Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - Syracuse lawmakers made it harder on Monday for thieves to sell stolen goods at pawn shops.
Common councilors passed revisions that will tighten up the existing secondhand dealers’ law.
Lawmakers hope the measures take outdated existing laws and bring them into the 21st century.
Drug stores have been a significant target for thieves looking for things like teeth whitening products. Police are also finding items such as electric toothbrush heads finding their way into pawn shops with some frequency. Thieves are also trying to sell things like electric shaver heads, several at a time, so the law now limits items to no more than three at a time unless the seller is a registered wholesale dealer.
“Because if you’re dealing in bulk with an item you should be a registered wholesale dealer, so this simply clamps down on some of what’s going on,” said Syracuse Common Councilor, Lance Denno.
The law also updates the old handwritten tracking system being used by secondhand dealers. The ledgers would be replaced with an electronic real-time reporting system.
“They put it in, we have access to it,” said Syracuse Police Captain Richard Trudell. “So if your item is stolen and then pawned or turned in to a secondhand dealer, we’re going to have that ability to call up the secondhand dealer and get your merchandise back.”
Through a state grant, the Syracuse Police Department will pick up the cost of the new electronic reporting system. The plan is to have the system up and running by September.
The law would also give police the right to conduct a background check on anyone seeking a license.
