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Stolen Property Identification
Before You Buy
Be weary of people offering items for sale that are especially low in price. Items such as bicycles, cars and car parts, and all types of electronic equipment are hot targets for theft which criminals attempt to pawn off to unsuspecting buyers. To prevent yourself from buying stolen property (which, by the way, is a crime), observe the following tips:
- If the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
- Check over the item for signs damage that may have been incurred while the item was being stolen.
- Ask the seller to see an original proof of purchase.
- Ask the seller to let you see and record the item's serial number.
- With the serial number, you can call the Smiths Falls Police Service and ask to have the serial number run through the Canadian Police Information Center's database to check if the item has been reported stolen.
- You can also check the serial number yourself on the internet by visiting the Canadian Police Information Center's' website.
- If you encounter a cellular phone which you suspect may be stolen, you may also contact the cellular phone carrier (Bell, Cantel, etc) and ask them to check the phone's electronic serial number (ESN), which is located on the back panel of the phone under the battery pack.
- Remember, even if these above searches reveal that the item has not been reported stolen, you should still notify the police if you suspect the item may be stolen.
Identifying Your Property
If you have been the victim of a theft, and you have reason to believe that the police may have apprehended the culprit, you can call us and inquire about your possessions. If possible, have the item description available, the approximate time that you lost it, and the police occurrence number which you were given when you called the police to report the theft. We may then check our storage facilities or ask you attend the police station to identify your property.