A common misconception persists that pawnbrokers are willing to accept anything, including stolen items. Is this correct, though? Well, the answer is a resounding NO!
It wasn’t long ago when pawnshops could not know whether a particular item being sold to them had been stolen before being sold to the shop. Today, thanks to advances in technology and tracking systems, pawnbrokers can easily track this information.
Despite a few bad seeds in every crowd, most pawnshops work tirelessly to stop crime by following strict procedures for identifying people who want to sell stolen items to them.
Therefore, don’t believe outdated stereotypes. Pawnbrokers are an ethical bunch and very much believe in integrity. They never try to deceive a customer or deal with something illegal or unethical that belongs to someone else. But what measures do they actually take to prevent such things from happening?
Here are a few ways in which all pawnbrokers, big or small, detect stolen goods:
- Unusual Behaviour
It always starts by noticing the person’s behaviour. If the person is behaving unusually or tries to hide something in their talks, this is when they reconsider. Some telltale signs are:
The item is stolen if the person doesn’t know when or where they acquired it or how long they have had it. However, it could also be the other way around, like the person has genuinely forgotten the details. So, pawnbrokers try to look for more clues.
Signs of distress and impatience under strict scrutiny are other signs that the person might be lying.
- Check serial numbers in watches
If an individual comes to pawn a luxury watch, a pawnbroker compares the serial number to a database of stolen watches. The database contains fake, stolen, and lost watches that pawnbrokers use to check for stolen watches.
- Forensic Analysis
While this may seem extreme to some, forensic analysis does help identify stolen items. As more and more jewellery buyers now mark their jewellery with a forensic code, pawnbrokers and police find it easy to detect stolen items.
Owners can purchase a kit to mark their items with a unique code, which they can then register with the police. This way, if the item ever goes missing and ends up with a pawnbroker, the latter can check the database to see if it’s stolen.
Thanks to digitalisation, it has only become easier for pawnbrokers to conduct inspections. Moreover, pawnbrokers are more than willing to cooperate with the police in case a stolen or lost item ends up in their shop.
- Signs of Alteration
The thief could have tampered with the original item to forge its legitimacy, and sometimes, they use crude methods to do so. However, an expert pawnbroker is skilled and trained to identify the various signs of alteration in a stolen good.
Even if the pawnbroker is dealing with a Rolex watch, they are aware of the various signs that differentiate a fake Rolex watch from a genuine one and can easily recognise them. Scratches and marks that don’t belong or identifying features that have been removed are clear signs that the item may be stolen.
- Pawnbrokers team up with Police
Even though that may sound unheard of, police and local pawnshops communicate two ways. Pawnbrokers track the serial numbers of every item they take in and record the contact details and names of sellers. On the other hand, the police track the owners of the stolen items, and the two parties continually exchange or share the information.
Additionally, the police can cross-check the list for matches, and the pawnshop owners are aware that the police are looking for it each day to take the suspects into custody.
- Check the ID proof
Pawnbrokers ask owners to present photo identification if they want to sell an item to a pawnshop. If they fail to present it, the pawnbroker declines the deal. If this potential seller is a suspect in the crime, the pawnbroker can contact the police right away.
CONCLUSION
Pawnbrokers are strictly regulated by laws and regulations and do not handle stolen goods. Instead, they employ numerous methods to try to avoid them. Through meticulous inspection, extensive knowledge, identity verifications, and collaboration with law enforcement, the pawnbrokers ensure their operation remains safe and secure at all times.
Understanding the various techniques pawnbrokers use to identify stolen goods gives consumers the confidence to deal with a pawnbroker and make an informed decision. So, the next time you consider pawning your asset, rest assured that the person behind the counter is a professional dedicated to safeguarding the marketplace.
