"Surely Amazon have pretty clear evidence in front of them. Someone's reported their kindle stolen, they see the kindle registered in someone else's name shortly after that report, the police have contacted them. Amazon can surely create their own paper trail - verifying the identity of the police first."
The contents of a police report are allegations not facts. The evidence is ambiguous. Persons sell items and then report them stolen. It is quite reasonable for Amazon to refuse to adjudicate disputed ownership of $100 worth of hardware.
Amazon's responsibilities differ with respect to the digital goods in their care. Those are tied to an individual in a way that a physical device is not.
The police are the official investigative arm. It's their job to be doing this.
The position that amazon should not cooperate with the police because the police may be wrong is ridiculous.
They are not adjudicating anything, they are being asked by a law enforcement officer to provide information they said they would provide to law enforcement.
The contents of a police report are allegations not facts. The evidence is ambiguous. Persons sell items and then report them stolen. It is quite reasonable for Amazon to refuse to adjudicate disputed ownership of $100 worth of hardware.
Amazon's responsibilities differ with respect to the digital goods in their care. Those are tied to an individual in a way that a physical device is not.