Pawn shops offer vital services to their communities. For bargain shoppers, they are a go-to stop for good deals and rare finds. For those who find themselves in financial distress, pawn shops offer an easy way to get money they need quickly and easily. Because pawn shops strive to offer a good deal to those bringing in items, people often fear that their stolen jewelry or electronics may end up on a pawn shop's shelf. Let's look at what you should do about reporting your stolen items and the steps pawn shops take to protect consumers.

How Do I Report Stolen Items?

You don’t report stolen items to a pawn shop. If you've had anything stolen, whether from your home or vehicle, at work, the gym, or from your personal space, it's important to file a police report. Your local law enforcement agency has the resources to investigate the theft, find the perpetrators, and recover your items. You can also report the loss to your insurance company in some situations (which often requires a police report as well).

What Steps Do Pawn Shops Take When Buying Items?

Pawn shops take steps to help ensure that they don't inadvertently purchase stolen items and cooperate with local law enforcement. They require photo ID for loans and direct sell transactions. Pawn shops often ask questions about the products and ask for paperwork that proves ownership, such as original receipts, certificates, or warranty information.

Most pawn shops also report their transactions to local law enforcement. This ensures that if something stolen does wind up in a pawn shop law enforcement can reference police reports with listed items. This information often includes serial numbers, model numbers, brands, and descriptions of the items.

Can You Recover Stolen Items?

If your stolen items do find their way to a pawn shop, you can recover them. It's important that you file your police report as soon as you find your items missing with as much information as you can provide. The more information that police can potentially match with pawn shop records, the more likely it will be that they can find your items.

Steps for recovering your items once police locate them will depend on our case. Law enforcement will advise you on when and how to recover your items once they're located.

Feel Secure with Cash Express Pawn Shop

Cash Express is here to meet your needs. Whether you’re looking for a gift, something unique, or need fast cash, contact us today or stop by with the items you're looking to pawn or sell.