If the police obtain a warrant and place a “bug” in my home and I find it, can I be prosecuted for destroying it whether or not I know they have that warrant?
Peace,
mangeorge
That’s a good question, mangeorge. I got nothing for ya, but I will be fascinated to hear the answer.
You could always tell 'em that you thought the bug was placed by terrorists, who were trying to find out what you knew about {insert crackpot theory here}. 
Immediately prosecuting you for the destruction of a secret bug would kind of tip their hand. . . but then again, it’s already tipped since you found it. I doubt the bug is of so much value compared to the information it’s delivering to the police.
Or maybe Barney Fife is just planning on the fact you came across it accidentally and didn’t know what it was.
Tripler
This reminds me, I need to flush out that old, German-whispering guy with the vaccum tube set in the crawlspace downstairs. He’s been there for 2 years now. . .
:dubious:
Last night, on 48 Hours Mystery, the FBI placed a bug in the bedroom of parents of a baby who had disappeared because they suspected them of the crime.
Had the parents found it, they surely would hve known what it was, and who it belonged to.
Now I would have flushed the thing, then called the FBI and given the old nyah nyah right there on their recorded phone line.
Value aside, could they prosecute me for destroying government property?
Now, about Tripler’s whispering German guy, I think you need to be very careful not to harm him while doing your flushing operation. His radio, though probably valuable, is fair game.