The Croton Watch

Over the years I've encountered many who ridicule the claim that the Croton watch Deanna Renfro pawned on 12-31-02 was Laci's.  Two of the excuses given are that no one would pawn such a valuable watch for just $20 and no one would pawn stolen goods, knowing they had to give photo ID and be fingerprinted.

A recent case in the Naples News shows just how naive these excuses are.  

Brad Wilson knew what he was doing when he stole a pair of earrings and a bag full of vintage charms and necklaces from a Naples high rise in March.

The 27-year-old Fort Myers man later would tell police he pawned the stolen jewelry to fund his drug habit. A month later, Wilson was arrested by St. Petersburg police for possession of the synthetic drug "spice."

One of the burglary victims, Jane Moerschel, had to buy back her stolen property from pawn shops — spending $3,046 for her own belongings.

According to the article, Moerchel's stolen property was worth $40,000, for which Wilson got $3,046.  So Wilson pawned the stolen goods for 8 cents on the dollar.  And he used an ID and was fingerprinted.

Unless the local police department is vigilant in comparing stolen goods to lists of new inventory at the pawn shops, there is little risk to the pawn dealers.  Moershel reported: "I asked both places why they accepted stolen jewelry and the one said 'If we don't get it, another pawnshop will.'"

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/crime/new-law-would-force-secondhand-dealers-to-return-stolen-items-free-2780a8d2-ca9d-2550-e053-0100007fd-363584441.html