Intellectual Property Law

How would I know if I just bought stolen property?

I bought a tomtom on Craig's list and I am a little bit worried that the person I bought it from may have stolen it based on the condition it was in. How can I find out if I bought stolen property off of a site like this?

Public Comments

1. Take it to law enforcement and they can run the serial numbers on it. Be aware that if it is they will keep it and return it to the rightful owner ( after the case is cleared) and expect you to tell them what you know about who you bought it from.
2. You ASK them.... is this stolen property, BEFORE you buy it. If you don't know that it is stolen, you're still in possession of stolen property but you more than likely won't be charged, but guess what, they will confiscate the items from you and you will not get them back. They may order the person (if caught) that sold it to you... to pay you back for the amount you paid them, but that is rare. Be very careful... one time I bought a saddle for a very low price and I even asked the guy, this is too good to be true did you steal this and he said no that it was his, then about a week later the sheriff's office knocked on my door and took it and I paid $400 for it. Come to find out a year later that this Sheriff's office was working with the crooks and they would come pick the items up and then give them back to the crooks to go sell them again! Make SURE if they come take an item that you get a receipt for it because when I went to complain about never getting my item back or money for it, because I had no receipt from the sheriff's office they just blew me off. It was a lesson learned. If it's too good to be true it probably is!