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Source:
www.spf.gov.sg
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Police Operation Against Unlicensed Secondhand
Handphone Dealers |
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Police conducted a 3-day island-wide
operation from 15 Aug 05 to 17 Aug 05 to check on secondhand handphone
outlets. |
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A total of about 236 outlets have been
checked. Of these, 22 were found to be operating without a secondhand
dealer license and another 42 were found to be in breach of the
Secondhand Dealer¡¯s Act. |
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The operation is part of Police¡¯s on-going
efforts to stem the rising trend in handphone thefts and disposing it
subsequently through the secondhand handphone shops. |
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During the operation, 161 handphones were
seized as they did not tally with the record kept by the handphone
dealers. Three stolen handphones were also recovered. These handphones
were recovered successfully as the owners had provided the IMEI numbers
when they lodge a Police report. |
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Under the Secondhand Dealers Act, anyone
dealing in secondhand goods in a shop must obtain a secondhand licence. |
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Secondhand dealers found operating without a
valid licence may be sentenced to a fine not exceeding $200 for the
first offence, and to a fine not exceeding $1000 or to imprisonment for
a term not exceeding 6 months for any subsequent offence, upon
conviction. |
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Secondhand dealers are to apply for a
secondhand license if they have not done so. They may apply through the
Police Licensing division or visit the Police Licensing website at
http://www.spf.gov.sg/licence
for more information. |
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Action will also be taken against dealers
who do not maintain proper records or are found to be trading in stolen
goods. |
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The Secondhand Dealers Act requires dealers
of used good to maintain records of goods purchased such as the identity
of seller, description of goods brought, purchase price etc and the
records of goods sold. |
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These requirements are for the purpose of
preventing stolen goods from passing through the hands of secondhand
dealers. The records will help Police to solve cases where stolen goods
have been disposed of through such dealers. |
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Deputy Director Operations, DAC Somo
Vendesan, said that ¡°Police will continue its effort in checking
secondhand handphone dealers as part of our crime control strategies.
Our enforcement is aimed not only at ensuring that secondhand handphone
shops operate with a licence and maintain proper records, but also at
preventing them from being used as a convenient means for disposing of
stolen handphones. We will not hesitate to take tough enforcement action
against dealers who have flouted the law by operating without a license
or are found to be trading in stolen goods. |
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Handphones, being portable and handy,
remains an attractive target for crime. Handphone owners are adviced to
keep their handphone in a safe and secure manner. Handphone owners can
retrieve their own IMEI number by pressing *#06# on their handphone. |
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Police would like to advise victims who have
their handphones stolen to lodge a police report and include the IMEI
number so as to make recovery possible." |
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
19 August 2005 @ 9.20 pm |
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Source:
www.spf.gov.sg Media Release 19 Aug
2005 |
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Police act against unlicensed second-hand handphone dealers
