POLICE are using popular online auction site eBay to sell off criminals’ assets.
Up for grabs in the Warrington area already are a TV, a DVD player, a games console, a vacuum cleaner and an MP3 player.
Detective Sergeant Karen Jaundrill said: “These goods are authentic but have been bought with money obtained through crime.
“By selling items in this way, we hope to generate a bigger income from criminal assets, which in turn will benefit victims of crime and be reinvested in local policing initiatives.”
The public can purchase items that have formed part of a court confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).
DS Jaundrill said: “The purpose of POCA is to deprive a convicted criminal of any financial benefit they have made through their crimes. POCA empowers convicted criminals to sell their assets in order to pay off their confiscation order.
Cash raised from these online auctions will go back to the Home Office, with Cheshire Police receiving a share of the proceeds.
Visit the Cheshire Police website www.cheshire.police.uk or the Cheshire Police page on eBay http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/cheshirepolice/ to start bidding.
Criminals' assets sold on eBay
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
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Good idea. What happens to all the stolen/found items that are recovered but never reunited with their legal owners though? I remember seeing a local news article a year or so ago where the police had a big garage full of bicycles… which for whatever reason were never reunited with their owners. Do all these items get given to charity, sold or scrapped eventually ?