THIEVES carry stolen instruments, pawn shops only sell them.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away I bought a van from a rather shady character on the recomendation of a friend. What did I know? I was young, I wanted a van, and it was a good deal.

About a year later the state police caught up with me and I spent a day in their headquarters answering questions producing papers, and waiting while they took my van apart to read any and all serial numbers they could find.

The results of their investigations must have been inconclusive for they let me keep the van and let me go. The "dealer" I bought it from had disappeared by the next time I went into that town but that was several years later and proves nothing. I had some rather strong words with my friend. He acknowledged that some of the deals at that place were too good to be true.

The end result of this little story is to be very careful when offered a good deal on anything. If you buy stolen property and the police manage to retrieve it for the owner then you will be out of luck. You will not get your money back and you will not have the item either.