Organized Crime In The New Millennium

There are a number of different types of fences. One way of categorizing fences is by
the type of good in which they trade, such as jewels, power tools, or electronics.
Another way of categorizing fences is by their level of involvement in buying and selling
stolen goods; for some, fencing is an occasional "sideline" activity, while it is an
economic mainstay for others.
At the lowest level, a hustler or drug dealer may occasionally accept stolen goods. At
the highest level would be a fence whose main criminal income comes from buying and
selling stolen items. At the broadest level, two tiers of fences can be distinguished. The
lower level of fences are those who directly buy stolen goods from thieves and burglars.
At a higher level are the "master fences", who do not deal with street-level thieves, but
only with other fences.
The degree to which the purchasers of the stolen goods know or suspect that the items
are stolen varies. If a purchaser buys a high-quality item for a low price, in cash, from a
stranger at a bar or from the back of a van, there is a higher likelihood that the items
may be stolen.
On the other hand, if a purchaser buys the same high-quality item for the standard retail
price from a used goods store, and obtains a proper receipt, the purchaser may
reasonably believe that the item is not stolen (even if, in fact, it is a stolen item).
History of Receiving
The fence, or receiver, is an old kind of criminal, historically attested in many countries
and with deep and complex dynamics within society.
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