Cash for Stolen Phones
- Here’s an easy way to get some cash: Drop a used smartphone in any of the 13 ATM-like kiosks at shopping malls around the Washington region and, within minutes, the machine will spit out as much as a few hundred dollars.
The process is so simple that local police fear these ecoATMs are fueling one of the nation’s most pervasive criminal trends — cellphone theft.
The kiosks have become a particular thorn for police in the District, where 40 percent of all forced robberies last year involved a cellphone, the highest percentage in the nation.
The company claims to run phone serial numbers against known stolen phones, but it isn't their fault the lists are less than comprehensive and does nothing to address freshly stolen phones.
Any of these things in Chicago? Apple-pickers would be burning them up like mad.
Labels: info for the police
posted by SCC at 12:04 AM
44 Comments:
where do I invest in one of these. I'll set it up in Lincoln Park. I'll have to empty it a few times a night.
One in Chicago ridge mall by the food court
Bad business model.
Good gimmick.
This story is so stupid that it doesn't deserve a wise-ass comment.
There is. Requires a scan of your id and thumb print. I think it also takes your photo.
One in the Lincolnwood mall.
I seldom say this -- but ban these things. People are dying already, elderly getting thrown down flights of concrete stairs, etc. (Fullerton stop here?) and this is just going to make matters worse.
How about a machine that puts a Norplant in your arm and gives you a couple hundred? User can get her hair done, and we save a couple million easy.
OFF TOPIC: EVERYBODY read "THEE RANT" by NYPD, best stuff I've read in a long time!!!!! Seriously this is great,will make your day. Obama said "I need a girl who can fish fight fart fuck smoke cigars and drive a truck"Forget about losing her law license wait till you read this ,yawzzah!!
I have not been to Chicago ridge mall in a long time and thats funny that you mention that! I noticed one yesterday and in the eatery. How ridiculous. There were five ghetto looking thug males and females by the machine. They had to be about 16 or 17. One of them was working the machine. I couldn't help but wonder how many phones did they put in there that were from a robbery. There's no way the kids I saw yesterday were putting their old phones into the machine. What a horrible idea! I almost wanted to go over there and stand in line to see. If its true and it can determine the phone is stolen then hopefully they can go back and look at some video of the person who put it in there. I'm not a police officer.
Orland mall has one by the 1st floor bathrooms
Orland Square Mall has one of these.
There's one at Golf Mill mall in Niles. I watched two "urban youth" put two iPhones in it and thought it was a terrible idea. It's been there since about January, maybe a bit longer.
There is one at Yorktown Mall in Lombard. Saw it a while ago and thought it was nothing more than an ATM for cell phone thieves.
the "ballerina Emanuel" is working with REDFLEX company to install these devices within 200 feet of our parks and our schools on behalf of our children..........stay tuned.
They should have them with a trap door attached . .
Saw one in River Oaks Mall
There is one in the Spring Hill Mall in Dundee. Takes your thumb print and scans your Driver's License. Apparently reads driver's license as it rejects expired licenses.
Woodfield has one.
Rahm is missing an opportunity here . . . cell phone transfer tax!
Actually, we picked up a mutt a few weeks ago that rattled off about a dozen places on the south side that will buy a "used" phone no questions asked. This pos could look at your phone and tell you exactly what he could get for it from these shops. Better than any machines.
Possession of stolen property. Times 48 or so. Problem solved.
How stupid. But a nice "fishing hole" for CD Officers to troll.One never knows what one may catch.
As long as the company stands on its own merit and cooperates with authorities I see no issue with this. But I have a sneaking suspicion that ecoATM's machines are a front and they make the real dough by mooching federal save-the-environment money, which if true is a much bigger deal. Anyone care to do a little research?
Will it take my brick phone?
That have one at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg also
The story is so stupid.....GeigerGeigerGeiger
What do they use for stolen phones from the apple pickers...a bushel basket?
One department in the suburbs had a female deposit 30 plus phones in one since January. They were looking into her activities. Ya think???
They started putting these in around the D.C. area but shut down all but one that I know of because they were running them without second hand dealers licenses. They're highly cooperative with LEOs and occasionally a stolen phone pops up.
The biggest buyers of stolen phones are still the mom and pop cell phone stores, the under the radar buyers, GameStop, etc. They're usually jailbreaking them/reflashing them and then shipping them overseas to Central America, the Middle East, etc. The kiosks are small time.
"I have a sneaking suspicion that ecoATM's machines are a front and they make the real dough by mooching federal save-the-environment money, which if true is a much bigger deal. Anyone care to do a little research?"
3/25/2013 01:29:00 PM
The Tribune had a story some years ago on these "Donate Your Used Stuff To Mother Earth" boxes you see in shopping centers, etc. All bullshit. One TV network also followd it to Africa, the guys selling these used clothes over there for cash literally wearing diamond pinkies and driving Cads and laughing in our faces. "Please, please, do send us more clothes!"
Now that I think of it there is probably not just the cash flow from the sales to Africa, but government eco-grants on this end as well -- "community development," etc.
Like you said -- anyone want to do a story?
How much does it pay if you put in a cheeseburger?
Uh huh. OK. Now, what do I get for a bird nest?
I mean, there's other good stuff besides just phones.
Hey Lisa Madigan, a little help here. Or are you too busy strategizing your gubernatorial campaign?
I thought Ald Burke banned these the other day.
Also did he also ban Earth shoes and hy karate?
Isn't this the same as a pawn shop? They should be required to be licensed and hold the phone for 30 days.....come on Rahmbo, think of the licensing fees....
My phone is a SMART phone. It knows when to lose the bars just when I need it.
We have been investigating this try gazelle.com type in your phone type watch the agreed price pop up, they send you a prepaid envelope and if your phoneis as described mail you a check,they wipe phone clean and resell it. They don't ask if its stolen or not!
Im hoping deferred comp is investing in these wonderful devices!
Crime does pay
time and a half
Does the city charge tax on the money received by these apple picker!
Cmon murder mayor its a revenue stream mandatory tax on the exchang and the money given out!
CppThis said...
As long as the company stands on its own merit and cooperates with authorities I see no issue with this. But I have a sneaking suspicion that ecoATM's machines are a front and they make the real dough by mooching federal save-the-environment money, which if true is a much bigger deal. Anyone care to do a little research?
3/25/2013 01:29:00 PM
Sure, you can do the reasearch. Let us know please.
A nice way to profit from all the Obama phones out there.
"The biggest buyers of stolen phones are still the mom and pop cell phone stores, the under the radar buyers, GameStop, etc. They're usually jailbreaking them/reflashing them and then shipping them overseas to Central America, the Middle East, etc.
3/25/2013 07:39:00 PM
Etc.
"Polish Travel Agency Internet Cafe Passport Photo Sandwiches Pop Wire Money Cell Phone Real Estate Banking Income Tax Preparers Immigration Lawyers."
That is one place, mind you.
or
"Mexico Travel Agency Internet Cafe Passport Photo Sandwiches Pop Wire Money Cell Phone Real Estate Banking Income Tax Preparers Immigration Lawyers."
Etc.
Etc.
"A nice way to profit from all the Obama phones out there."
3/25/2013 11:52:00 PM
A ten-year-old-technology $5.00 phone has resale value?
earth shoes and hi karate? I just blew my coffee out on the computer. a 70's flashback. thanks for the laugh.
Orland Square Mall has one.
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