What to do if you have bought a stolen handset?

Forums › Mobile handsets › What to do if you have bought a stolen handset?

toyonut

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#159919 17-Dec-2014 10:25

I have not bought one, just this thread here got me thinking about it. What do you do if you happen to have bought a stolen handset? Do you drop it in to the police or does Vodafone, Telecom or 2 Degrees have a facility for handing a phone in to them so they can contact the owner?

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sonyxperiageek

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#1198926 17-Dec-2014 10:45

They should've checked the phone by the NZ TCF's Stolen Phone Database before buying it..

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rendezvous

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#1198928 17-Dec-2014 10:48

I'd say report it to Police

gnfb

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#1198929 17-Dec-2014 10:49

sonyxperiageek: They should've checked the phone by the NZ TCF's Stolen Phone Database before buying it..

we have a NZ TCF stolen phone database ? who knew! hmmm thinking........

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tdgeek

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#1198930 17-Dec-2014 10:49

I'd drop it in to the Police. I'd then regret the lost funds, then I'd move on, and take sonyxperiageeks advice in the future

freitasm

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#1198935 17-Dec-2014 10:54

gnfb:
sonyxperiageek: They should've checked the phone by the NZ TCF's Stolen Phone Database before buying it..

we have a NZ TCF stolen phone database ? who knew! hmmm thinking........

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gnfb

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#1198940 17-Dec-2014 10:58

gnfb:
sonyxperiageek: They should've checked the phone by the NZ TCF's Stolen Phone Database before buying it..

we have a NZ TCF stolen phone database ? who knew! hmmm thinking........

I wonder what other useful databases there are out there

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tigercorp

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#1198944 17-Dec-2014 11:01

gnfb:
gnfb:
sonyxperiageek: They should've checked the phone by the NZ TCF's Stolen Phone Database before buying it..

we have a NZ TCF stolen phone database ? who knew! hmmm thinking........

I wonder what other useful databases there are out there

The best one is www.use.com.mon.sen.se :)

kingjj

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#1199096 17-Dec-2014 13:28

tigercorp:
gnfb:
gnfb:
sonyxperiageek: They should've checked the phone by the NZ TCF's Stolen Phone Database before buying it..

we have a NZ TCF stolen phone database ? who knew! hmmm thinking........

I wonder what other useful databases there are out there

The best one is www.use.com.mon.sen.se :)

Gosh Darn It. For some stupid reason I actually clicked on that link and while waiting for it to load the penny dropped... If this were Reddit you'd be receiving Gold good sir.

Now I'm off to reply to all those emails from that Prince In Nigeria.

Batman

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#1199114 17-Dec-2014 13:51

report to police

go and cry in the shower

move on

lesson learnt

nigelj

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#1199150 17-Dec-2014 14:04

paulmilbank: I have not bought one, just this thread here got me thinking about it. What do you do if you happen to have bought a stolen handset? Do you drop it in to the police or does Vodafone, Telecom or 2 Degrees have a facility for handing a phone in to them so they can contact the owner?

Police is the obvious one, take as much documentation as you can about the purchase, courier labels, addresses, etc. If it's Trade Me you could also potentially file a Community Watch report to them saying that the goods were stolen and subject to Police File Number (whatever number the cops give you).

It's the ultimate defense against a 'receiving stolen goods' type charge (i.e. they won't charge you if you report getting it and then finding out it was stolen).

To be honest the whole 'ask for the IMEI number' thing is a bit silly, they'll know it's stolen and they'll just be smart and provide an ID number from a non-stolen same model phone. Only time it'd work is if you asked to physically inspect the goods before finalizing purchase (and that still relies on phones getting reported/listed as soon as possible and not 2-4 weeks down the line).

toyonut

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#1203635 25-Dec-2014 15:30

Good answer, I think that covers it in a nutshell.

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Batman

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#1203678 25-Dec-2014 17:52

I guess depends on how busy your local police is. If lots of big cases they won't chase after then 245th lost phone of the month.

nigelj

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#1203686 25-Dec-2014 17:58

joker97: I guess depends on how busy your local police is. If lots of big cases they won't chase after then 245th lost phone of the month.

If they don't at least give you a file number and enter the IMEI into their system to compare against other reports then I'd suggest they are in need of complaint to the IPCA. Don't expect instant miracles, but at least you know that you've done the right thing. Anyway, it's practically a brick so at least you've put it to good use (i.e. to maybe one day catching a crim).

Batman

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#1203752 25-Dec-2014 20:06

Yes forgot that bit... Hopefully these crooks get caught By the long arm of the law