By Steve Ranger, 6 July 2006 16:40
NEWS
A new database has been created to crack down on the selling of stolen gadgets.
Users of the CheckMEND system can find out whether the mobile phone, bicycle, laptop, digital camera or iPod they want to buy is stolen or not.
The system is linked to databases held by the police, mobile phone companies and insurers, and holds a hotlist of 3.8 million stolen items worth £570m. Around a third of these are mobile phones. Another 100,000 items are added every month.
Checks can be carried out to see if a product is stolen by entering an IMEI (for mobiles), a serial number or other ID. The database can tell the user if the item is reported stolen and, in the case of mobile phones, whether it is barred in the UK or has been reprogrammed.
The data on the system is also used by police to make around 15,000 searches each month, of which around 20 per cent successfully locate information on the item.
All stolen phones reported to the UK mobile networks are on the database but information on other gadgets such as iPods or PDAs will only be found if the owner has previously recorded details such as serial numbers at the www.immobilise.com website.
Commander Steve Allen, head of the Violent Crime Directive at the Metropolitan Police, said he welcomed anything that made it harder for stolen property to be sold on. "We know that in at least half of street crimes mobile phones are stolen. It won't be a surprise that a key part of our strategy is about the disruption of the market for stolen goods," he said.
He added: "The fight against crime is not something that the police can do on their own."
A search on CheckMEND costs £1.50 by text, plus network charges. An online search costs between £1.00 and £2.99 but users of this will receive a printable certificate of authenticity.
Most commonly stolen gadgets (in order of most first), according to CheckMEND database
Comments
There are 4 comments. Join the discussion
1. Andrew
There are three issues that need to be addressed, and a database only works when the first and last link in the chain reports the crime. People have a misconception that technology will prevent crime. This is a complete fallacy; ultimately people have to get involved and that is where the system breaks irrespective of the technology.
The problem as I see it
1. A person who has decided to steal something will steal it.
2. A person who steals something and decides to sell it, will sell it.
3. A person who decides to buy a stolen item will buy it.
The only way that this database will make a difference is if the theft is reported and details logged, and even then only if the person receiving the same stolen goods reports it. Technology has almost nothing to offer.
2. Simon Cox
£3 to find out if a second hand gaget is legit? And some dodgey dealer is going to give you the real id numbers? This is rubbish. If the Police really want this to work they should make the data available free to the public.
3. Evan
I can see Andrew's POV but I don't think he's entirely right. the market for stolen goods is not entirely amongst poeple who know they're stolen. I've bought second hand on eBay, from various shops, and off mates. Being able to check the provenance of what I want to buy is useful - if the eBay seller refuses to give you the serial number you won't even bid. Ultimately this sort of thing will reduce the resale value of stolen goods, and improve detection, making them less attractive.
I agree with Simon though - if this information was free there's be a much bigger takeup and a much greater impact.
4. Michael Dixon.
Free access? Oh no, not in the UK. After all we still use revenue sharing 087x and 084x for call centres and "customer service". Well farmers use bulls to service cows in the same way that some companies service customers.