JAMAICA STOLEN COMPUTERS Buyer beware! - JamaicaObserver.com:

Buyer beware!

Purchasing stolen computers, electronics could land you in jail

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

PERSONS who buy stolen computers and other electronic devices run the risk of being prosecuted, the police have said.

The warning follows the recovery of three laptop computers, cellphones and several thumb drives by the police during raids in the Van Street area of Rollington Town, Kingston, on Friday. The police suspect that the items may have been stolen in and around the New Kingston area. No arrests were made, but several suspects are now being sought.

According to the Cybercrime Investigation and Research Unit of the Organised Crime Investigation Division, for several months thieves operating in Kingston have stolen a number of laptop computers, thumb drives, cellphones and other electronic devices from parked motor vehicles, homes and offices.

Most of the stolen items, the police said, are taken to technicians to be wiped and restored to factory setting and then sold at 'extremely low prices'.
But the police are warning purchasers of the stolen items that the original data can be recovered so as to ascertain the true owner.

'Anyone who has bought or is buying these stolen laptop computers and other electronics will be held accountable for unlawful possession or other offences, where applicable,' the Cybercrime Unit said in a release on Friday.

The Cybercrime Unit said Friday's recovery of the stolen items was made possible by special techniques and devices which enabled detectives to locate and identify the area from which the stolen computers were being used.

In the meanwhile, the police are asking members of the public whose laptop computers have been stolen to contact the unit.