Source: Boston Herald
A ring of high school students hawking stolen high-tech calculators on eBay got caught after police tracked down the suspects through the Internet auction site.
Nine juveniles have been charged in the crime spree, which began last September. A total of 109 calculators were stolen and sold on eBay.
Some students took a plea agreement while others still await their trials in juvenile court.
Police charged the students with larceny, receiving stolen property and conspiracy. Although several students were involved, one really organized the plot.
He (the ringleader) was paying kids roughly $20 a calculator, and he would sell them afterward.
The Texas Instruments TI-82, TI-83 and TI-85 graphing calculators used in advanced math classes retail for between $100 and $125.
They were sold on eBay for between $50 and $75 apiece. Some of the calculators belonged to the school, others to students.
Other students at the school tipped off police to the racket. Investigators then had to track down the culprits.
“We looked for an (eBay) account in the Boston area that was selling graphing calculators,” said detectives.
In the end, police found the students who were selling the calculators. Once they found the sellers’ account, Halloran said, detectives had to get a warrant to get the information from eBay.
The first arrests were made in December, Halloran said, declining to give further details of the ongoing court cases.
Buyers from around the country bought the calculators.