Reader comments
Arrest made after loot is found in pawnshop

This is why we citizens need more investigations done at pawn shops, recycling business, Ebay, and to include the Redwood Swap Shop in West Valley City on weekends to look for stolen goods. Stolen goods have to have an outlet and these are all the only places they can go. If we put the outlets out of business then theft and crime go down. All goods purchased by pawn shops must have original purchase receipt and retain a copy from the seller to show ownership. If they don't have the receipt then it can't be sold to these stores and the pawn shops can't buy them. This shop should have its license pulled and all contents inventoried and searched for stolen goods to be returned to victims. Pawn shops contain the vast majority of stolen property but they are never searched or held accountable. Their license should include permission for spot searching and verification of goods in these stores. The integrity of pawn shops should not be left to the owners.

wow. this sounds like a horse race. who's slimmier the car salesmen or the pawn shop owner. time to tighten up some laws for pawn shops. maybe we should be more attentive to who our cities give pawn shop licenses to. as for car salespersons most of them are looking for new gigs.maybe they will have to find a honest occupation.

Why didn't the police try to catch the customers who were doing the stealing?
Or maybe they did and didn't get them. Very sad. Now those two others are still out there stealing and selling to others.

The pawn shop owners should be held liable and charged with a crime as if they personally had stolen the goods.

Re Bob G: Pawn shops are regulated, moreso than any other retail industry. In Utah we in fact have a database each shop reports each item to by make, model, serial number, and person (for whom a valid ID is required). This tool allows officers to search for your stolen items in multiple ways. Original receipts are not realistic -how many of us even write down our serial numbers? If not yet, take this opportunity to do so now. You cannot overestimate how valuable this is in the event of a break-in/loss.
A pawnbroker engaged in the actions reported in this story has done more than steal, he has concealed evidence and failed to report items purchased to the database as required by state law. Should this person be guilty -as it appears he has admitted- he is by far the exception; most of us pawnbrokers are hard-working citizens who are in fact among your best friends in the search for stolen property. Take this opportunity to ask your local officers how little stolen property actually finds its way to pawn shops -perhaps you will be as (pleasantly) surprised as I was after I started in this business.