The criminal receiver of stolen property has been described as an essential actor in property theft and a crucial figure in the support and preservation of thieves for more than 200 years. Today, the thief's ability to market stolen property through the “fence” still determines the success or failure of criminal operations, and results in tens of billions of dollars in sales annually. The author investigates criminal receiving as an illegal but profitable marketing operation. The history of fencing activities is described with a focus on the case of Jonathan Wild, a man believed to be the “father” of criminal receiving. Then modern fencing activities are portrayed on the basis of three landmark sociological studies. Finally, public policy implications are delineated with an emphasis on reducing illicit marketing activities by fences.
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