Question

You are a fraud investigator working on an engagement. You decide to search through the suspect’s garbage. When would this be considered a legal activity?a. When the trash is in the possession of the suspectb. When the trash has left the suspect's home or sidewalkc. Searching through a person's trash is never considered as a legal activityd. When the trash is left unattended inside the suspect’s home

Answer 1

Letter B is the correct answer.

Garbage left on curb is considered to be public property. Thus, police officers do NOT need a warrant to search through suspect's garbage when the garbage has left the suspect's home or sidewalk. However, if the trash can has not been abandoned yet and is reasonably close to the house, then searching through it without a warrant is considered illegal.