Legal Definitions - reset

Reset is a term used in Scots law (the legal system of Scotland) that refers to the act of knowingly receiving property that has been stolen.

Essentially, it means taking possession of goods when you know, or have strong reason to believe, that they were obtained through theft. The person who commits this act is known as a resetter.

Historically, "reset" also referred to the act of harboring or sheltering a criminal or outlaw, but its primary modern usage relates to stolen goods.

Here are some examples illustrating the modern application of "reset":

• Example 1: A small electronics store owner is offered a large quantity of brand-new, still-packaged laptops by an unknown individual selling them from the back of a van at an extremely low price, without any official invoices or proof of ownership. Despite strong suspicions that the laptops are stolen, the owner purchases them to resell in their shop.
• Explanation: The store owner is committing "reset" because they are knowingly acquiring goods that were almost certainly stolen, intending to profit from their illicit acquisition.
• Example 2: A person's acquaintance, who is known to be unemployed and struggling financially, suddenly offers to sell them a very expensive, custom-built bicycle for a fraction of its market value, claiming they "found it." The person has also seen recent local news reports about a similar high-value bicycle being stolen in the area. Despite these clear red flags, they buy the bicycle.
• Explanation: By accepting the bicycle under such suspicious circumstances and with information strongly suggesting it was stolen, the buyer is engaging in "reset."
• Example 3: An individual browsing an online marketplace comes across a rare, limited-edition watch listed at an unbelievably low price by a seller with a brand-new profile and no transaction history. The buyer ignores these obvious indicators of a potentially fraudulent or illicit sale and completes the purchase. Later, it is discovered the watch was reported stolen from a private collection.
• Explanation: Even though the transaction occurred online, the buyer's willful disregard of compelling evidence that the item was likely stolen, combined with their acquisition of it, constitutes "reset."