Your Stolen Items Could End Up On eBay
It's the most popular way to buy and sell items online, but eBay is also becoming a market for a new generation of crooks.
NBC 6's Willard Shepard talked to a South Florida resident who found his stolen items up for sale on the popular Web site.
Jim Reuth said his trailer, containing valuable collector train sets, was stolen from outside his photography business in Broward County. He said he found his items on eBay.
"They hopped up there for sale," Reuth said. "I was very surprised after I looked there and saw they were mine. I called my wife and said, 'Look what I found.'"
Police said your valuables could end up on eBay too.
"The ability to purchase and sell stolen items is present," said Sgt. Tom Palmer of Broward Sheriff's Office. "Unfortunately, it's difficult to track some items."
Without knowing it, you could be buying stolen goods. Palmer said he thinks it happens frequently.
"People have to be aware what they purchase from strangers they never even meet," Palmer said.
Determined to get his trains back, Reuth reached out to the man who was selling his items, Rob Theimer.
"I wanted to see if I could get it all back," Reuth said. "I wanted to see if he would sell them outside eBay."
He said he e-mailed Theimer and asked him to cancel the auction. But Theimer replied, "It would be easier if you placed bids."
Reuth started bidding -- $237 for his own train set and $122 for another. The total to win was $526.
After the e-mail communication, Reuth decided to meet Theimer at a McDonald's parking lot in north Broward County. Reuth called police and offered to go undercover.
"He pulled up next to me and opened his trunk to show me the trains," Reuth said.
Detectives watched and then swooped in. Theimer was caught red-handed.
"Turns out there was a second person involved and they had some other stolen stuff," Reuth said.
Detectives recovered three stolen motorcycles and parts that Theimer put up for sale on eBay.
Theimer pleaded no contest to the theft charges.
Officers said that eBay was very cooperative in the investigation.
eBay forbids listing stolen goods or those with altered serial numbers. For more on eBay's policy, visit http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/stolen.html.