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Police recover thousands of dollars worth of stolen items in local pawn shops
Posted On 24 Nov 2010
Local police recovered over $8,000 worth of stolen merchandise from two burglaries that happened earlier this month, and authorities say they are narrowing in on suspects in the crimes.
Whitley County Deputy Sheriff Ron Bowling said about $11,800 worth of power tools, compressors, firearms and jewelry were taken from a home on Black Diamond Road on or about Nov. 13. A weeklong investigation into the case revealed that many of the items had been taken to local pawnshops.
"There was a lot of stuff missing. It was in excess of 20 items," Bowling said. "During the course of the investi gation we received full cooperation from all the pawn shop operators involved. They were very helpful."
Included among the items stolen was a 20 hp, 10,000 watt Honda generator that weighed over 900 lbs, Bowling estimated. Because of the size of some of the items taken, police believe more than one person may be involved.
Many of the items recovered were discovered in four pawnshops, two inside the city limits of Corbin and two in Laurel County. Bowling said Laurel County Sheriff’s Deputy Milton Storms recovered about $2,200 worth of the items from the two pawnshops in Laurel County.
Recovered was as chainsaw, compressor, hand tools, power tools, winches, paint sprayers and the 10,000 watt generator valued at around $5,000. Bowling said the generator retails for around $10,000 new. It had about eight hours of use on it.
Also recovered was a .38 caliber Smith and Wesson pistol manufactured in the mid 1990s. Bowling said he was able to obtain the serial number for the firearm from the dealer who originally sold it.
"It was just a good example of two agencies from different counties cooperating," Bowling said. "We are still investigating and hope to bring those responsible to justice."
Bowling said police took as evidence pawn tickets and surveillance video of the transactions where the stolen items were pawned.
On average, the items were sold for about 30 percent of their actual value. The generator was pawned for $300 – six percent of its value.
"I think the fact that they took six cents on the dollar for something like that tells you how desperate these guys are," Bowling said. "Luckily it had been pawned so it wasn’t available for sale yet or we may have never recovered it."
An investigation into the Black Diamond Road burglary and a similar theft on Incline Road is ongoing.
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Really good post!
What happened to the new law the City of Williamsburg was going to pass on these pawn shops? Does anyone know? Those laws they were going to pass would stop a lot of this crap!
Our home was broken into , I say we need to give more time in jail. we need to have people start watching more close and to let the judges know we want thesae crooks to get the max. What about waiting for them with a shotgun.
I agree the pawn shops should have been on the phone with the police as soon as those people wanted to pawn the stuff the excuse I didn’t know just doesn’t fly there in the business to know the value of things and somebody just wants pennies on the dollar for something of great value they knew exactly what they were doing and how they were going to do it and they just didn’t care I think if some of these pawn shop owners had to spend a little time behind bars they might march to the beat of a different drum . because if you ever have anything stolen and you go into one of these places your the one treated like a criminal just for asking them about your stuff and GOD forbid you find some of your stuff there .
If these stolen items were sold to an individual, they would be arrested for receiving stolen property. Why are the rules different for pawn shops? I would like to point out; I don’t feel they should be treated differently than any one else that would buy something stolen, especially if they weren’t aware it was stolen. I know a person who bought a 4-wheeler, later he was arrested for receiving stolen property, he was out 3,000.00 dollars and 2 years in jail for something he wasn’t aware of. I don’t understand the law when it comes to this. But i’m sure the pawn shop was aware that the people who brought in those items he paid them for, should of had a light go off in their greedy hands for money, how these people could afford such expensive items in their possession. I wish the law would change and make the Pawn Shops be RESPONSIBLE for their actions in matters like this. Pawn Shops know they won’t go to jail so all they care about is the money. If you hadn’t found all the stolen property just think how much money they would have made alone on this and it happens everyday. Shame On You Pawn Shop Owners For Thaking ADVANTAGE of the law, you should go to jail as well as regular individuals that buy something they didn’t know was stolen. Did the state give you the money you bought these items with? HA HA I’m sure they did so you win win win again. I hope someone who can change the LAW reads this and makes things equal for everyone and Pawn Shop owners aren’t exempt from breaking the law and making money doing it. You all are cons and disgusting in my book. CHAGE THE LAW!!! for PAWN SHOP OWNERS make them responsible too. Signed: Pawn Shop Owners are thiefs with relieve from going to jail!!!!!!!!!
If these stolen items were sold to an individual, they would be arrested for receiving stolen property. Why are the rules different for pawn shops? I would like to point out; I don’t feel they should be treated differently than any one else that would buy something stolen, especially if they weren’t aware it was stolen. I know a person who bought a 4-wheeler, later he was arrested for receiving stolen property, he was out 3,000.00 dollars and 2 years in jail for something he wasn’t aware of. I don’t understand the law when it comes to this. But i’m sure the pawn shop was aware that the people who brought in those items he paid them for, should of had a light go off in their greedy hands for money, how these people could afford such expensive items in their possession. I wish the law would change and make the Pawn Shops be RESPONSIBLE for their actions in matters like this. Pawn Shops know they won’t go to jail so all they care about is the money. If you hadn’t found all the stolen property just think how much money they would have made alone on this and it happens everyday. Shame On You Pawn Shop Owners For Thaking ADVANTAGE of the law, you should go to jail as well as regular individuals that buy something they didn’t know was stolen. Did the state give you the money you bought these items with? HA HA I’m sure they did so you win win win again. I hope someone who can change the LAW reads this and makes things equal for everyone and Pawn Shop owners aren’t exempt from breaking the law and making money doing it. You all are cons and disgusting in my book. CHAGE THE LAW!!! for PAWN SHOP OWNERS make them responsible too. Signed: Pawn Shop Owners are thiefs with relieve from going to jail!!!!!!!!!
If these stolen items were sold to an individual, they would be arrested for receiving stolen property. Why are the rules different for pawn shops? I would like to point out; I don’t feel they should be treated differently than any one else that would buy something stolen, especially if they weren’t aware it was stolen. I know a person who bought a 4-wheeler, later he was arrested for receiving stolen property, he was out 3,000.00 dollars and 2 years in jail for something he wasn’t aware of. I don’t understand the law when it comes to this. But i’m sure the pawn shop was aware that the people who brought in those items he paid them for, should of had a light go off in their greedy hands for money, how these people could afford such expensive items in their possession. I wish the law would change and make the Pawn Shops be RESPONSIBLE for their actions in matters like this. Pawn Shops know they won’t go to jail so all they care about is the money. If you hadn’t found all the stolen property just think how much money they would have made alone on this and it happens everyday. Shame On You Pawn Shop Owners For Thaking ADVANTAGE of the law, you should go to jail as well as regular individuals that buy something they didn’t know was stolen. Did the state give you the money you bought these items with? HA HA I’m sure they did so you win win win again. I hope someone who can change the LAW reads this and makes things equal for everyone and Pawn Shop owners aren’t exempt from breaking the law and making money doing it. You all are cons and disgusting in my book. CHAGE THE LAW!!! for PAWN SHOP OWNERS make them responsible too. Signed: Pawn Shop Owners are thiefs with relieve from going to jail!!!!!!!!!
So a generator being let go for six cents on the dollar didn’t tip off the pawn shop workers or owners?
When are police going to start charging these people with receiving stolen property?!