CashConverters - Recovery of Stolen Goods

GilesC_2

Hi everyone,

Bit of a sticky problem. Last December, my son had his bike stolen from his school and while we called the police, got a crime number etc, we had given up on getting it back.

However, we have now had a call from Hants Police as apparently the bike was sold the same day to the local branch of CashConverters. My son has given a statement to the Police and they intend to prosecute the thief. While I am really pleased about that bit, it doesn't get the bike back which would be great.

My rough internet search indicates that tho CashConverters presumably didn't know it was stolen, they did not have legal title to sell it on so, no matter what, it remains his bike even now (it wasn't insured). The Police seem wobbly on the recovery aspects and almost seem to be saying "don't bother" as Cashconverters don't have to tell you who they sold it to.

My question is "Can I ask (and if necess using a solicitor, require) Cashconverters to tell me who bought the bike"? If I could, what on earth could i then do anyway - I could hardly just turn up and say "you've got my bike"!

I do understand the Police focusing on the prosecution but I would rather have hoped they would also be about recovering the stolen items.

Grateful for any advice.

Thank you

vax2002

I would have thought that it would be required for evidence in court, they wont be much case without the bike.
You may find that the police only care about the "result" and if they are uncooperative about the bike, you may have to become uncooperative with the statement to twist their arm, once the "result" looks to be moving they may listen to you a bit more carefully.

GilesC_2

Hmm - but my son's statement was all about him saying (under notice) that the bike was his, the Police took photocopies of receipts, photos of the bike he had, also where & when it was stolen, how it was secured, affirming he didn't sell it etc. So I think a court would regard this as reasonable evidence of the bike, where it was, that it was stolen and therefore the person in the dock can't explain how they came by it (other than the charge of having nicked it!).

vax2002

looks like you are on a fast track introduction to "the police 2012" as advised, you may need to apply some pressure, they value the result, which is a conviction, the matter of the bike is just hassle to them.
To spell it out, No Bike = no statement.

custardy

surely its the same as a car
Police follow the trail to whereever the bike is
recover it to its rightful owner
innocent party gets money back from Cash Convertors
CC can chase the thief up through civil court if they wish

spike7451

I went into the Cash Converters in Belfast a few years ago when on my lunch & saw a NTL Pace digi box on the shelf,so I said to the manager "You do realise that's stolen property",which he didn't.I called the office & they told me to recover it,so after showing the manager a box from my van,which had the "property of.." sticker on the bottom,I collected the box & issued him with a box receipt & NTL sent him a solicitors letter a couple of days later,I gather Cash Converters went after the person that sold them the box to get their money back.

paddyrg

If the police can confirm that CC bought and re-sold stolen goods, I would imagine a private case against the CC branch for the value of replacing the bike should be interesting. After all, what makes them any better than any other fence? I am sure the local paper would fancy a bit of fun if they prove difficult?

whitelabel

While cash convertors will have a record who they bought it from., there is no such record of who purchased it unless it was made by card and police make a formal request to the issuing bank for details, which is unlikely.
Ic CC have no record you will have to make a civil claim against person who stole and sold it to cash converters,

frazziac

CC state that they will do the following with every seller:

3. Selling to Cash Converters
At Cash Converters we have a legal obligation to avoid inadvertently buying stolen or defrauded goods from our Customers.

To help us avoid this we employ at store level a strict implementation of the CCUK National ID Policy, which will be adhered to on every transaction. (see links in the “sell to us” section). It consists of, but not in its entirety, the following:

All transactions are (or maybe) covered by our in-store CCTV.
Customers must be a minimum of 18yrs of age.
We will always take identification as per our National ID policy displayed in store, and it will be entered onto, and stored on our computer system.
We will always take ID for all and every subsequent transaction; no matter how many times a Customer has used our services.
Customers Photographs will always be taken and stored in our computer system. Customers address will be taken and stored in our computer system.
Wherever applicable/ practical products checked for serial numbers, and if found recorded in our computer system along with a brief description of the goods.
All goods, where applicable will be electrically tested.
All goods, where applicable will be mechanically tested.
Customer will always be required to sign a receipt, and a copy provided for the customer.
In all stores we strive to maintain a good working relationship with the local police, and welcome their assistance in the operating of our business.

So the key is to register your stolen property with CC. BUT, it doesn't look like they have a database of this OR that this is linked into police. I had an audio interface stolen recently and I had to go round all the CC's and independents/pawn brokers, all of whom, including CC, had paper-based lists which seem to be local-only and vulnerable to binning after a while.

It's pretty shoddy stuff from the police too - as a previous commentator has said, once they have ticked a few boxes related to 'victim support' they write it off unless they get any evidence for conviction.