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The partnership is the result of an investigation into the practice which led to 13 arrests and the seizure of 45 phones.

Mobile phone owners are urged to register the unique identifying EMEI numbers on the www.immobilise.com website in order to help the authorities.

Detective Chief Inspector Mick McNally, NMPCU, said: 'Closing down this avenue for the sale of stolen mobile phones is a vital part of our campaign to halt handset theft ... The very large majority of sellers on eBay are legitimate businesses or individuals. However, we are after the very small number of rogue traders.

Garreth Griffith, head of Trust and Safety at eBay added: 'eBay is committed to keeping criminals off our site. We have long sent out the message that eBay is the worst place to sell stolen items because of the open and transparent nature of the site's operation: we can see what criminals are doing and we have their contact details.'