by FUAD OMAR

If you have ever been burgled you probably assumed the items stolen are gone for good. But that may not always be the case.

The burglary is usually just the start of a cycle for the stolen goods. And it's not just your televisions and video players that are at risk.

"Most items stolen are those which can be used or sold such as TVs, videos and other electrical goods, as well as the obvious jewellery and cash," said Det Insp Lucy Woollcombe of Harrow police. "But more recently we've also had a lot of tools from garages and sheds being stolen."

Often the stolen goods are brought quickly back into circulation. First they are cleaned so they are sellable, then an attempt to return them to legitimate circulation may be made through a retailer whose refund policy is known to be less strict than some.

Det Insp Woollcombe said: "The burglar will try to get rid of the stolen goods in any way he can, usually by means of cash converters, secondhand shops or car boot sales. His main aim is to get the goods turned into cash. It's once he's got rid of the goods and received the cash that the cycle is set into motion."

Stolen goods will be "re-cycled" even if the thief is unable to get rid of them through a legitimate trader. He usually knows someone who will be able to take them off his hands, a middleman or fence who will get the goods back into circulation.

"The fence system is very well established as the burglar wants to get rid of what he's stolen," said Det Insp Woollcombe. "If he's stolen 20 TVs he only needs one, so the handler is a key player in converting the goods to cash."

Any of us may know a fence.

"When a member of the public buys an item 'off the back of a lorry', they have to remember they could be committing an offence by handling or purchasing these stolen goods," the DI added.

Like all circular movements, this one has no end. Once the goods are out of the thief's hands he feels a sense of satisfaction (as well as a monetary gain) which feeds his motivation to steal again. And so the cycle repeats itself, with stolen goods travelling from owner to thief to wholesaler to retailer and finally to a new and unsuspecting owner.

This vicious cycle is being combatted by the Metropolitan Police's Operation Bumblebee, but can only really be stopped by the community taking a more active role. The public is the greatest source of information when it comes to inquiries about goods being offered "on the cheap".

And people should also take precautions to avoid becoming victims.

"Lock up your garages and sheds, note serial numbers of any electrical items you have, making them easier to retrieve, and take photographs of any items you hold valuable, including jewellery and ornaments," advised Det Insp Woollcombe.

The public is urged to help police by passing on any information they may have about stolen goods. Crimestoppers is anonymous and can be contacted on 0800 555111. People who have been burgled can contact Harrow Victim Support on 0181 863 9583.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.