registerherald.com
By Amelia A. Pridemore, Register-Herald Reporter
February 28, 2010
BECKLEY - Stolen property could now return to its rightful owners' hands more quickly, police say, thanks to a new database allowing them to search pawn shop databases from across the nation.
The Beckley Police Department has been using a service called LeadsOnline, said Capt. Jeff Shumate, chief of detectives. The service allows police to view items pawned at shops across the country, possibly tracking down stolen items and even the people who stole them.
'This is another tool we've been provided to make investigations more efficient, especially when dealing with property crimes,' Shumate said.
'I think, from a law enforcement standpoint, it allows us to perform property crime investigations more effectively. You can check for stolen items in a quicker manner, quickly identify possible suspects, and you have a better opportunity to recover items.'
The majority of pawn shops in the country provide information to LeadsOnline, Shumate said. A Beckley city ordinance requires it for all pawn shop owners. He noted the vast majority of pawn shops, anywhere, work well with police and do not want to sell stolen items.
The online database, to which only law enforcement has access, gives police information about items pawned and information about the people who pawned them, Shumate said. The electronic records are much easier to access than traditional paper pawn tickets. The latter sometimes weren't found until two weeks after items were pawned.
Shumate noted the service also includes an 'eBay mode' that helps police find stolen items posted on eBay or items posted by people of interest in property crimes.
LeadsOnline also sends police online alerts, Shumate said. If a person living in the Beckley area pawns several items out-of-area or out-of-state, that raises an electronic red flag.
Shumate said LeadsOnline already has a 'success story' after just two months of use in Beckley. A ring worth in excess of $300 was stolen from a local pawn shop. Witnesses gave police the name of a man who was frequenting the area.
Detective Sgt. David Allard checked LeadsOnline and it showed that man had allegedly pawned that stolen ring at another local shop within hours of the crime, Shumate said. Police then recovered the ring.
That work led to arrest warrants against a Beckley man, Shumate noted. Joshua David Bohn, 28, was charged with petit larceny. Bohn remains at-large, and police believe he could be in Mercer County.
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Anyone with information about Bohn's whereabouts is encouraged to call the Beckley Police Department at 304-256-1708 or Crime Stoppers at 304-255-7867. Crime Stoppers also accepts tips online at www.crimestoppersofraleighco.org.
Stolen Serial Number Database Page Content
What Is A Serial Number?
Practically every manufactured item has an identification number called a serial number or vehicle identification number (VIN) for vehicles such as cars, trucks or motorcycles. This number is unique to each item and serves like a fingerprint of identity.
Stolen Property Serial Number Database
Stolen Lost Found Online hosts one of the largest and most comprehensive stolen property serial number databases in the world. It's both free and easy to use the database service. The police will confiscate all property with serial numbers that are linked with property reported stolen. There is no way to be compensated for the money spent on stolen property, which is why it's so important to check a serial number before purchasing anything pre-owned, especially when buying online.
How To Search The Stolen Property Serial Number Database
To search the stolen property serial number database, all you have to do is type in a serial number or vehicle identification number in the form at the top right of the page and press the 'Enter' or 'Return' key. If there is a match, the results will be displayed.
How To File A Stolen Property Police Report
The first step in any occurrence of theft is to report the incident to the police immediately. This helps you recover the stolen item if it gets confiscated and helps with an insurance claim process on the account an official police report is required to file a claim.
Here are the general steps to file a police report:
- Call the non-emergency phone number for the local police station or law enforcement agency where the item was stolen.
- Obtain the physical address and go to the police station or law enforcement agency.
- Once there, go to the stolen property department if applicable.
- While creating a stolen property police report it's important to provide the theft detective or clerk with as many details as possible, especially the item's serial number, any identifying marks or stickers. Also include when, where and how the item was stolen.
- Once you have completed the report, be sure to obtain a copy and retain it for follow-up and recovery.
It's important to file a police report for theft, no matter how big, small or valuable the stolen item is, because it helps the police know a thief's (or thieves) M.O. and to control theft by using crime data to increase patrol in areas with a high or rising crime rate. Sometimes an area's theft rate can skyrocket because people don't report theft incidents because the stolen item isn't of high monetary value. This is called petty theft and is how a petty thief can continue stealing because the police are not made aware of their activity.
