Canberrans looking to snag a deal on an electric scooter (e-scooter) or e-bike are being warned by police not to buy stolen items.
Officer in Charge of ACT Policing’s Proactive Intervention and Diversion Team, Inspector Craig McPherson said that after recent burglaries involving e-scooters and e-bikes, police were investigating several instances of similar items being listed for sale on online marketplaces.
Inspector McPherson advised prospective buyers to think before they buy.
“The old saying about something being too good to be true really does apply here,” Inspector McPherson said.
“If you see a ‘brand new’ e-bike or an e-scooter offered for sale at a very cheap price, you should think twice before buying it,” he said.
“Buying stolen property not only rewards criminal behaviour, it can also put you in line to be charged for possessing stolen goods, or what you buy may be confiscated by police.”
Inspector McPherson said the stolen items may not function as expected, because some of them require a special code to be unlocked from their demonstrator mode.
“People should also be aware if they’re offered a bike or scooter without a charger that retailers around the ACT are aware of these burglaries and may let police know about people looking to buy parts for a stolen unit,” he said.
