What offense is committed when a police officer finds an unsigned stolen check during a booking?

The offense committed when a police officer finds an unsigned stolen check during a booking is classified as stealing or receiving a stolen check or similar sight order. This is because the key aspect of this scenario involves possession of property that was acquired unlawfully—meaning it was stolen.

When an individual possesses a stolen check, even if it is unsigned and may not be immediately usable, it indicates awareness or knowledge of the illegitimate nature of the property. Thus, it directly relates to the offense of receiving or dealing with stolen property. This fits within the framework of laws that address theft and the handling of stolen items, specifically checks in this context, highlighting the illegal possession and potential intent to use it for further fraudulent activity.

Other options like theft, fraud, or possession of stolen property deal with different aspects of criminal law. Theft usually refers to the act of taking someone else's property with the intent to permanently deprive them of it, while fraud would involve deceit to gain something of value. Possession of stolen property, while similar, does not capture the specific nature of checks and their related offenses, focusing instead on general possession. Thus, the nature of the item (a check) and its status as stolen points specifically to the offense of stealing or receiving a