Police can help you trace your valuables

S.C. writes: I began to travel for work and left my laptop, Apple Watch and other valuables in my flat. When I returned, I found my then partner had sold these valuables to a CEX shop. I contacted CEX, saying they had bought stolen goods, but they refused to speak to me, even though I have receipts proving the items were mine.

THE CEX chain deals in lots of electronic items such as laptops, game consoles and phones. It has told me in the past that it checks a database of stolen goods before buying anything, though this is no help when the real owner of the goods is unaware they are missing.

The company also told me: ‘We require customers to provide legal ID and sign a declaration stating the goods belong to them.’

So why has CEX not cooperated with you? It says it did respond to your enquiries, but the crunch point is that you have never reported the theft to the police. This means your former partner could simply say that the items he sold were gifts from you. In fact, CEX will not even confirm that it did buy the missing items, though it says it will tell the police if necessary.

You have explained that you are afraid to go to the police because you have previously suffered domestic violence at the hands of your ex-partner, and you believe that if you accuse him of theft, he will attack you. I completely understand your fears, but at the same time, I understand why CEX sees itself as caught in the middle of a private dispute. I strongly urge you to contact the police if you want a realistic chance of tracing your property or being compensated. If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TS or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned.