eBay item confiscated after a year

[PysiekChicago]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Illinois
One year ago I have purchased a Valentine One Radar Detector from eBay. Couple weeks ago I accidently drop it and broke my mute button. After a while I contact valentine for the repair estimate. They asked me for serial number to check if there is a warranty on this unit. Then after 3 days a detective arrived at my doors at told me that the unit was stolen a year ago from Florida and he have to confiscated it.
Somebody told me that if I have bough it legal then they can't take it from me. Is there a law like that in Florida? Where should I go to get my money back? (almost $400) . I already tried eBay and PayPal but they can't do nothing.

Thank You

[Some Random Guy]

Your proper recourse in this situation is to file a small claims lawsuit against the person who sold you the radar detector. Get a copy of the detective's report on seizing the item. Do you know the name and address of the person you bought it from?

Did you really expect that a used radar detector was not stolen?

[cosine]

Originally Posted by Some Random Guy

Did you really expect that a used radar detector was not stolen?

Do you really expect everything that is used is stolen?

[Some Random Guy]

Do you really expect everything that is used is stolen?

I expect that anything that can be grabbed from a car in under fifteen seconds to be stolen. That includes radar detectors, car stereos, portable cases full of CDs, etc.

[cosine]

Originally Posted by Some Random Guy

I expect that anything that can be grabbed from a car in under fifteen seconds to be stolen. That includes radar detectors, car stereos, portable cases full of CDs, etc.

But you do not know if a given item had that kind of history or not. It very well could be that the owner just wants to sell his stuff to pay his debts. I don't make assumptions. Do you? Of course, buying used stuff from people you don't know is risky. If you want to avoid the risk altogether, fine. Now if the serial number has been scratched off, that can be telling.