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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>86326</law_id><section_number>19.2-270.1</section_number><catch_line>Use of photographs as evidence in certain larceny and burglary prosecutions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>19.2-11.01</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="19.2">Criminal Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="16">Evidence and Witnesses</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">In General</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>In any <span class="dictionary">prosecution</span> for <span class="dictionary">larceny</span> under the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Grand larceny defined; how punished" href="/18.2-95/">18.2-95</a>, <a class="law" title="Petit larceny defined; how punished" href="/18.2-96/">18.2-96</a> or &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Larceny of bank notes, checks, etc., or any book of accounts" href="/18.2-98/">18.2-98</a>, or for <span class="dictionary">shoplifting</span> under the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Concealing or taking possession of merchandise; altering price tags; transferring goods from one container to another; counseling, etc., another in performance of such acts" href="/18.2-103/">18.2-103</a>, or for <span class="dictionary">burglary</span> under the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Burglary; how punished" href="/18.2-89/">18.2-89</a>, <a class="law" title="Entering dwelling house, etc., with intent to commit murder, rape, robbery or arson; penalty" href="/18.2-90/">18.2-90</a>, <a class="law" title="Entering dwelling house, etc., with intent to commit larceny, assault and battery or other felony" href="/18.2-91/">18.2-91</a> or &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Breaking and entering dwelling house with intent to commit other misdemeanor" href="/18.2-92/">18.2-92</a>, photographs of the goods, merchandise, money or securities alleged to have been taken or converted shall be deemed competent <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of such goods, merchandise, money or securities and shall be <span class="dictionary">admissible</span> in any proceeding, <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> or <span class="dictionary">trial</span> of the case to the same extent as if such goods, merchandise, money or securities had been introduced as <span class="dictionary">evidence</span>. Such photographs shall bear a written description of the goods, merchandise, money or securities alleged to have been taken or converted, the name of the owner of such goods, merchandise, money or securities and the manner of the identification of same by such owner, or the name of the place wherein the alleged <span class="dictionary">offense</span> occurred, the name of the <span class="dictionary">accused</span>, the name of the arresting or investigating police officer or conservator of the peace, the date of the photograph and the name of the photographer. Such writing shall be made under <span class="dictionary">oath</span> by the arresting or investigating police officer or conservator of the peace, and the photographs identified by the signature of the photographer. Upon the filing of such photograph and writing with the police authority or <span class="dictionary">court</span> holding such goods and merchandise as <span class="dictionary">evidence</span>, such goods or merchandise shall be returned to their owner, or the proprietor or manager of the store or establishment wherein the alleged <span class="dictionary">offense</span> occurred.</p></section></text><history>1976, c. 577; 1985, c. 184; 1987, c. 493; 1995, c. 447.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
