Auburn police hope pawn shop ordinance cuts crime

AUBURN, Wash. — Auburn police introduced an ordinance to the City Council they hope will cut down on property crime in Auburn.

"We're trying to protect our citizens here in Auburn. We're hoping to make it not so easy for people to fence their property at a pawn shop," said Auburn Police Cmdr. Steve Stocker.

The ordinance creates a "Do Not Buy" list for pawn shops. It would prevent pawn shops from doing business with individuals who have been convicted of burglary, robbery, theft, and possession or receipt of stolen property.

It also includes people convicted of drug crimes.

Pawn shops are already required to keep track of their transactions and report sales and serial numbers to police. In Auburn they use a software program called Leads Online. The "Do Not Buy" list is already available on that software program.

Auburn police created a list of 503 individuals who are convicted felons. The ordinance would require the pawn shops to pay attention to the list and not buy items from those individuals.

"If they're on that list they're going to have to turn that person away, " said Commander Stocker.

If they violate the ordinance it is a gross misdemeanor.

In recent months Auburn police say an officer assigned to property crime recovered $200,000 of stolen property from Auburn pawn shops. Investigators say it highlights the need to enforce a "Do Not Buy" list.

State law says pawn shops cannot do business with a person convicted of burglary, robbery, theft, or possession of or receiving stolen property in the last 10 years. Auburn police say the "Do Not Buy" list will help pawn shops follow the state law.

KIRO-7 asked the owner of Cascade Loan and Sporting Goods what he thinks of the proposed ordinance. Kevin Opdahl is also the president of the Washington State Pawn Brokers Association.

"We have issues with it," said Opdahl who thinks the ordinance is too broad. "We don't want to do business with the criminals and we don't want to be taking in stolen items. At the same time, if they're on this "no buy" list everything they own doesn't belong to them, is what they're trying to say."

Opdahl said he doesn't want to be faced with a gross misdemeanor if he forgets to check a long-time customer in the computer. He also said if a felon is turned away from a pawn shop like his, that keeps records and has surveillance cameras, they will just go sell it somewhere else and police won't have any chance of recovering the item.

Opdahl works closely with Auburn police. His business is located right next door. He plans to talk to council members about his concerns before they take a vote next week.

Auburn resident Trent Brookey had his $600 bike stolen. "The chances of them pawning it are like 80 percent out of 100," said Brookey.  He supports the new ordinance.

Traci Phillips likes the idea too. Her boyfriend just had $40,000 worth of tools stolen.

The Auburn City Council will vote on the ordinance next Monday, Sept. 19.

Cox Media Group