&gt; Would the renter even be able to exonerate themselves?<p>If you can convince the cops to do their job, then yes?<p>If my apartment was burgled when I was at work and my new roommate had the day off, the cops would -hopefully- do some investigation to determine if anyone else might have possibly entered the space, as well as checking and enquiring with pawn shops and grey-market street vendors for my stolen goods.