Do you think this would be unethical?

That would be making an assumption. To be clear i have never stolen anything and am not defending anybody that does. But if somebody wants to sell me some equipment for cheap , im not gonna ask questions. But mostly i live under the u get what u pay for rule. So i buy most of my stuff new

 

I believe this an actual crime - receiving stolen goods

 

Yes but only if u know they are stolen

 

Not in Michigan...
Receiving stolen property is a crime, even if one doesn't know it's stolen.


From what I've read in the paper, and from what friends that have ran into this, cops generally just want the property back. They can issue tickets and charge with a crime though.

 

How are u supposed to know something is stolen if u buy it ?

 

Kinda a bi.. isn't it?
Which is why I think most of the time leo's just want the items back. On the other hand it does give them something to charge a fence on, even if there is no other evidence of them fencing.

A friend of mine that ran into this issue asked the cop the same question. The cop's reply "You should have known as you spent half as much as what they are going used for." (He bought a small trailer for riding lawn mowers and such.)

 

Actually if a item can be traced to your possession I don't think the law discerns those who plead "I didnt know"

To wit, my position is not a aggressive one versus that of Tibbitt, I can almost see where he is going. HOWEVER... one scenario that came to mind is the following from Baltimore. ...

Scenario.

You are pumping gas. Someone runs by you says here hold this for me until I get back and flees.

While you are processing the item in your hand the law comes around the corner sees you with it or possible handoff to you. Usually people do things almost automatically and there they are arrested for holding the literal bag.

 

Sometimes if it's "too good to be true" it's because the seller has fallen on hard times and need $xxx.xx in a hurry. I've purchased tools and tool cabinets at unbelievable prices before just because the seller needed the cash. I was nice about it, though, and offered to 'hold' the items for a time and, if they came up with the money, if they wanted the stuff back...okay.

I've got a $3500 chain cabinet on the truck because the seller got a good deal on bulk and (according to my ex MiL) I'm part jew. (I paid $1680 for the cabinet and a step box)

Is every Connex radio being sold over the air stolen?

 

They call it a fire sale for a reason. Its hard to distinguish legitimate vs illegitimate pennies on the dollar deals and always will be. I worked in several industries where corporations threw away fortunes. Ive been paid to torch property for scrap that i was offering 10x that for. Company policy. And boy did it hurt.


Do the best ya can to keep a clean conscience i guess.