Police: ecoATM technology helps nab thieves

Published 11:22 pm Tuesday, July 30, 2019

To use the devices, customers take old cell or tablet devices to a kiosk. The machine determines a competitive payout based on the make, model and condition of the device. The device is later recycled.

“EcoATM kiosks were introduced to help solve the growing issue of electronic waste and provide a safe, secure and innovative way for consumers to recycle their used or broken mobile devices,” said Chase Freeman, public relations manager of ecoATM Gazelle.

He said ecoATM is a leader in reducing electronic cellphone waste by operating a network of more than 3,900 kiosks across the country. The kiosks are in grocery stores, large retailers and malls and provide consumers with a safe, convenient alternative to selling used electronics on the internet to strangers.

To date, ecoATM kiosks have safely collected more than 22 million devices.

According to ecoATM, the kiosks are the worst places for a thief to bring a phone, but local detectives say it happens anyway. Salisbury police Detective Jacob Easler said the department has recovered Rowan-Salisbury Schools iPads using the machines and other stolen cellphones that were turned in.

Easler said local law officers work well with the ecoATM representatives, who contact them quickly when a phone that was turned in has been reported stolen.

Each kiosk takes at least three high-definition photos of the seller from different angles, while also requiring a government-issued ID or driver’s license for each transaction. It may seem like just a kiosk, but a live attendant verifies that the ID matches images of the seller in real time, that the seller is over 18 and that the ID is not expired. The transaction details that are sent to law enforcement include a copy of the photo ID and images of the seller along with the phone’s serial number, make and model and an image of the phone.

In addition, when possible and appropriate, the kiosk uses a third-party database to check the devices’ serial numbers (IMEI/MEID) to ensure the device has not been reported lost or stolen.

EcoATM holds all devices for a minimum of 30 days from the time it is sold. If a device is part of an investigation, this additional time helps law enforcement investigate crimes, Freeman explained.

“Lastly, in the rare event that a stolen device does make its way into our kiosk, we are in the best position to resolve the situation, assist law enforcement, and promptly return the stolen property to the victim or law enforcement, free of charge,” Freeman said.

Salisbury Police Chief Jerry Stokes has said the best way to prevent theft of property is to be smart about protecting valuables with simple steps such as taking an inventory. The city has a program, Leads Online, that is a secure system that allows users to take inventory of serial numbers, pictures and descriptions of valuables. The Police Department uses the program to help with investigations. It’s through this database that ecoATM is able to compare the serial number of a sold device.

Freeman said working with law enforcement partners, the company implemented security features and processes to screen for and block the purchase of suspected stolen devices at each kiosk.