How To Report A Stolen Property Online
Get the world on your case! Here are the steps to create an online Stolen Property report for free:
- If not yet registered, click the 'Register' link at the top right-hand side of the page or click the 'Report' button at page top.
- Enter your information and click the 'Register' button.
- Open the email account used for registration, open the verification email and click the link in the email body or copy and paste it in your browser address bar and press the 'Enter' or 'Return' key.
- Log in to the Stolen Lost Found Online website
- Click the 'Report' link in the main navigation bar or the 'Report' button at page top.
- Select the appropriate category.
- Select the appropriate sub-category.
- Select to post as Stolen.
- Enter as much information about the Stolen Property as possible - the make, model and serial number are especially important. Also helpful are any identifying marks and photos if available.
- Click the 'Submit' button.
That's it. Once the Stolen Property report is submitted it will post on Stolen Lost Found Online immediately and will appear on the search engines within a day. By reporting online you literally make a world of difference for recovering your Stolen Property, long into the future.
Latest Stolen Property Reports
Stolen Serial Number Database Conclusion
Stolen Lost Found Online is dedicated to providing the most current and concise Stolen Serial Number Database information. If you have any stolen Property information, theft prevention or consumer protection tips you would like to share, please let us know. Thanks.
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Police are teaming up with pawn shops using the Internet to make tracking down stolen merchandise easier to find.
By Stephen McLamb
December 25, 2012
MARSHALL COUNTY, AL (WAFF) – If someone steals your Christmas presents, the chances getting them back are better than they used to be.
Police are teaming up with pawn shops using the internet to make tracking down stolen merchandise easier to find.
It's pretty simple.
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Pawn shops use an online database with serial numbers for incoming merchandise. Law enforcement has access to the database and can check for a match nationwide.
Pawn shops and law enforcement are teaming up on the World Wide Web to help stop stolen merchandise from getting to pawn shops and the cash that's going into the thieves' hands.
More and more agencies are subscribing to LeadsOnline.com, a subscription based company that tracks pawn shop receivables.
In years past, law enforcement would have to physically check inventory taken in by pawn shops then check against recent stolen property reports to see if there is a match. Now, they use this nationwide database.
'We turn in all our pawn tickets and all our purchase tickets. If you come in and pawn or sell something today, it will be downloaded to that tonight. Local police jurisdictions have access to that 24/7,' said Joe Campbell, owner of Joe's Pawn Shop.
Campbell urges people to know what the serial numbers are of their products so that a direct match can be made.
Coming home to find your property stolen is a devastating experience. It affects your sense of safety, well-being and also potentially costs you thousands of dollars in lost property. However, this does not mean it is unrecoverable. If you keep proper records of your possessions before a robbery happens, you have a higher chance of finding your stolen goods. There is never any guarantee, but don't rely solely on the police department following a robbery or burglary. Your own diligence and research can mean the difference between getting your stuff back and never seeing it again.
Before a Theft
Keep detailed records of all your valuable possessions. Maintain a file that stores all the serial numbers, model numbers and other identifying information of all your electronics and merchandise. Etch your last name into furniture and other belongings in a place it is not easily seen. Take photos of all your valuables as well, including close-ups of any identifying marks or features. Insurance is important as well to protect yourself against financial loss. Insurance is often expensive, but not when compared to the financial loss you suffer if you suddenly lost most of your belongings.
Insurance also protects you against the financial loss associated with floods, tornadoes, and other natural disasters as well as theft. Earthquake insurance often costs extra in areas where earthquakes are more common, such as California. Be honest when giving your insurance agent the value of your belongings. Undervaluing them means you pay less in fees, but it also means you get a smaller payout later if you need to file a claim.
Police Reports
Call the police as soon as you discover a robbery. Avoid touching anything, should the police dust for fingerprints. Take photos of the scene if you can without disturbing anything. File a detailed report stating exactly what was stolen. Use your property file to provide the serial numbers, photos and identifying features of all missing items.
Give the police copies, but keep the originals for yourself. The more information you provide, the easier you make the officer’s job who is handling the investigation. Request a copy of the police report as well. This assists you when talking to insurance companies and also helps you prove stolen property if you later locate it at a local pawn shop, store or private seller.
Online Research
Check local new reports online to see if other burglaries have been reported recently similar to yours. Some police websites list recent crimes, and this is a useful resource. Check online selling sites such as eBay and Craigslist, with a focus on your local area. Thieves often post stolen merchandise online to convert it to cash by selling it.
