In Hicks v. Arizona, 480 U.S. 321 (1987) the police were legally in the defendant's residence pursuant to an exigent circumstances search for a shooter and weapons. In the course of the search, they observed expensive stereo equipment which they suspected was stolen. Acting on this suspicion, they recorded to serial number for various units. In the case of some units the numbers were readily apparent but in the case of others the police were required to move the items to find the identifying numbers. The Court ruled that the apparent numbers were properly recorded because they were in plain view but that the serial numbers recorded from the moved items were the product of an illegal search.