Police crackdown on stolen goods

12/10/04
The State Government has introduced a string of tough new policing measures to tackle the widespread problem of buying, selling and distributing stolen goods.
Launching the 'Don't Buy Crime' campaign today, Attorney General and Acting Police Minister Jim McGinty said police would target the criminal offence of selling stolen goods as part of their continuing crackdown on burglary.
Last month the State Government introduced new laws to force people to account for property or wealth suspected to have been gained illegally.

"The latest initiative includes increased police inspections of dealers, pawnbrokers and flea markets, and targeting people suspected of heavy dealing in stolen goods," Mr McGinty said.
He said the 'Don't Buy Crime' advertising campaign was a strong reminder to the community of the impact of burglary to feed the market for stolen goods.
"Many people who knowingly or unknowingly buy stolen goods are unaware of the social and economic pain suffered by the families and businesses which are the victims of those burglaries," Mr McGinty said.
"Quite often, stolen goods are sold to fund drug habits which have huge negative consequences for our community.
"If people are offered goods with prices that seem too good to be true, they probably are and they should report the seller to the police, because their home could be the next target for a burglar."
The 'Don't Buy Crime' campaign will run on television and in newspapers for two weeks in October and again in November/December.

Mr McGinty said the campaign was also part of Burglar Beware - a State Government blitz which had seen metropolitan residential burglaries drop by 29 per cent or 2,055 since July 1 this year.
"That is on top of the 17 per cent achieved in the past financial year and, at the same time, we have seen a three per cent increase in police clearance of residential burglaries across Western Australia," he said.
"We are sending a very clear message to the public - and to criminals - that it is a serious criminal offence to buy, sell, or distribute stolen goods."
Mr McGinty said police had gathered intelligence indicating that a high proportion of stolen goods were sold at swap meets, pawnbrokers and second hand dealers.

Police were also working with pawnbrokers to establish a code of conduct to help promote good practice across the industry and stamp out trade in stolen goods.

"If you have been buying or selling stolen goods, chances are the police are monitoring you - so beware - they know what you look like, where you hang out, who your associates are and how you get rid of stolen goods," Mr McGinty said.
"You will get caught.
"Burglar Beware and Don't Buy Crime involve the co-operative efforts of the Office of Crime Prevention and the WA Police Service and they prove we can crack down on burglaries and other criminals and make our communities safer."
The Don't Buy Crime campaign is part of WA's inaugural Community Safety Month - http://www.communitysafetymonth.wa.gov.au - a showcase of initiatives on crime and injury prevention, and road and fire safety.
Attorney General's office: 9220 5000