Audio clip
Charlie Bethel
DALTON, Ga. — Police in Whitfield and Murray counties are looking at a program that would share information on pawnshop sales between agencies and they’ve examined one in place in Rome, Ga.
Dalton Police Chief Jason Parker recently met with pawnshop owners in the two counties to discuss the program and answer questions.
The main questions were about cost and requirements.
“Shops will have to have at least an Internet connection and computer to comply,” Chief Parker said. “The program in Rome costs about 40 cents a transaction, paid for by the pawnshop.”
He said a committee of law enforcement investigators will compare companies that offer software to track transactions.
Chief Parker said the idea was first discussed in July and that Dalton City Councilman Charlie Bethel brought it to him.
PAWN MODEL
Local governments are looking to Rome, Ga., for model pawnshop regulations. The Rome ordinance requires:
* Date and time of transaction
* Name, address and telephone number of customer
* Description of customer and number of photo identification
* Description of property, number of receipt and amount paid
* Photograph of customer and item
* Customer’s signature
Source: Municipal Code of Rome, Ga.
Mr. Bethel said he’d heard of Rome’s program and thought it could be applied here. He and Chief Parker hope a program will bring in all departments and jurisdictions in the Conasauga Judicial Circuit.
In a telephone interview, Mr. Bethel said such a program “is most effective when it’s done on a regional basis.”
Police now receive paper copies of pawn tickets from shops in their jurisdiction. If an item is reported stolen they can check to see if it has been pawned, Chief Parker said.
Rome held an 18-month pilot program before taking the system citywide in March, 2007, police Detective Randy Gore said.
Mr. Gore said police have recovered more property and saved a lot of time searching their own and partner agencies’ electronic databases.
Chief Parker added that area pawnshops cooperate whenever needed.
“We find a relatively low amount of stolen property in pawnshops,” he told the audience.
Most owners at the meeting agreed the program could be useful, but some were concerned about the transaction fee.
“I don’t know whether to charge the customer or pay for it myself,” said Ronnie Lipscomb, owner of Dalton Pawn Brokers.
Mr. Lipscomb said he voluntarily sent pawn ticket copies when he opened up more than 41 years ago, before it was required.
“I’ve taken stuff, and if it looks suspicious I’ll call the police,” he said.
Chief Parker said another meeting will be scheduled before the end of the year to announce which vendor is recommended. Rome uses Business Watch International, a program that requires a photo of the customer and item.
Each municipality or county will have to pass an ordinance requiring pawnshops to report through a system. Chief Parker said he would work with other agencies on information-sharing agreements.
The ordinance is not on the Dalton City Council agenda for the next meeting, Mr. Bethel said.
Todd South covers courts and the military for the Times Free Press. He has worked at the paper for three years and previously covered crime and safety in Southeast Tennessee and North Georgia. Todd’s hometown is Dodge City, Kan. He served five years in the U.S. Marine Corps and deployed to Iraq before returning to school for his journalism degree from the University of Georgia. Todd previously worked at the Anniston (Ala.) Star. Contact Todd ...
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