So you wouldn’t mind buying a stolen mobile phone then?

Well don't we all like a bargain? You could possibly be offered a stolen phone in the most unlikely of places. In your local pub, by a stranger? Friend of a friend? That nice man who works in the petrol station or perhaps that girl who works in the Kebab shop. What about that friendly couple selling phones at car boot sales? Unusual places that you would not normally expect to get a phone.

Of course not all these phones are stolen. So how can we tell the legitimate phone from the stolen? For a small fee you can check any phone prior to purchase via www.checkmend.com.

Type in the IMEI and it can tell you if any mobile phone is stolen or not. Would you normally buy a phone from these types of outlets? Does it come with the original box and software? Does the whole situation look and feel "Dodgy". If in doubt don't do it.

Still what does it matter it doesn’t do any harm?

No stolen phone comes with a guarantee. However it does come with a criminal history. Some mobile phones are found on trains. Others are taken via pickpockets some through Burglaries. But many are taken through robberies. Street muggings. Some of these robberies are committed by groups of thugs picking on the most vulnerable in our society, sometimes with a sickening level of violence. Some of these victims can be left traumatised for years. If these criminals could not sell the proceeds of crime maybe the crime rate would fall.

We at the NMPCU are committed to bringing these offenders to justice. You can help play your part in the fight against crime. If you know or believe a mobile phone to be stolen don’t be tempted to buy it. If you do you will encourage these criminals to get more phones to make more money.

We would also encourage you to tell us who is trying to sell stolen phones. You can do this anomalously by ringing. We really do appreciate any information.

CRIME STOPPERS on 0800 555 111 or contact your local police station.

What are the risks if I buy a stolen phone?

It would be the equivalent of you driving around in a stolen car. It is very easy for the police to check the status of your phone. One quick check can tell us if it is stolen or been reported lost. (This could very well be theft if you find a phone and then keep it without handing it in to police first). If the phone has been altered, also known as unblocking our computer database will know this. An unblocked phone indicates it’s a stolen phone. The chances of you being arrested if you have a stolen phone are very high.

If the person who sold you a stolen phone is arrested they sometimes give police the names and addresses of all the people they sold a phone to. The offence of handling stolen goods carries more severe penalties than theft. In theory you could get a greater sentence than the person who stole it!