It seems like there is an opportunity here for some enterprising person with resources to create a comprehensive website for stolen items that is free for all to use and can be used all around the country. The thought of each police department having their own list is, frankly, unacceptable. What do you do in a major metropolitan area that has dozens of suburbs? Check each one individually? Cmon! And, of course, it is worse yet when the person crosses state lines. I would imagine that police departments would eventually find that a centralized system would be easier for them rather than looking things up individually every time a person calls. And that could be used with the site owner as a way to fund the website. I imagine there are some wealthy people who have been victims of theft that would love to see something done about it- and would pay to do so. Or they could pay $ to invest in stock in a new business like this.



I'm sure there would be someone who would try to cheat the system somehow. As to the notion that cheating could happen, I ask this. Which would you rather have- Craigslist as it is with fraudulent deals and it's obvious warts, or nothing? I'd choose the flawed CL any day.