selling stolen goods

[GOONERLAND]

i recently purchased a musical instrument from a popular high st 'EXCHANGE STORE'
obtained a receipt and and after a few weeks decided it was not for me no real reason to return it i wanted to p/x or sell it online .
i advertised it with full details serial no s etc. the winner arrived at my house with 3 police officers who identified the item as stolen last year and confirmed it form their CAD REPORT. Although i had receipt and they appreciated i was genuine and had bought the item in good faith froma legitimate store they threatened to arrest me for handling stolen goods unless i allowed them to take the instrument away.
they offered me case no.s etc to confirm but no receipt for the removal of the item . with the threat of arrest i felt i had no option but to let them take the instrument- i am now in touch with the retailers to get a refund pending thier checks with the Police.
DID the Police ' hoodwink me ' into releasing the items or di i have a legal ground to hold on to it?
ANY HELP IS MUCH APPRECIATED
HARRY

[CleverClogs]

Re: selling stolen goods

You should certainly have obtained a receipt.

(The video is to cheer you up...)

[teaboy2]

Re: selling stolen goods

All you need from the police is the case number to give to the retailer - If you are refused a refund from the retailer, remind they committed an offence of handling and selling stolen goods and as you have the police case number, you will take them to court for the money they owe you.

[bluebottle]

Re: selling stolen goods

I'm a retired policeman, Goonerland, and what you were told by the police in your case was correct. The law was changed in the 1990s which means that the lawful owner of stolen goods still has proper right and title to them. Purchased in Good Faith no longer applies. If you told the police where you purchased the musical instrument from, penny to a pound, they were round there like shot out of a gun and crawling all over what was in the shop. You would be surprised just how much stolen property ends up in these "Exchange Shops".

I know of a case of a young woman who purchased a used car from a main dealer in South West England. Not long after purchasing it, she was stopped by police and told the vehicle she was driving was stolen, resulting in it being seized there and then. The police then went to the main dealer and told them of what had happened. The main dealer told the young woman to select any car she wanted from their used stock, even it was better than the one she had originally purchased and had proven to be stolen. Strangely, not long after that, the main dealer lost their franchise.

[enquirer]

Re: selling stolen goods

... they threatened to arrest me for handling stolen goods unless i allowed them to take the instrument away.

As Bluebottle notes, they may seize the item. However, threatening you with false arrest is another matter entirely and could give rise to a complaint against police.

[bluebottle]

Re: selling stolen goods

As Bluebottle notes, they may seize the item. However, threatening you with false arrest is another matter entirely and could give rise to a complaint against police.

If you refuse to hand over stolen goods to police, having been advised they are stolen, yes, the police can arrest you for dishonest retention of stolen goods. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/60/section/22

[Inca]

Re: selling stolen goods

Basically,you've been scammed out of your money,,yes the coppers could have arrested you and if the retailer refuses a refund then take legal advice as to what ,if any,steps you take next but keep it realistic costs wise.If it's going to seriously dent your wallet and be more expensive than the original item you may just have to take this one as harsh as that sounds

[charitynjw]

Re: selling stolen goods

See post #3

[enquirer]

Re: selling stolen goods

If you refuse to hand over stolen goods to police, having been advised they are stolen, yes, the police can arrest you for dishonest retention of stolen goods. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/60/section/22

Indeed. But in the case of the OP, where is the dishonesty?

[dogtired]

Re: selling stolen goods

If you refuse to hand over stolen goods to police, having been advised they are stolen, yes, the police can arrest you for dishonest retention of stolen goods. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/60/section/22

Would that happen even if you were the origanal owner of the item? We were told that a long time ago when we had items stolen, we found out, by various means who had them and where they were being sold and told the police.
They said that if we bought them we would be arrested for receiving stolen goods.
Never did get them back

[CleverClogs]

Re: selling stolen goods

The plods were probably following instructions from the CPS - the Criminal Protection Service!

[bluebottle]

Re: selling stolen goods

Indeed. But in the case of the OP, where is the dishonesty?

The OP handed the goods over, which is to their credit and saved them a lot of hassle. It was the change in the law, in the 1990s, that has changed the way in which the police deal with stolen goods. Up to then, anything acquired in good faith meant the loser remained the loser. However, the change in the law meant and still does mean that the loser still has proper right and title to the goods and a subsequent purchaser of stolen goods, once they become aware that they are stolen goods, must surrender them into the custody of the police, either voluntarily or on the instructions of a constable. Dishonest Retention kicks in once a person becomes aware that goods in their possession are stolen goods and fails to surrender them into police custody.

[bluebottle]

Re: selling stolen goods

Would that happen even if you were the origanal owner of the item? We were told that a long time ago when we had items stolen, we found out, by various means who had them and where they were being sold and told the police.
They said that if we bought them we would be arrested for receiving stolen goods.
Never did get them back

Unfortunately, it's one of those strange anomalies in English Criminal Law. These days, the law is a lot clearer. Say, for example, your car is stolen, you find it abandoned and subsequently and inform the police, nine times out of ten, they will tell you to drive it to the police station, provided it is capable of being driven. If, on the other hand, someone tries to sell you goods that have been stolen from you, for your own protection, it is best to inform the police. Those who deal in stolen goods can be pretty nasty characters.

[dogtired]

Re: selling stolen goods

Unfortunately, it's one of those strange anomalies in English Criminal Law. These days, the law is a lot clearer. Say, for example, your car is stolen, you find it abandoned and subsequently and inform the police, nine times out of ten, they will tell you to drive it to the police station, provided it is capable of being driving. If, on the other hand, someone tries to sell you goods that have been stolen from you, for your own protection, it is best to inform the police. Those who deal in stolen goods can be pretty nasty characters.

Still annoying though, it also turned out that one of the thieves was an "informer", he did eventually get "sent down" however:tinysmile_hmm_t2:

[bluebottle]

Re: selling stolen goods

Still annoying though, it also turned out that one of the thieves was an "informer", he did eventually get "sent down" however:tinysmile_hmm_t2:

What you need to understand about snouts (informants), is that the police will have plenty to stuff them with if they step out of line, which is probably the reason the one in your case got sent down.