Reply #25: not when the "trash" is still in the house

[TorchTheWitch]

Apparently, the videotape was in a box of stuff supposedly meant to be thrown away but not removed to the curb for trash removal and was still in the house.

In some jurisdictions even the trash put outside for trash collection is still considered the property of the owner until it is picked up by the authorized trash collectors unless a sign is posted on it that says it's free to whoever wants it. Personally, I think that's a bit nuts, but there it is. Certainly, items in a receptical that is still inside the house would be the property of the owner. And in this case, from what I understand the tape wasn't even in an obvious trash receptical in the house but a box that could have been intended for the trash or for storage. As far as I'm aware, it's Young's claim that the box of stuff in which he found the tape was intended for the trash... which I think is a lie in an attempt to explain why he took/stole it.