If you locate anything that looks like your property, notify the police immediately and seek advice. Never contact the seller without police assistance and approval. Doing so potentially puts your safety at risk, and no property is worth your health or well-being.
Visit Local Shops
Visit local pawn shops and second-hand stores to search quietly for your stolen merchandise. If you locate something that resembles your property, leave the store and notify the police department immediately for assistance. It is entirely possible that the store owner bought the merchandise from the thief in good faith without knowledge of the theft, but it is also possible the store owner is either in on the crime or willfully negligent of it.
Don’t confront the store owner without a police officer with you. Be ready to prove the item in question is your property. The police are then able to get the seller information from the store owner once proof is established, and this helps lead them to the thief.
If a specialized item was stolen from you, check local stores or trade shows that specialize in that type of merchandise. For example, check local comic book shops and conventions if your comic book collection is missing. If you have a gun that was stolen, check local gun shows and dealers.
Return Delays
Sometimes thieves steal things to commit other crimes. If your stolen property is used in another crime, it becomes evidence and you may not be able to get it back. At the very least, you need to file a legal claim for the property and stay in touch with the police department to see what the ongoing status of it is. Some property gets returned after a trial or investigation concludes, but this depends on the details of the specific case.
It is easy to be demoralized upon discovering your property stolen. However, do not give up hope. The police department is often overwhelmed and does not always have the resources needed to follow-up on your case. Doing your own research increases your chances of recovering at least some of your property while also possibly leading to the arrest of someone who has stolen from multiple people.
There is never a guarantee of success, but preparing for theft and reacting quickly and diligently when it happens makes you less of a victim. It improves the odds of getting at least some of your stuff back.
Related Articles
- 1 What Can Happen If You Buy Stolen Merchandise?
- 2 Verify a Transaction on Craigslist
- 3 Does Craigslist Charge to Post Jobs?
- 4 Cancel an Account on Craigslist
Business owners shopping on Craigslist face the same risk of buying stolen goods as do consumers, especially electronic goods. A 2013 news story from 'The Oregonian' indicated that, among other things, laptops rank among the stolen items appearing most on Craigslist. But whatever you're looking for, there are ways to spot suspicious scenarios on Craigslist, if not stolen merchandise itself.
Ad
The first thing you can do to identify stolen merchandise on Craigslist is to look at the ad itself. Your 'suspicion alarm' should go off if you see stock photos instead of actual photos of the item, a poor item description -- revealing, perhaps, that the seller doesn't know the item's history because of having stolen it -- and an over-eager tone throughout the ad. Also, according to an ABC.com report, law enforcement officers have noticed that sometimes thieves spell out a phone number in the ad instead of using digits, in an effort to make the ad more 'hidden.'
Inquire
If you are suspicious, it doesn't necessarily mean that a listed item is stolen. So if you choose to contact the seller, ask some pointed questions that a true owner of the item would likely know, such as where he purchased the item and details about his experience with it. A lack of knowledge doesn't automatically betray guilt. But thieves obviously won't have a history with the item to speak of, and many thieves don't bother to invent a convincing story.
Price
An abnormally low price also can indicate a potentially stolen item. There are positive exceptions, of course, but generally Craigslist sellers wants to get a fair price for the item they're selling, and might even pass on offers they don't find sufficient. Thieves, on the other hand, while also wanting to cash in as much as possible, want to get rid of stolen merchandise as quickly as possible. They do this by undercutting more reasonable prices.
Serial Numbers
People who've had their electronic goods stolen typically will report the theft to the authorities, and will sometimes provide unique details to police, such as serial numbers. So, if you need something like a computer or mobile phone for your business and you see an ad you like, contact the seller and ask for the serial number of the item. If the seller refuses -- red flag. But if you do get the serial number, call the manufacturer's customer service department or the service provider, in the case of a cell phone. If the owner reported the item stolen, the manufacturer or service provider should know.
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About the Author
Aaron Charles began writing about 'pragmatic art' in 2006 for an online arts journal based in Minneapolis, Minn. After working for telecom giant Comcast and traveling to Oregon, he's written business and technology articles for both online and print publications, including Salon.com and 'The Portland Upside.'
Photo Credits
- Graeme Robertson/Getty Images News/Getty Images