Bought 'Lost or Stolen' Kindle

rosie383

Hi all,
A couple of weeks ago my dh bought me a second hand Kindle as mine has frozen completely.
I deregistered it, but was unable to re-register it to my account.
When I spoke to Amazon CS, they informed me that it was reported as 'lost or stolen' so that I wouldn't be able to register it.
What do I do with it now? I asked them if I could return it to Amazon so that they could pass it on to the rightful owner, but they said that was impossible. If we give it back to the guy who sold it to us, he will possibly just sell it on again to some unsuspecting soul.
I have so many books on my account that I would love to transfer onto this kindle if anyone knows how to do it. It doesn't look as if it can go back to its original owner, so I think I may as well keep it.
If I hand it in to the police, I doubt anything would happen to it. Probably sit in a storage room for ever.
Please advise me if anyone knows what I can do.

I_have_spoken

I'd report the seller to the bizzies for handling stolen goods

Deneb

1. Take it to the police, tell them the circumstances. They may be able to trace and return it to its rightful owner. If not, they might return it to you eventually.

2. Keep it knowing that it is stolen and that you are handling stolen property.

rosie383

Amazon could only tell me that it was 'lost or stolen'. My husband bought it in good faith at a car boot sale, from a guy who seemed genuine.
Reporting him to the police wouldn't be an option as we have no name etc. I will contact the local police and seek their advice. Will they really bother to try to find the owner? Who knows? I know that if it was my kindle, that I would like to think that it could be returned to me, but I doubt that the police would devote resources to something like that. I may be wrong though.

imho

It might be my stolen Kindle.I called Amazon and got mine blocked as anyone could have switched it on and bought a expensive Kindle book from it. My brand new Nook was in the same case and of course that got stolen as well.
So i am pleased Amazon blocks stolen Kindles.But Amazon must know whose Kindle it is as they block it from the serial number and then they emailed me the serial number.

Deneb

rosie383 wrote: »

I doubt that the police would devote resources to something like that. I may be wrong though.

If you explain that Amazon told you it was reported stolen, they will contact Amazon to ask for the details. Amazon may require a Data Protection Act application, but they will respond.

They're not going to divulge owners names and addresses to anyone who calls them though. Look at it from a different perspective. You had your Kindle stolen in a cafe, perhaps in a bag with bank cards etc. Thief rings Amazon to ask who it belongs to and gets the name and address he needs to carry out more scams on your property. Amazon aren't going to ask you to send it to them either. They're in business to sell things, not act as a lost and found store, but they will respond to a police enquiry.

rosie383

Thanks for that. I wouldn't for a moment think that Amazon would have given me any details of the owner. I had thought that they could contact the rightful owner and send it back to them if I sent it back to Amazon. I take your point though, that their only interest is to sell items, not to reunite owners with their lost or stolen goods.
I will contact the local police and then hopefully they will take some action. I'm gutted that I will lose the money that I paid for it, but I have to do the right thing.