If you have ever considered making a purchase over the internet, the Winnipeg Police want you to look out for signs of theft.

The internet has a reputation for being an unreliable place to purchase items. Many second-hand shoppers feel they never fully guarantee the person they are purchasing an item from actually bought the item. 

“There has been an increase in property theft in the last two years. Part of it is stealing and selling items online,” says Const. Jay Murray of the Winnipeg Police Service.

There are risks when purchasing items from an online seller, particularly if the item was not purchased by the seller.

“If you buy stolen property, there is always a risk that police can take the item back. If we stop you and we run the serial number and the item has been stolen, we will take it back to the original owner,” Murry says.

The police say that even if you purchase the item, the original owner has the right to that property. There is also a risk of facing criminal charges if you are caught in possession of the stolen property. 

“There is nothing wrong with having a discussion with someone when you are going to be purchasing an item from them.”

Murray says that the best way to tell if an item is stolen is to simply trust your gut feeling. “If a price seems out of this world and something doesn’t seem right, It is best to stay away from those types of items."

He also warns Winnipeggers of specific things you may want to look out for when purchasing items over a social media marketplace. 

“If the item doesn’t have packaging that should have the packaging, if the person can’t provide a serial number if the person wants to meet in an area that you aren’t comfortable with, you need to take all of those factors into account,” Murray says.

He adds, “You can always ask the person where they bought the item or why they are selling it in the first place.”   

“There is nothing wrong with having a discussion with someone when you are going to be purchasing an item from them.”