Possibly stolen DS Lite?

[Janix]

So basically my birthday was last week, and my uncle gave me a late birthday present today. He gave me a new DS Lite. Thing is my uncle is a pretty shady person, and I have a feeling the DS is stolen.

That being said, I am not sure what to do from here. I don't really want to accuse my uncle of stealing something for me. And if it is stolen, what should I do with it? Could I trade it in at Gamestop for store credit without police coming to my house later?

[bugilt]

You are better of just keeping it and thinking it's not stolen. The chance that you find the person it was stolen from without going through your uncle are slim.

[Bollwerk]

Tell him you need the receipt for warranty proof of purchase. =)

[Janix]

You are better of just keeping it and thinking it's not stolen. The chance that you find the person it was stolen from without going through your uncle are slim.

Well see what I meant by stolen is from a store not a person. Because this DS Lite hasn't been opened at all. I also heard they can track who has it if you play online with the built-in wi-fi. If that's the case I'd be using it to play single player games only, and even then I don't really like having posession of stolen merchandise. Call me paranoid, but whatever.

[Janix]

Tell him you need the receipt for warranty proof of purchase. =)

My uncle might be a thief, but he isn't stupid. He would know why I am asking. Even though he is a shady person, he is still my uncle, and I don't want any hurt feelings if he didn't steal it.

[Zub]

Just use it normaly, like you would a DS Lite you bought yourself.
If it's clear, well you enjoy the machine
If it's not, well your uncle will get into little trouble, because he stole it.

[violent5]

I once bought a used guitar from an old friend (he's another shady guy). After taking the guitar home I notice the serial number is scratched off. I think oh crap he sold me a hot guitar! So I call the police and speak with a detective and tell him how I bought this guitar with the serial scratched off. The detective asks me if I know its stolen or just suspect that's the case. I say I don't positively know but come on it must be stolen. The detective says well you don't know its stolen and there is no way to find out without the serial number. I say ok, well what should I do? He says I'd tune it up and play it!

If you don't know it stolen just assume it's not and enjoy it.

[zanthor]

Value of a used DS? Less than $100.

Crime? Possession of stolen property. But that only applies if you KNEW it was stolen. Whoopee.

Thats assuming somebody actually reports it stolen AND has the serial number to prove its the one you have AND knows you have it. Seriously. You think the cops are going to check the serial number on every DS to find a stolen one? Do you have ANY concept of how many of those things are sold in a day? (week/month/year....?).

If you have moral issues with it, give it back. Otherwise play with it and enjoy it. YOU didn't' steal. And YOU didn't ask anyone to steal it.

Police in some states have started doing serial number checks of portable gaming systems during traffic stops...

Or maybe that was license number checks...

I'm so confused.

[Janix]

Well in all honesty, I don't even really want a DS Lite. I am a computer gamer, and any game I want to play will be available on here. I would rather have the cash/credit to use toward maybe Wotlk expansions for my 5boxers or something. Would it be possible for say Gamestop to give me store credit for it? Is there a way for them to tell if it is stolen?

[Skuggomann]

Who ceres dude? i got like 3 iPods, you think i bout them all? XD