Shoplifters at work

The retail industry loses over $30 billion a year in organized theft. And auction sites like eBay have become a black market of stolen goods, say lawmakers.

A Congress Judiciary subcommittee agreed "the issue is ripe for legislative attention," according to the Globe and Mail.

The body is calling on auction sites to require more detailed information regarding items for sale, such as serial numbers, as well as a fact sheet of some kind on the identities of high-volume sellers.

SVP Robert Chesnut of eBay's safety department called the request "reasonable" and added that sellers are generally apprehensive about posting names, addresses, and phone numbers on product listings, perhaps for obvious reasons.
Though eBay is required to disclose info to law enforcement, it does not disclose to retail industry investigators.

As it stands, eBay gets about 1,000 inquiries a year from law enforcement on stolen goods. Demanding more identifying information would likely send that number through the roof, says one Maryland detective.