Employee Theft/Liability Civil or Criminal?

I left my former employer in mid-October after working there approximately 9 months. It was a small inventory service which while not entirely relevant was very unsound ethically. I just got a call from my father that a detective is looking for me as my ex-employer is stating I stole $125,000 worth of equipment. Upon my leaving I left a company van parked in a business center parking lot with equipment (Adding machines, printers, laptops), locked it, put the key in the gas compartment, called them and told them where to pick it up (otherwise they wanted me to drive it 5 hours to them, ha). Anyway, they say that when they picked up the van there was no equipment in it. As a side note this equipment is 100% worthless to anyone that isn't working currently for the company as it is safeguarded with a 30 day license that needs to be renewed from the company electronically. No charges have been made yet, I left a message for the detective and am waiting on a return call. Am I liable?

My big question is there some kind of law I broke that I could face jail time, or is this going to be a lawsuit kind of thing? I mean I can't believe I broke any laws, but maybe I can believe they would sue me for stolen/missing equipment.

I can't see how criminal charges would be off the table completely -- if they have any evidence at all, that is. Theft is a crime. They could procede with a civil action for "conversion" or some other such tort too, but it seems the criminal route would be there as well.

As always, however, please don't take this answer as sound legal advice, because I can't advise you, don't know all the facts or the law here, and am not an expert in this area.

Yes you are liable. You were responsible for that van and equipment. Just because you were to lazy to return it doesn't let you off the hook.

I agree with 1st Buzie. By law you are reliable for the property. Sorry gut it is the law.

SORRY TO SAY AS LONG AS YOU DID NOT RETURN THE ITEMS TO THE EMPLOYER YOU HAVE THE BILL FOR WHAT HE DIDN'T GET BACK ===THE COMMON LAW IS YOU WORKED FOR THEM AT THE TIME WHEN YOU WERE ISSUED THE EQUIPMENT AND THAT S UP TO YOU TO TAKE CARE OF IT AND RETURN WHEN YOU LEAVE EMPLOYMENT NOT ALL GOOD BUT ITS THE LAW I HAVE 30,000 + IN EQUIPMENT AND RIG THAT I TAKE CARE OF AND I KNOW THAT I HAVE TO KEEP IT ALL UP AND IT IS STATE WORK SOMETHING COMES UP MISSING I HAVE TO REPLACE IT OR BE FIRED THEN GO TO COURT TO MAKE MY CASE TO THE JUDGE AND THAT WOULD BE A WAIST OF MONEY AND TIME AS IT IS IN MY CARE YOU CANT USE A FRIEND AS A WITTINESS AS TO HOW IT WAS LEFT THEY WOULD JUST LOOK TO HIM AS BEING A POS THIEF OF WHAT HE KNEW ABOUT WHERE IT WENT YOU NEED TO DRIVE IT 5 HRS BACK AND GET A RECEIPT OF ALL ITEMS RETURNED WITH OFFICE MANGER NO ONE ELSE CAN CHECK IT IN TAKE PIC OF ITEMS RETURNED AND MAKE SURE ALL WORK PROPER THEN YOU FREE OF HAVING A BILL FOR ITEMS NOT THE WAY IT SHOULD BE BUT NO COURT WILL SEE IT ANY OTHER WAY SORRY JFB