As said before it is to cover your a*&^. If you do not have a police report or the funds in your account to cover a cheque here, then you are the one responsible despite the fact that he may be cashing the cheque illegally. cheques here are as good as cash and are treated as such. Just get the police report and be done with it. The report is there for you as much as the bank's piece of mind. if you dont and you try to do it any other way then it is you they will put in jail and it is you that will still have to pay the money to your landlord.