Police arrest man with 554 suspected stolen cellphones

[Hanno Labuschagne]

Police arrest man with 554 suspected stolen cellphones

On Wednesday, authorities recovered ten large bags of suspected stolen smartphones, tablets, and laptops from a cellphone shop owner in Bloemfontein, according to an official police statement.

This was a joint operation between the Parkweg Firearm Liquor and Second Hand Goods Unit (FLASH) and the Parkweg Intervention Unit.

 

[ttygt]

Nocomein nocomein.

 

[Rickster]

Are they allowed to enter without a warrant?

Good thing the clown doesn't know the law.

 

[skimread]

According to South African law, it is illegal to possess any goods believed to be stolen and be unable to give a satisfactory account of possession.


People found guilty of possessing stolen goods may be liable to the penalties imposed on conviction of theft.


This also applies to people who acquire stolen goods into their possession without having reasonable cause for believing the goods were the seller’s property.

So is buying off classifieds or facebook marketplace illegal?

For the consumer it is impossible to now if something is stolen and stolen goods are sold at the same price as 2nd hand goods.

 

[Jet-Fighter7700]

Cellphones are easy money, and totally explainable with the definition @skimread quoted,

you can say you run a cellphone shop, or a distributor, for a few Pakistani shops,
those dudes hardly have paperwork to prove they are legit, hell, their "staff" hardly have ID either,

barely pay tax or import legit goods meeting all the laws, they skirt around laws all the time,
SARS is always trying to shut them down, but just like the Illegal cigarette business,

easier said than done,

luckily these Pakistanis dont open up Illegal fuel stations, selling diesel or petrol at a discount.
then the ficus is totally screwed. they already lost so much of the cigarette sales.

 

[Gazg]

"After persuading the suspect to grant access"...............is that the nice way of saying they kicked the door down?? /s

 

[PCWARITM]

So is buying off classifieds or facebook marketplace illegal?

For the consumer it is impossible to now if something is stolen and stolen goods are sold at the same price as 2nd hand goods.

Well, that's why it said "may be..."
Plausible deniability is a defense.

 

[satanboy]

 

[wingnut771]

Any of these 500 phones blacklisted?

 

[IamNoone]

Does the author know that it's impossible to blacklist a device in this country.

You are sent from pillar to post and eventually you will just give up.

The mobile network sends you to the SAPS to open a case who will not open a case without an ICT code that the mobile network will not give you without a case number.

 

[wingnut771]

Does the author know that it's impossible to blacklist a device in this country.

You are sent from pillar to post and eventually you will just give up.

The mobile network sends you to the SAPS to open a case who will not open a case without an ICT code that the mobile network will not give you without a case number.

I’ve blacklisted all my lost and stolen phones. If it’s lost, you just need affidavit stamped by saps and if it’s stolen then you need a case number which iirc was smsed to a number of your choosing.

This is with Vodacom by the way.