In NewZealand. I just call the main Police station of the town/city I'm in & ask if I can check a serial # of the item. There's a special serial number n cellphones.
They check the number & so far all that's happened is that they have said "That numbers not listed in our database" in a bored tone.
I'm not sure what happens if it is 'listed'. I'm not really interested in getting involved if it is listed, except to get the item to them, unless there's some other crime involved that would nessistate extra info (like murder).
Ok I loose what I paid for it, the owner gets it back, That's about it.
For cars here. We have a database setup where you can check the numberplates for car details, body & engine tag #, model/colour/year, when it's been checked for WOF,, if it passed & the Kms at the time. If it's listed as 'Stolen'.
It's also handy as car part retailers/wreckers can use it to identify your car 100% to make absolute sure the part the are supplying is the correct one for your vehicle.
For a extra $30 you can get a detailed report of if there's money owed to finance company's for the car, or if it's been used as collateral for a loan.
When you buy a car here. Both seller & buyer fill out forms & either post them to Vehicle registrations, or take it into the local Post Office.
The buyer pays $10 & ownership title is changed immediately & reciepts & paperwork (plastic slip with transfer details on it) are given in return. This is the best way to do it.
I have heard nightmares about $$ being owed by previous owners of cars who have used the car to get cash loans.
Even to the point where the old owners have filled out a loan paperwork & got it passed, but not signed it.
Then while the owner & buyer are about to walk into the Post office to do the change of ownership paperwork, the sellers ducked out to the loanshop next door for a minute, signed the loan, then returned to the Post office to do the, now false, change of ownership..
. Yes we do have a Meth problem here now too...
If you are buying something for cash, meet up with the seller outside your local Police station, in its security camera area.
If they don't want to do that.. It sounds dodgy enough already.
Having a UV torch is handy. Sometimes there's UV writing on electrical items. I have found it before. These days it's not so common. But with UV LEDs a torch is a $10, even less, item.
And handy to have. Engine coolants UV reactive, find that leak....So is tonic water.& other liquids. I 'mark' my scrap metal with flourescent builders chaulk powder (string line powder) even the tiniest speck shows up in the dark, incase it gets stolen, it leaves a trail too. Wherever it's been, specks drop off & stay there unseen untill the UV hits it.
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