Feb 22 2007

By Vicky Huntley

BUYING cheap sat navs funds a cycle of crime which could end up with children becoming addicted to drugs,says a top cop.

Bracknell's deputy commander Insp Simon Bowden is warning people off buying cut price GPS systems on eBay.

He fears items stolen from the recent spate of car crime in Bracknell Forest may end up on the internet auction site.

He said: "The sat nav you're buying on eBay today could be the one your neighbour had nicked last week.

"It's funding crime and it's funding drugs. If you buy stolen sat navs on eBay you could be getting your son or daughter hooked on heroin. All this stuff that gets nicked, they're not nicking it to keep it for themselves - they're selling it for drugs."

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Insp Bowden says the methods of selling stolen goods have moved with the times and he has now vowed to get tough.

There were nearly 200 used sat navs on eBay in the category of GPS devices listed within 10 miles of Bracknell this week.

He said: "It's the same as the old 'I got it down the pub' story - people know the stuff is hookie but they buy it anyway.

"If you are offered a sat nav for £50 and you buy it, you could get done for handling stolen goods."

He says people tempted to buy items they know are seriously under-priced should only go ahead if they know exactly where it has come from, has all its packaging and they are able to see the receipt.

Car crime is the biggest policing problem in Bracknell Forest. Last week the News revealed the top 10 car crime hotspots in the borough and Insp Bowden has now ordered his officers to knock on doors and tell car owners to remove valuables from their vehicles - even in the dead of night.

Insp Bowden says police will be investing more time and money in investigating what ends up on eBay.

He said: "By buying some nicked gear you could be doing someone else some serious damage."