The job of a fence is to purchase stolen goods from burglars and other property offenders and resell them.
There are three main types of fences:
• Professional receivers, who purchase stolen goods on a regular basis for resale. The use of these often distinguishes high level burglars from more typical residential burglars. Some professional receivers are generalists while others specialize in only certain types of stolen goods. Most are involved in a legitimate business, such as a secondhand store, that serves as a cover for and facilitates their criminal activity
• Avocational receivers are involved in buying of stolen property on a part-time basis. It is secondary to but usually associated with their primary business activity. They are distinguished from the professional by the frequency of purchase, volume of activity, and level of commitment to the criminal enterprise.
• Amateur receivers are otherwise honest people who buy stolen property on a relatively small scale, primarily for personal use; they make up for lack of volume with sheer numbers.