I've always assumed that was done because they were frequently-stolen items.
Which doesn't really excuse the culture, I don't think, because the reason they'd be more frequently stolen than other things of similar size & value is because of the stigma attached to buying them. :x
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2011-01-08 01:09 am (UTC)Which doesn't really excuse the culture, I don't think, because the reason they'd be more frequently stolen than other things of similar size & value is because of the stigma attached to buying them. :x