Buying an item that was stolen from me?

pinkshoes

I would arrange to go and inspect it and ask if they will accept cash on collection.

If they agree, take some "friends" with you.

Once you verify it's the stolen item, then ask them for their receipt showing proof of purchase. Try and verify if they bought it or stole it. You can then bring up the subject that the item is the one stolen from you, and you need to call the police.

Is it the sort of item that someone would own for a while then sell on? If not, then I imagine the person selling it is the thief.

Rosemary7391

Could you not at least ask the police for their advice? I'd imagine they have the time for a quick phone call.

iamtati

Maybe you should communicate with the police so they would definitely help you with that issue, they have more experience.

TonyMMM

Assuming you reported the theft to police at the time, then you should be talking to them now and insisting that they deal with this. The crime may have been screened out at the time, but this would now be a realistic line of investigation, so they should be involved.

You don't seem to have any evidence that the person selling was the thief, so need to be careful about making accusations.

If the aim is to get the thief prosecuted, then taking the wrong action yourself, or posting on social media about them could make that much more difficult.

tealady

I would be very wary of "naming and shaming".
The seller could have bought this legitimately at a police auction.
If you want it back, pay for it and move on.

MysteryMe

pinkshoes wrote: »

I would arrange to go and inspect it and ask if they will accept cash on collection.

If they agree, take some "friends" with you.

Once you verify it's the stolen item, then ask them for their receipt showing proof of purchase. Try and verify if they bought it or stole it. You can then bring up the subject that the item is the one stolen from you, and you need to call the police.

Is it the sort of item that someone would own for a while then sell on? If not, then I imagine the person selling it is the thief.

Don't follow this advice, amateur sleuthing and unsubtle intimidation rarely ends well

I'd leave the matter to the police and pass on details of the auction and if they don't have resource report it to the auction house.

bris

You said earlier in the year, thieves don't hold onto their ill gotten gains very long so the chances of this being sold by the thief is actually pretty slim. Be very careful blaming an innocent purchaser as this could do you more harm than good.

lindens

What was the outcome?