Fencing

The act of buying stolen property with the intention of re-selling it to unsuspecting persons. For example, a person may steal jewelry to sell to a middleman (called a fence), who then re-sells it a buyer who may or may not realize that the jewelry is stolen. Fences profit from paying low prices for the stolen property and re-selling it at retail prices (prices comparable to those on the legitimate market). Fencing is illegal in most jurisdictions, but it may be difficult to prove in court.