Recycling firm foils mobile thief
Monday, July 22, 2013 - 17:29:40
Mobile phone recycling is often perceived as being an easy way for criminals to pass on stolen handsets, without facing repercussions. But a case in Cambridgeshire has shown that thieves will not prosper if they attempt to use recycling to avoid justice.
A court is currently hearing the case of alleged mobile thief, Jamie Dale, who stands accused of taking a smartphone during a mugging incident last summer and then selling it to a mobile recycling company.
Once in possession, the prosecution argues that Dale decided to sell the phone to a legitimate company, which swiftly ascertained that it had actually been reported stolen.
Dale argues that he purchased the phone himself from a third party and was not involved in the robbery, but was in fact trying to help the victim, after he was attacked by two other men.
Mobile phones which have been reported stolen should be simple enough to identify if they are subsequently sold on to a recycling company, which means if you become the victim of a similar theft, you should alert the police as soon as possible.
This case is ongoing, according to Cambridge News, although there is no doubt about the fact that Dale sold stolen property to a recycling company. He maintains that he simply did not know that it was stolen.
Mobile phones are valuable and attractive to thieves because they are so portable and easy to sell on via black market channels.
While there has been some concern about the handset recycling industry being used by criminals to launder their ill-gotten goods in the past, tighter regulations and better security checks are helping to clamp down on this type of activity.
Using your mobile phone safely to avoid theft is the best option and will let you sell it on for recycling yourself at the end of your contract.
Latest News
Wednesday, May 13, 2020 - 10:32:41
Every industry around the world has been impacted by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and recycling has been especially affected as a result of force [...]
Read More
Wednesday, May 6, 2020 - 21:33:36
Apple has pulled back the curtains on the all-new iPhone SE, bringing with it a raft of eco-friendly design features which aim to improve the green cr [...]
Read More
Wednesday, April 29, 2020 - 21:32:00
Researchers from New Zealand have demonstrated a new recycling solution which could help companies to reclaim rare materials from smartphones, PCs and [...]
Read More