Oklahoma has one of the strictest laws in the nation pertaining to the possession of stolen property. In Oklahoma, the burden of proof basically falls on the buyer of merchandise. The buyer must show that they exercise reasonable due diligence in making sure that the goods they buy weren’t stolen. Basically the law says the buyer should know or should have known the goods how the background of the goods. The penalty for felony possessing stolen property is a $500 fine and up-to 5 years in prison.

It’s the responsibility of the buyer to ask questions as to how the seller obtained the merchandise that’s for sale. If the seller is acting under suspicious circumstances then one can presume that the merchandise in question is illegitimate. A very simple, almost foolproof test is to never purchase anything that the seller cannot produce a purchase receipt for.  But if the seller has a receipt proving the purchase date of the exact merchandise, make a copy and keep it. This is further evidence that you used reasonable care to investigate where the property came from.

In addition to getting original purchase receipts, there are several items that one needs to be suspicious about.  Suspicious items include those most often resold by theives.

Receiving Stolen Property Like Jewelry and Watches:

Diamond rings and gold chains are one of the most frequently stolen pieces of merchandise and are often the target of theft. As a result, jewelry dealers must do thorough record keeping and checking in order to make sure that the merchandise they buy is legitimate.

Oklahoma Stolen Bicycle Crimes

A new bicycle can cost between $500 and $2000 dollars making them an attractive target for thieves. Anyone with a chain cutter can easily steal an unattende bicycle.

Stolen Property Like Smart Phones and Notebook Computers

The next most valuable items of consumer property frequently targeted include smart phones and notebook computers. Further, burglars target these electronics in internet cafes and coffee shops. An important element about this crime is affixing the value of a stolen phone. Many over zealous Tulsa County criminal prosecutors will over value the phone in an effort to charge the Tulsa County receiving stolen property crime as a felony

Free Consultation: Charges in Tulsa County Receiving Stolen Property

When it comes to buying jewelry, watches, bicycles and smartphones on the street and not from an established, reputable dealer, it’s probably a good idea to remember the old saying “if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is”. If you receive charges in Tulsa County  on receiving stolen property, you’ll need to hire an experienced and knowledgeable Tulsa Oklahoma criminal defense attorney like the ones at our firm. Please give us a call today for a free, confidential consultation.