The phone your son bought 4 years ago was stolen.. .. ..
By gemini_rose
@gemini_rose (16264)
February 21, 2009 5:37am CST
is what the policeman said to my hubby when he knocked on our door the other night.
The phone in question was one my son had bought from a new and used shop in 2005, a shop with a good reputation. They deal in new and used items such as games, phones, consoles etc, they buy from people and then sell them on and so my son had bought a phone from there.
The person who had stolen it and sold it to the shop had apparently been caught and so they were investigating him and that investigation led right back to 2005!! Funnily enough although my son no longer used the phone he still had it and had not sold it on like he normally did, luckily! My son was really worried he was going to be in trouble but he was not he just had to give a statement and the policeman told him that he could even get his money back if he wished so it all turned out OK.
It just shows that we have to be really careful what we buy and from where, have you ever bought something only to find out later on that it was stolen?
3 people like this
7 responses
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
21 Feb 09
Wow, imagine that! That's never happened to me, and probably never will. We've never purchased anything from a pawn shop or any similar type place, but sometimes you just never know. We do buy things off e-bay a lot, and you don't know where that's been.
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
21 Feb 09
Its mad to think that it was traced after all this time, the shop is a pretty well known place round my parts, good reputation and everything. I buy a lot of stuff on ebay too, and as far as I know this has never happened to me but at least he did not get into any trouble for buying stolen goods.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
21 Feb 09
Well, there's no way he could have known, and like you said, that shop has a good reputation, so he probably assumed he was buying someone else's old phone they didn't want anymore.
I think the law about buying stolen goods is more or less for those people or shops who realize they're buying stolen goods, and do so anyways to resell them or whatever.
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
28 Sep 09
I have actually heard of real cases where something like this has happened before. I know that I was trying to buy a car even in the 80s that they could never find a Title for and think the Car was hot so I had to get my $$ back on that, so I guess the Best thing usually is to buy items like a phone, etc brand New and hope that you will have no real problems with the item from there.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
23 Feb 09
gosh I never heard about anything like that happening before, what is the phone was broken and thrown in the garbage what would have happened then?
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
23 Feb 09
[i]Hi gemini,
Wow...really? I never heard anything like that and I have no clue also if I have tried buying stuff like that. hubby and I love to purchase at ebay and other online stores and not sure if those were from good hands or whatever![/i]
@cinderella2007 (2662)
•
24 Feb 09
Wow, that as a story and a half isn't it!! Bet you were shocked to open the door and see the police at the door, thinking something bad has happened and then to find out they are after a phone your son bought a few years back because it was stolen!!
I bet your son was terrified about it all to start off with until he knew that he just had to give a statement. I think its great that you are able to claim your money back.
@EliteUser (3964)
• Australia
18 Sep 09
Hey,
I have never bought something only to find out later that it was stolen, but I have heard many cases of people simply stealing an electronic then quickly selling it to a second hand shop, and running off with the money. It is a good strategy, but will land you a fine or 2, or short term jail AND criminal record. Not worth it! Make sure you have a good day, Happy Lotting!!
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
21 Feb 09
Thankfully that has never happened to me but I guess it could happen to any of us at any time. Seems crime is getting worse on a regular basis. We live in a relatively low crime area and that is good but one just never knows when someone will break in and steal something or worse hurt a member of the family.
