Cheques for gold 'will help deter thieves'.

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo

Herald. OUTLETS that offer to pay cash in return for gold should instead offer cheques in a bid to deter burglaries, a politician has claimed.

Independent councillor Christy Burke said the move could make gold jewellery less attractive to burglars.

"We hear the stories of house break-ins and jewellery taken, and while there is no evidence and no proof, it's quite possible that it's sold for cash," he added.

But he claimed that if a cheque was given, "then you get a paper trail. "A burglar won't give their name," he said. "They won't want any trail."

If the new measure was introduced, Mr Burke believes two things could happen.

"There could be a reduction in burglaries, and they won't be going in to sell someone's sentimental watch or ring because they know if it's a cheque they have to give a name," he said.

Seems like a top idea, especially to help track someone who lodges a high volume of cash for gold cheques. Whatever makes it a little harder for criminals to get cash for stolen goods the better eh?

Sir Arthur Daley

They did similar in the Uk for people who sell scrap to scrap yards, good way to go for sure.

Birneybau

Throw pawn shops and 2nd hand mobile phone shops into the mix.

Agent Coulson

Good idea but aren't cheques phased out?

Sir Arthur Daley

Agent Coulson wrote: »

Good idea but aren't cheques phased out?

Not yet but when they do they can do a bank transfer maybe?

whisky_galore

Agent Coulson wrote: »

Good idea but aren't cheques phased out?

Banks want to get rid of cheques, big time.

Cantona's Collars

whisky_galore wrote: »

Banks want to get rid of cheques, big time.

And we want to get rid of thieves,any little thing that provides an obstacle to them is a good thing.

SEPT 23 1989

and it should be a cheque for scrap as well

whisky_galore

zerks wrote: »

And we want to get rid of thieves,any little thing that provides an obstacle to them is a good thing.

These are the same banks that tell people to 'be careful' at ATMs instead of upgrading them against thieves.

munchkin_utd

Good idea but aren't cheques phased out?

WikiHow wrote: »

Not yet but when they do they can do a bank transfer maybe?

indeed, and what is a cheque if it isnt a request to make a transfer from your account to another person, and to their bank account specifically if its crossed "a/c payee only".

sillyoulfool

Yeah, big issue here is , why would anyone hand over goods for a cheque, they do have a reputation for bouncing.

cletus van damme

great idea.

but some legitimate transaction might be for people trying to avoid their bank i.e they may need the money for something important (like food) and if they're in "dispute" with the banks they can't lodge the cheque or it will be stolen.

But aside from that , it's a great idea to cut down on the theft.

Sir Arthur Daley

sillyoulfool wrote: »

Yeah, big issue here is , why would anyone hand over goods for a cheque, they do have a reputation for bouncing.

Writing a cheque without funds to cover it is fraud, and can be prosecuted.

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo

Cheques are being phased out, but there was 70 million used here last year alone, they're still very much a 'done thing' in Ireland, not so much on the continent.

hidinginthebush

Great idea. My house was broken into last month. Guess what the only items they took were? Gold jewellery. Far too easy for the scum to make a quick buck, they don't even need to worry about finding a seller, just stroll into one of those places.

I don't think it'll work though. Those cash for gold places are well aware of where most the stuff they buy comes from. This will just give them the option to buy the gold for less in cash on the sly, knowing that its stolen.

Oranage2

Sounds like a great idea, of course there will be ways around it like a dodgy pub that will cash it for you but I think it would help slightly.

The Backwards Man

I'd rather give my valuables to a thief than one of those cash for gold buckos.

anncoates

Birneybau wrote: »

2nd hand mobile phone shops

To be fair, I flogged an old phone of mine to one of them and they wanted the original box and receipt. They presumably have 'trusted' customers they'll take dodgy phones from though.

sillyoulfool

WikiHow wrote: »

Writing a cheque without funds to cover it is fraud, and can be prosecuted.

Not strictly speaking true.
Almost impossible to prosecute.
Believe me, as a small business owner I have had to try to pursue this.
I just don't accept cheques anymore.

Dravokivich

This would only go on to harm decent people who use it to off load their stuff. All concerns of the "Cash 4 gold" stuff being a scam aside, the punter will need to pay fees to cash the cheque.

Sir Arthur Daley

sillyoulfool wrote: »

Not strictly speaking true.
Almost impossible to prosecute.
Believe me, as a small business owner I have had to try to pursue this.
I just don't accept cheques anymore.

Legislation may have changed since your attempts, anyone writing cheques with insufficient funds to meet them is committing a criminal offence. There has been prosecutions.