In Leicester, second hand traders are being offered help to ensure they aren’t buying and selling stolen goods.
Safer Neighbourhood Teams and Trading Standards officers are working with second hand stores, dealers and those involved in car boot sales to help them to identify stolen property, counterfeit goods and goods which may pose a danger to the public. Insp Andy Parkes who is behind the initiative said: “If you have ever suffered a burglary, robbery or theft you will know the devastating effects it can have.
“Turning a blind eye to buying stolen goods helps no one. The victims of the original crime, whether it was a burglary or robbery; the legitimate traders trying to make an honest living; and the unwitting customer who may be handing over their hard earned cash for something that is stolen.
“As part of this initiative, second hand traders are being offered guidance on how to protect their business by taking the necessary steps to ensure the property they are selling isn’t stolen. At the same time, the Police and Trading Standards will be targeting those buyers and sellers who are not playing by the rules.”
Guidance booklets have been distributed to second hand traders, offering tips on how to ensure the goods they are selling aren’t stolen. This includes keeping a record of who they buy goods from and asking to see identification. They are also encouraged to use ‘CheckMEND’, an online system for checking property, which the police update daily with details of property that is reported lost or stolen.
Detective Inspector Shane O’Neill from the City CID believes the initiative may also help reduce crime by removing the handlers. He said: “Evidence shows that a burglar, a robber or a thief who breaks into a car often plans who they are going to pass the stolen property on to, even before they commit the crime. They also want to get rid of stolen goods as quickly as possible, often going straight from the scene of the offence to their handler.
“If we target the handlers of stolen goods and take them out of the equation, then it means a thief can’t swap his stolen goods for drugs or cash so easily. If they continue to steal then they will be in possession of the stolen property for longer which means the police have a greater chance of catching them with the goods. Alternatively it may make them less likely to steal and more likely to seek help.”
John Fox from Leicester City Council’s Trading Standards team added: “In addition to ensuring that they are not buying and selling stolen goods, it is important that dealers in second hand goods ensure that items they sell meet legal safety standards.
“Safety regulations cover a wide range of products including household electrical goods, bicycles, toys, pushchairs and children’s car seats. Pre-sale safety checks are often very straightforward but they must be made, for the safety of customers and to protect the seller from possible prosecution for selling dangerous goods. If you are in any doubt about what to do, the business advice service run by trading standards will provide free advice.”
The Cash Zone in Beaumont Shopping Centre is one of the second hand stores working with police to prevent to trading of stolen goods. The manager Craig Jones said: “I think it is really important that all local second hand shops get involved in this initiative. It will help to cut down on the sale of stolen goods which is better for the shop, better for the customer and better for the police as well.
“If you look back three years ago, we were having the police in every day and now we get them in twice a month. That’s through working with the police. They email us every day with a list of stolen goods and we email them a list of goods. And obviously this cuts down on a lot of stolen goods.”
