N.B. woman calls for Kijiji rules

A Fredericton woman is calling for stricter rules for on-line classified sites such as Kijiji when it comes to stolen property being posted for sale.

Mara Mallory says rules for pawnshops were introduced years ago to make it more difficult for thieves to use them to sell stolen property and the same should be done for on-line sites.

"They are becoming the new pawnshops," she said.

"We took steps 10 years ago to regulate pawnshops, require people to show photo ID. I think the time has come that Kijiji has to disclose more information more readily to police if there's a suspicion of theft."

Mallory's comments come after an expensive purse was stolen from her mother's home on University Avenue last Saturday afternoon.

She said someone walked into the home while her mother was upstairs and left with her mother's high-end Coach purse, which retails for more than $400 and contained her passport, jewelry and money.

Police advised them to check the Fredericton Kijiji site and Mallory found an identical purse had been posted that same day for $50.

But when Mallory told police, they said there was little they could do.

"They don't feel they have enough to get a warrant to find out the IP (Internet Protocol) address and any of the contact details from Kijiji," she said.

Mallory warns that her mother's experience is not unique. She said Fredericton police told her they've had a number of similar complaints.