By Alison Soltau, San Francisco Examiner
Computer-browsing San Franciscans are calling police as many as 15 times a month to report the hawking of their stolen goods on eBay, according to the SFPD.
In the growing world of cyber-fencing, San Francisco’s finest haven’t moved as quickly as the thieves. Not that they don’t know fencing stolen goods by computer is here to stay in a big way.
“In a perfect world the department would have a unit or a couple of people at least, that just monitor it,” said Insp. Rich Leon of the SFPD burglary detail. “This is the future.” Police, who have accompanied some victims to “buy” back their stolen items, confirmed the goods were stolen through serial numbers or, in the case of bikes, because of telltale scratches or a unique combination of components.
Bradley Woehl of American Cyclery on Frederick Street was devastated when a brazen thief calmly pedaled a $3,000 custom-built road bike out of his store.
A store assistant logged onto eBay and soon struck gold when the unique bicycle popped up for sale. He then met up with the seller, who was arrested and convicted. Cops have gone after several other online criminals the same way, Leon said.
“It reduces risk,” Leon said, explaining the appeal for criminals of unloading goods on the Internet. “They don’t have to go around to bars and barber shops or have people come to their homes. They could get online, sell the property, and ship it off to North Carolina the next day.”
Cyber-fencing is a growing national problem, with cops from New York City to San Diego reporting the crime, and some police departments even beefing up their burglary units to include a cyber-theft team.
In the highest profile case so far, the FBI busted a pair of former pawnshop owners from Chicago last November for hawking $2 million in stolen merchandise online.
In recent years the FBI has set up an Internet Fraud Complaints Center to take such complaints. The problem is so prevalent that a Web site, www.itsmissing.com, has sprung up so that potential buyers can check online whether the product they are interested in has been reported stolen.
EBay spokesman Hani Durzy said online fencing was a “miniscule” problem and that his company could not prevent it, but added that eBay had set up a special team that provides cops with records of suspected thieves. EBay requires all online sellers to provide extensive background information.
“Law enforcement tells us that eBay is the worst place for bad guys to try to get rid of property because it is a huge marketplace with a spotlight on it,” he said.