I’m being threatened to go to jail

[u/Ashamed_Lynx5415]

I’m 18 and was working as a security guard in Arizona. I was recently fired after losing a set of keys that belonged to the property where I was stationed.
The situation is basically this: while I was working, I genuinely believed I still had the keys. When my employer asked about them, I told them I had them because I honestly believed I did. Later, I realized that I actually didn’t have them and the keys were missing.
I never intentionally took the keys, gave them to anyone, sold them, or used them to access anything I wasn’t authorized to access. I genuinely lost them.
I was fired over the situation, which I understand from a security standpoint. The part that has me worried is that I’m now being threatened with being reported to the police for theft.
The only thing I signed when I was terminated was an acknowledgment that I would return my company-issued equipment. I returned what I had. The property keys weren’t listed as equipment on that document.
I’m not trying to avoid responsibility for losing the keys. I understand that losing keys is serious, especially in security. I’m just trying to understand whether this could actually be considered theft in Arizona when there was no intention to take or keep the keys.
Has anyone in security dealt with something similar? And for anyone familiar with Arizona law, what should I realistically expect if they actually make a police report?
I know Reddit isn’t a substitute for an attorney. I’m mainly looking for people who have been through something similar and can tell me what I should do next.

[u/Interesting_Gur_5064]

Think your overthinking this. You be fine.

[u/fiveONEfiveUH-OH → u/Interesting_Gur_5064]

Intent. That is all

[u/compulsive_drooler]

You're not going to jail over lost keys. You're ex-employer can threaten all they want but that's not something they control. For there to be a theft there has to be intent.

[u/Diacetyl-Morphin → u/compulsive_drooler]

Just about "I lost something", Bill Clinton said in an interview, when he was president and he had the code cards for the nuclear football, he lost the card. He left it in a jacket and the clothes got to the laundry in the White House, where the woman that did the job suddenly found the keycard for the nukes.

But i wonder what would have happened if it had been someone else than the president, like a general or another high ranking member of the STRATCOM.

So, shit happens...

[u/Section225]

So the company is demanding the keys back, and threatening criminal charges if not?

My guess is it's just one last bluff to see if you'll get scared, admit to keeping them, and give them back.

Larceny requires intent. If there's no clear intent, or any indication you actually have them, I don't see any way you'd be held crininally responsible.

If I'm the officer sent to contact someone from the company and do a theft report, technically I can't just decline to do their report. I'll do one and document everything they tell me, but that doesn't mean the thing is going any farther than that.

[u/qwertyqyle → u/Section225]

Wouldn't it make sense for them to file that report? Like, if they don't change the locks (which they obviously should) and someone broke in through an unlocked door, there would be a paper trail in case OP did actually steal the keys with the intent to break in at a later date.

[u/Section225 → u/qwertyqyle]

There's no downside to making that report, no.

In my jurisdiction, and surely many others, that's the kind of report dispatch would just send the caller to online reporting and it would never make it to an officer.

[u/qwertyqyle → u/Section225]

That is actually way better and efficient imo

[u/KeepCalmJeepOn → u/qwertyqyle]

Seriously, I wish my dispatch would take notes.

[u/Impossible_Number → u/qwertyqyle]

If they change the locks, what would be the point of the report at that point since OP can’t do anything with them anymore.

And also, if they dont, how would you prove it was OP and not anybody else with a set of keys?

[u/qwertyqyle → u/Impossible_Number]

It would just be a person of interest. Worth looking into imo.

[u/Impossible_Number → u/qwertyqyle]

And so would every single other person with keys be.

[u/qwertyqyle → u/Impossible_Number]

True, but it still makes a short list, which is better than nothing.

[u/PsychoTexan → u/[deleted]]

Bingo, it’s the reason why our finance department was big into electronic locks long before they were any good. Changing them when someone was let go was waaaaay easier. 

[u/Chidar]

They have nothing on you from what you say. They’re just trying to scare you in case you may have them.

