Portsmouth bargain hunters warned of 'suspicious' deals in campaign against stolen goods
"The trade in stolen goods often sits behind a wider network of criminality.”
Bargain hunters across Portsmouth and the surrounding area are being urged to think twice before buying second-hand items, especially if they look as though they could have been stolen.
A new campaign is being launched by the charity Crimestoppers to raise awareness of the impact of buying, handling and selling stolen goods. The campaign encourages people to share information anonymously about those believed to be storing, selling or profiting from stolen property.
Crimestoppers said it wanted to challenge the idea that buying goods at a suspiciously low price was a harmless bargain - with a particular emphasis on electronic devices and jewellery.
The charity said the trade in stolen goods can have a wider impact on victims, businesses and communities. A stolen mobile phone, for example, can mean more than simply losing an expensive device, with personal photographs, contacts and access to important services also potentially being lost forever.
Beth Simpson, regional manager for Crimestoppers, said: "Many people would never consider themselves connected to crime, but buying goods that seem suspiciously cheap or ignoring concerns about stolen items being sold locally can unintentionally support crime in our communities.
"Every stolen item has a victim. It could be a local business owner, a family whose property has been taken, or someone whose mobile phone has been stolen.
"The trade in stolen goods often sits behind a wider network of criminality that causes real harm to communities across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight."
Thrifters are being encouraged to be cautious when buying items that are offered well below their usual market value. This could include goods advertised through social media, online marketplaces and unofficial sellers.
Crimestoppers warned that people buying such items may not always know whether they are stolen, while some goods could also be counterfeit or unsafe.
The charity is asking anyone with information about stolen property to come forward anonymously. This could include information about where goods are being stored or sold, the people involved, vehicles being used, online profiles or locations regularly linked to suspected activity.
Crimestoppers said even a small piece of information could help build a clearer picture of criminal activity in local communities.
To make a report to Crimestoppers, people can call anonymously on 0800 555 111, or go to crimestoppers-uk.org.