Second hand Gaming To Be 'Criminalised'
Officials of the City of Taylor, Michigan, are today looking into the possibility of making retailers of used gaming equipment take sellers' fingerprints and identity details.
"It tightens up the whole process," said Taylor's director of police services, Jac Desrosiers. "We're doing this because there are instances where those type of items are stolen from homes, and we want to make it harder for thieves. ... There are games out now or video game systems that cost several hundred dollars. If you had a burglary and they take it to one of these chains, they could get $50-$100 (£25-£50)."
The proposed statute goes before the City Council today, and could result in $500 (£250) fines and up to 90 days in prison for non-compliant retailers.
In America, pawnshops and jewellery shops already have to follow the process.
SPOnG spoke to its local (UK, of course) retailer, and was told that a thief could actually make £250 - £300 for a used PS3, and around £18 for a premium game for the console. “We do take ID anyway,” SPOnG was told. “I wouldn't mind if it was a standardised thing, but fingerprints are a bit much.”
Read the full article here...SPOnG Staff
April 17, 2007
Source: SPOnG