I have actually received stolen goods, once that I know of. It was an
interstate transaction through e-bay. The original owner through their
local police informed me that I could keep the item as long as I signed
an affidavit, effectively written testimony, against the illegal seller
who was also the thief. As a practical matter if an item is of low
enough value it costs more to get it back from an unwilling party than
it's worth. Receiving stolen property isn't a criminal offense unless
the buyer knowingly receives it, otherwise it then becomes a civil
matter. It may be a moral problem for the buyer, or not, I guess. As
they say possession is nine tenths of the law. I didn't have that
problem, the rightful owner gave me permission to keep it.
Bob W wrote:
Not quite, because the police can seize the stolen goods, or order you to
return or, in this case delete, them. At which point you're obliged to carry
out their instructions if you wish to retain a lilywhite conscience and a
clean record.
You are not even entitled to your money back - I think you would have to sue
the seller for it.
Bob
But isn't that the point?
1. You shouldn't keep stolen goods.
2. Noone can enter your property and take it back.
Ergo you can keep it, and for moral soothing you claim good faith.
But impeccable it is not, that's true... :-)
Jostein
2009/7/19 Bob W <[email protected]>:
from the customer's e-reader. As end-users we normally
think ourselves
morally impeccable if we have bought stolen goods in Good
Faith, and
are thereby entitled to keep what we have paid for. So again, I
In English law you have no right to keep stolen goods,
however morally
impeccable you consider yourself to be. On the other hand,
neither the
rightful owner, nor the seller, can enter your property and
seize the stolen
goods.
Bob
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