The Playstation 3 that pays for itself

[Bill Brasky]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/arti...70&ito=1490

 

 

Teenager buys PlayStation on eBay - and finds £43,000 in its box

Last updated at 15:47pm on 18th July 2007

 

Here's your Playstation, keep the £40,000 change

 

Police were today trying to trace the person who sent £43,000-worth of euros to a teenager who bid for a PlayStation on eBay.

 

The box of cash arrived unexpectedly at the 16-year-old's home in Norfolk, in a package also containing the games console, police said.

 

The youngster was left "shocked and stunned" when he opened the box and found 65,400 in euro notes inside.

 

The boy immediately told his parents who alerted police and handed the money to detectives.

 

Police believe the money might be the proceeds of a crime and are holding the cash while they investigate where it came from.

 

But if the rightful owner is not found, the boy's family could potentially apply to keep it under the Police Property Act.

 

The cash was found on March 20 this year, but details have only just been released by police.

 

It is believed the Sony PS2 console was supplied by a British seller on the highly popular auction site.

 

Officers were granted an order by Norwich magistrates on 22 June to hold on the cash for three months under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

 

Norfolk Police spokesman Jon Smith said: "Our economic crime unit is looking into the audit trail to establish where this money came from.

 

"It is a live inquiry at the moment and I cannot say too much, but nobody has been arrested.

 

"The boy discovered this large amount of cash when he opened the box containing the console. To say that he was surprised is a bit of an understatement. He was shocked and stunned.

 

"He was supposed to receive the console and two games - but the games were missing and he got this money instead.

 

"His parents were immediately worried about where it had come from and contacted us. With that amount of money arriving in the post, there are concerns that it might have involved criminal activity.

 

"The magistrates granted us an order allowing us to hold on to the money and make inquiries about where it came from."

 

Mr Smith confirmed that the box containing the PlayStation appeared to be "slightly undone" when the boy received it.

 

He said officers had to return to court on 22 September if they wanted to seek a new order to hold on to the money.

 

Mr Smith added: "If we find the rightful owner of the money and they have a legitimate reason for having it, then the money will be returned to them. If it is found to be the proceeds of crime then the courts will be able to seize the cash for public funds.

 

"However, if the ownership cannot be ascertained then this boy's family could potentially apply to keep it under the Police Property Act."

 

Mr Smith said the boy and his parents did not want to be identified because of fear of reprisals.

 

He added: "They want to keep as low a profile as possible. They are a bit concerned about this amount of money turning up on their doorstep."

 

A spokesman for eBay said: "We have a really good relationship with the police and always assist in their inquiries.

 

"We know eBay is a great place to pick up a bargain although, in this case, we agree that the contents of the parcel were somewhat unusual and we will assist with any inquiries police may wish to make."

[CPUWIZ]

Minor detail, but I read that this morning and it was a PS2.

[shadow460]

Cool. I'll start scouring ebay for PS2 auctions, then. I'm sure I'll find one that's worthwhile.

[Shawn]

What a dumb kid.

[bytor]

What a dumb kid.

 

"dumb"? Why, because he did the right thing by turning in the euro's to the authorities?

[horseboy]

What a dumb kid.

 

"dumb"? Why, because he did the right thing by turning in the euro's to the authorities?

 

Nope. It is because he decided having fingers, kneecaps, and a healthy family is more important than money.

[bytor]

What a dumb kid.

 

"dumb"? Why, because he did the right thing by turning in the euro's to the authorities?

 

Nope. It is because he decided having fingers, kneecaps, and a healthy family is more important than money.

 

And how is that "dumb"?

 

Maybe I need another dose of caffeine to stimulate my synapses because I'm just not understanding the logic here.

[pangasinan]

Minor detail, but I read that this morning and it was a PS2.

Very minor detail.

[Mayhem]

And how is that "dumb"?

 

Maybe I need another dose of caffeine to stimulate my synapses because I'm just not understanding the logic here.

 

The "nope" is in reference to the reason for turning the money in. I guess they figured someone might have come after it when they realised it had accidently been sent with the PS2.

[horseboy]

And how is that "dumb"?

 

Maybe I need another dose of caffeine to stimulate my synapses because I'm just not understanding the logic here.

 

The "nope" is in reference to the reason for turning the money in. I guess they figured someone might have come after it when they realised it had accidently been sent with the PS2.

 

 

I would have sent that thing straight back and forgotten that is ever happened. There is a real good chance that some real bad men are looking for that cash.

[pangasinan]

What a dumb kid.

 

"dumb"? Why, because he did the right thing by turning in the euro's to the authorities?

 

Nope. It is because he decided having fingers, kneecaps, and a healthy family is more important than money.

What and you think that they will forgive him for handing it in to the authorities

[Shawn]

What a dumb kid.

 

"dumb"? Why, because he did the right thing by turning in the euro's to the authorities?

 

Nope. It is because he decided having fingers, kneecaps, and a healthy family is more important than money.

What and you think that they will forgive him for handing it in to the authorities

 

 

The authorities will find a way to call it proceeds of crime. Nobody is gonna own up to that cash though. Just to clarify my previous statment I do think it was the nobel thing to do to hand over the cash to the cops BUT I also personally think they could have kept the cash and spent it slowly with no reprocussions and not felt bad about it cause obviously it ain't somebody's life savings, it's blood money.

Edited July 18, 2007 by Shawn Sr.

[Mayhem]

Probably should give them negative feedback as well, item not as described (it was missing the two listed games)...

[Shannon]

What a dumb kid.

 

"dumb"? Why, because he did the right thing by turning in the euro's to the authorities?

 

Nope. It is because he decided having fingers, kneecaps, and a healthy family is more important than money.

What and you think that they will forgive him for handing it in to the authorities

 

 

The authorities will find a way to call it proceeds of crime. Nobody is gonna own up to that cash though. Just to clarify my previous statment I do think it was the nobel thing to do to hand over the cash to the cops BUT I also personally think they could have kept the cash and spent it slowly with no reprocussions and not felt bad about it cause obviously it ain't somebody's life savings, it's blood money.

 

I'm pretty sure the "source" of the money woulda figured out where the money ended up. A little shakedown and that kid would have been squealing like a guinea pig.

[horseboy]

What a dumb kid.

 

"dumb"? Why, because he did the right thing by turning in the euro's to the authorities?

 

Nope. It is because he decided having fingers, kneecaps, and a healthy family is more important than money.

What and you think that they will forgive him for handing it in to the authorities

 

Probably not, but I think you have a better chance with that than keeping it.

[Shawn]

I was thinking about this and if they don't find a owner for this cash, they don't call it proceeds of crime, the kid ends up being able to get that cash and the "sender" knows where his cash went you don't think as soon as the kid gets the cash from the cops that the "sender" isn't gonna pay a visit to fix up the overshipment error? What a mess.