you time to erase the incriminating information.

Number two, a police officer needs a warrant in order to seize your laptop.

Number three, a police officer would not stop you on the street, search you, and tell you that it was because of terrorism.  If they did, they would have had to have reasonable suspicion, and a search would not satisfy terrorism, it would need an interrogation.

Number four, laptops are seized for 3 main reasons.  One, child p**n, two, investment/bank fraud, and three, terrorism targets.

Sounds fishy, like several important elements were left out of his story.

Answer 6

I doubt the police would call him ahead of time to say they were confiscating his laptop. That would give him time to erase the hard drive and remove anything they might be looking for, or give him time to totally destroy the hard drive. I think it's a bull story and if she looks hard enough, I bet your sister finds a pawn shop receipt.

Answer 7

This is actually pretty common nowadays.  Much evidence can be found on a persons computer.  Many people that have been arrested or captured have had incriminating evidence on their computers.  Several terrorist plots have been discovered by looking at someones computer.  Sexual predators have been sent to prison because of things on their computer.  The police aren't required to tell a person why they are confiscating an item.  They just have to produce a search warrant or get persmission from the owner to take the property.