What percentage of Craigslist stuff is stolen?

Burnin' oil · 02-23-2010, 11:58 AM

I occasionally look for tools on Craigslist and many of them appear to be stolen. Poor, vague or incorrect descriptions, vague contact info, a bunch of stuff for cheap, etc. Organized fencing which, as long as we are on the subject, also applies to the "We buy gold" places.

pwd72s · 02-23-2010, 12:06 PM

Creaigslist, ebay...after a conversation with a local cop, I quit buying from either. With no buyers, the market in stolen goods would dry up. Yeah, I know I'm dreaming...but at least I can feel good about my choice.

70SATMan · 02-23-2010, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Creaigslist, ebay...after a conversation with a local cop, I quit buying from either. With no buyers, the market in stolen goods would dry up. Yeah, I know I'm dreaming...but at least I can feel good about my choice.

Paul, I wouldn't discount those two markets just because they can be used that way. Flea markets and yardsales can as well.

As with anything, a little time invested in determining the source can weed out 90% of the criminal. I can usually make a quick determination with a couple of well placed questions or simply by the ad alone.

I see more listings from "semi" professional sources than regular Joes, including the questionable.

varmint · 02-23-2010, 12:35 PM

bought some saddlebags of craigslist a few years back.

the seller told me to meet him near the watts towers after dark. and to bring cash.

turned out to be a really nice old guy. one of the first black motorcycle cops in l.a. sat around istening to his stories for a few hours.

but yes, there is a huge percentage of stolen stuff. and a lot of the people on craigslist are weirdo/perverts. don't care if you're just buying a set of shocks form them. run a black light over it and hose the thing down with antiseptic before installing the part.

Jim Garfield · 02-23-2010, 01:48 PM

A couple of years ago some scumbags cut the lock on the utility trailer/tool box that I usually leave on job sites. They got about $7500 worth of tools and only took the expensive stuff. The Newport cops were actually pretty good about looking for prints and spent a couple hours dusting the trailer, only to determine that the slimeballs wore gloves.

I started checking craigslist and ebay, and sure enough a few days later I was pretty sure that some of the stuff was being sold by someone in Fall River MA (about 20 miles away). Their ebay listing was about 10 pages long and was filled with circular saws, compressors, pneumatic tools, etc. Way too many small expensive tools for anyone to be legitimately selling. I called the detective back and told him about the site, but they never took it any farther, maybe because it was across the state line.

I ended up getting about .50 on the dollar from my insurance co. Luckily for me all of the really expensive Festool stuff was inside the locked project at the time or I really would have been depressed. I'm sure that ebay and craigslist has made it easy for thieves to get rid of the loot.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

You shoulda' got creative and said "I'm looking for a circular saw - where can I pick it up?" and then show up with a dozen friends with tire irons.

89911 · 02-23-2010, 01:57 PM

Bought a 65" HD tv off of Craigs a few years ago. The guy gave me a reciept that looked a bit odd. I called it the next day and it was some guys cell phone. The wrong remote was with it and the owners manual was printed from an inkjet. Me thinks it might be stolen.

silverc4s · silverc4s's Garage

Two" oddly "connected facts:
1. You can now purchase owners manuals - complete with lerather pouch, etc. for virtually any late model car, and electronic remotes for same, from a few large vendors on ebay.

2. when you look at late model used cars, esp those that have been cycled through an auction the manuals, keys and openers are all missing.

I do not recall this being the case prior to the rise of the internet & ebay...

Scuba Steve · 02-23-2010, 05:19 PM

I've sold a few things on Crraigslist. Not stolen - just leftover stuff from college like my old dorm fridge. The only thing I remember buying from there was the glue I needed for installing wood flooring at my house. It was leftover from someone else, and he threw in about half a bottle of the glue remover since he wasn't going to need it anymore.

But with any dealings from Craigslist I always take a friend.

LakeCleElum · 02-23-2010, 08:39 PM

Recently: Friends coming from Australia. Wanted me to find them a used GPS for their travels....Searched Ebay a lot........Noticed early on, the cheap ones did not include a mount, software or manual......Tells me it's been stolen and I move on........

legion · 02-24-2010, 05:09 AM

It's far easier to fence on eBay. You can use a stolen account, you don't have to meet the buyer in person, and you can put a fake return address on the package...

LeeH · 02-24-2010, 06:09 AM

There are plenty of legit sellers who buy at auctions, estate sales, thrift stores, garage sales etc. then sell on CL or Ebay. Still, I am shocked at how many GPS and cell phones are for sale without a power cord on CL. Do people really buy these?

David McLaughlin · David McLaughlin's Garage

I was asked to watch a loss prevention video at my night job at Barnes and Noble. The video documented a guy who had stolen 5-6 audio books a day, 2-3 days a week for 3 years before finally being busted. He said he made $60k in the three years just off stuff stolen from B&N and sold on ebay. It's way to easy for crooks these days.

legion · 07:45 AM

When my friend worked at Best Buy in high school (pre-eBay), they had a major problem with employees stealing things. They eventually secured all of the entrances/exits, making it hard for employees to walk out with stuff.

What did the employees do? They started filling up safes and refridgerators with stuff to steal, then buying the safe or fridge.

rcooled · 02-24-2010, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by legion

When my friend worked at Best Buy in high school (pre-eBay), they had a major problem with employees steeling things. They eventually secured all of the entrances/exits, making it hard for employees to walk out with stuff.

What did the employees do? They started filling up safes and refridgerators with stuff to steal, then buying the safe or fridge.

Reminds me of when I worked in the hardware dept. of large discount department store many years ago. One of the guys had his friend come in every now & then to buy a metal garbage can. The cans cost less than 10 bucks in those days but each one was filled with power tools and other expensive items. He would always put the can in a shopping cart so it wouldn't seem too heavy. Long before eBay and CL, it was common for guys to show up in the student parking lot at my highschool during lunch and sell clothing, record albums, tools, etc. out of the trunk of their car.

ODDJOB UNO · ODDJOB UNO's Garage

if ya see my gawd damn WARN 9000i winch and cradle on there. yell my way. serial numbers in (3) places. reported stolen to phx p.d..

trust me...............................this would be a VERY STOOOOOO-PID BUY on anyjuans part.

freeking thieves. cant get off their worthless asses and get a JOB!

t-tom · 02-24-2010, 08:27 AM

I would have to disagree. I think the percentage of things on ebay that are stolen is far lower than you think. I sell on ebay for a living, and I can tell you they are a pain in the ass when it comes "fishy" items. Is there some stolen stuff being sold on ebay...sure but on a whole a pretty small percentage. Its a very safe and easy place to do business. It all it takes is a little common sense. If it seems too good to be true.......