Stolen Goods

Hobby Lobby just agreed to forfeit an artifact it purchased.  I’m Amy E. Feldman.

In your house, you might display canvas signs you bought from Hobby Lobby with pithy sayings like: “allergic to mornings” or “happiness is receiving what I ordered online”.  In its museum, Hobby Lobby displays biblical antiquities.  But federal agents just took possession of one such antique—a 3600 year-old tablet the feds say was looted from Iraq.  Hobby Lobby consented to the forfeiture, but it had paid one point six million dollars for it from a dealer.  Whether you’re buying a stone or an electronic tablet, what happens if you buy something you find out later was stolen?  It goes back to the original owner, even if the new buyer had no notice that it was stolen and paid good money for it.  You can protect yourself by buying buyers protection on auction sites, and by using common sense.  If the deal is too good to be true, ask questions because true happiness is getting to keep what you bought.