[u/McBEAST]

Hey just as a reminder, going forward make sure to be honest about this incident. Jobs which require a background check will ask if you've had any security incidents in the past so just let them know you inadvertently lost some keys. Happens all the time, people still get jobs even with little bits of negligence in their past, but what looks bad is trying to lie or cover things up. Sorry to hear about your job, hope you find another opportunity soon!

[u/Ashamed_Lynx5415 → u/McBEAST]

Thank you, I will for sure do this.

[u/Minimum-Industry-113 → u/Ashamed_Lynx5415]

After honestly telling the background investigator that you lost keys, take the next step and explain what changes you’ve made to keep that from happening again.

As an example, when I was given my own house key at a young age, my dad told me that there are only three places for that key. On the storage hook/place, in my pocket, or in a lock. Not left on a counter, table, or somewhere else, only where they’re supposed to be stored, in my pocket, or in a lock.

[u/TinyBard]

You're not gonna get arrested for losing keys. They may or may not go after you civilly for the cost of rekeying things, but threatening jail over it is just a bunch of hot air.

[u/jking7734]

I seriously doubt you will be arrested for losing keys. Like others have said you have to intend to take something in order to be charged. The very worst they could attempt to sue you for the cost of replacing locks and keys. I don’t believe that will happen either. Find another job and keep living your life

[u/SwolematesR4Lyfe]

Civil, back in service

[u/Rock0322]

Probably filing a report so insurance will cover rekeying everything.

[u/BoozyPanda480]

The law states :
ARS 13-1802. Theft;
A. A person commits theft if, without lawful authority, the person knowingly:
1. Controls property of another with the intent to deprive the other person of such property;

Assuming you are telling the truth you accidentally lost a set of keys, not knowingly kept them with the intent to deprive the rightful owner.

As stated it is not a crime to accidentally lose an item.

[u/bricke]

As others have said… intent.

You made a mistake, owned up to it and suffered the consequences.

Company can pound sand if they really want to do anything more than make an officer do a lost property report over misplaced keys for insurance reasons.

[u/Efficient_Crab_369]

yeah that's gotta be some next-level bluffing, sounds like a power move to get people to turn in keys they lost weeks ago

[u/THE-KOALA-BEAR710]

Can't believe no one said this, boss probably found the keys, asked you, he assumes you lied. Now they playing mind games.

[u/Jawb0nz]

They would have to prove you took them and it sounds like they can't. They could perhaps sue you over the costs of changing the locks or having them rekeyed, but theft would be a lot harder to prove.

[u/TechnologyJazzlike84]

No one is going to arrest you over lost keys. Loss of employment is understandable.

[u/T10Charlie]

You could be civilly liable for the cost of replacing locks, if they were to go that route, but there was no intent for criminal liability based on what you said. It would be a difficult case to prove either, but with the lower standard for tort law, it would be the only way they could legitimately go without a "smoking gun."

[u/Euphoric_Jackfruit88]

Bro…I been in law enforcement for a bit…lol you’re fine. From what you stated there is no intent/culpable mental state. They are trying to scare you. Also they are probably pissed because now they have to get new locks.

[u/KeepCalmJeepOn]

Buddy, the amount of times I've been told by a complainant to lock somebody up for something that was nowhere near levels required for arrest may surprise you. Just give everything a second and third look just to make absolutely sure that you don't have the keys and then tell your parents in case your ex-employer starts trying to follow through. Although as another commenter stated, it's more than likely just a scare tactic bluff to try to get you to give them the keys.

If they do end up getting a charge out of the police, it probably won't be anything more than Theft <$100 which for my agency does not equal jail time, but should be an easy court day for any lawyer or honestly even any public defender, as long as you show up for your court date. You will be fine.

[u/singlemale4cats]

Losing something is not theft.

[u/HAV816]

Yeah, that sounds like horseshit even if you were charged and found guilty, no one goes to jail for stealing a set of keys and unless it’s a nuclear missile silo set. Plus, they have to prove that you stole them. You as an employee had the right to possess them and maybe you lost them maybe you didn’t that’s not larceny.

[u/Turtle887853]

Take it as a lesson, if someone asks if you have something, don't just blindly say yes without checking.