Court of Appeal dismisses owner's claim for police assistance when defendant admits theft under Section 38 of Criminal Code.

The Court of Appeal in Vaasa dismissed the owner's request for police assistance to recover a stolen wool coat. The owner had loaned the coat to the defendant, failed to retrieve it within the agreed time, and subsequently requested police help without formally charging the defendant. The lower court had found the defendant guilty of theft under Section 38 of the Criminal Code but refused to impose a penalty, a decision the appellate court overturned. The court ruled that once the defendant's guilt is established, the owner's procedural request for police intervention is no longer valid, and the matter must be resolved through criminal prosecution rather than civil recovery mechanisms.