I was on a walk and I match the description of a burglar. He took my details down and I went on my way. Just worried now what could happen from this, obviously I haven't done anything, but its not looking good if I match the description

Whats gonna happen?

Thanks guys.

Depends on which country you live in, I suppose.

England

Just fess up.

no, lawyer.

With cops, anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law.

Yes, that is why the only thing you say over and over is "The defendant is not guilty and should be let go."

'Matching the description' just means sort of same height maybe, same six, roughly the same colour clothes, and that's yer lot. If they had any suspicion it was actually you, you would have been arrested.

In worst case you'll be visiting the Tickler, but most likely nothing will happen. They're not going to arrest you or something for matching some descriptions.

You'll be beaten with a rubber hose until you fess up to the crime! And confess to stealing the Irish Crown Jewels as well!

Yeah, that. It's highly unlikely this will go any further and there's nothing to worry about.

At least you have a better story to tell than me, which is the one time I was stopped by the police was because of overtaking on double white lines. I got fined 40 quid, which is probably fair enough given the usual standard of my driving. Though I have to say that the guy who chased me was a right knob.

A fine description of the entirety of the 1980s Gloucestershire Constabulary, who had nothing better to do than stop me constantly, because in possession of long hair = obviously carrying drugs.

Oh dear. It sounds like things changed for the better in the '90s: my impression from friends living in the area is that the only reason they'd get pulled over is that they fancied a chat. But I do sympathise. I always used to get hassled by airport security because I tended to look quite nervous, due to there being other people around. But it seems that was interpreted as me being a drug mule or something. My ever-present cassette player always ended up being fondled a lot more than it liked.

My reply to any approach from cops is "am I being detained and if so on what grounds?" If they say no I start walking away. If they say yes and (for instance) "we are investigating a burglary and you match the description" I say "Then I need a lawyer, my name for the warrant is Tim .....". If they do not have sufficient grounds to get a warrant (and 'he's the right height and won't waive his right to not be questioned without a lawyer' won't be enough for a US judge) they will eventually stop detaining me, and I am infinitely patient about repeating "I need a lawyer before I can answer that" to every question they ask.

Ah, I can see the interrogation now:

'Is there gold in town?'

'Where is the burglar hiding?'

I'd say flee the country and change your name to Mr. (or Ms) Pimington and live out the rest of your life in obscurity. J/K Just because you might match a description doesn't always mean you're going to jail for no reason, if you can prove you where with family and friends and have a solid alibi the police should leave you alone.