Legal markets of stolen goods: Trading of stolen laptops in Lima markets

This document has stated as objectives:i) to describe the circulation paths of stolen laptops in four markets in Lima downtown; ii) to analyze the factors that influence in the price transformation of the stolen laptops; iii) to determine the legal character of the markets where these goods are traded; and iv) to analyze the importance of computers trade in the economy of the final sellers.The information has been collected by interviewing sellers, buyers and thieves, also through field observations and informant-actor method (visiting markets for asking prices of stolen goods). The results show a route of phases linked for the stolen objects circulation. The initial phase of the obtainment process (theft) is followed by the phases of storing, conditioning and final sale.This study presents the importance of the final offer carried out in legal markets, which are authorized markets for selling goods from licit sources, but stolen objects are placed there, because of the high precariousness and permeability of the controls.