"Regulate Pawnshops" by Bambi J Matzke

I am writing all of you a note, hoping to have a city regulation passed on Pawn shops. Yes, I have a personal experience that I have had to go through two years ago relating to this issue. But, most regulations, local ordinances, or laws are passed out of someone's bad experience. I will relate that experience down the road. But, the recent Gazette article has fueled my fire. Especially when the first sentences were.

Richard Erdman has more people wanting to sell him their televisions, jewelry and even their family heirlooms.

"You feel bad when it holds a sentimental value to them," The Coin Shop pawnbroker said. "There are some people that are really hurting out there."

This I know is a lie. He does not feel bad at all. But enough of my feelings.

In Eau Claire they have an ordinance requiring that pawn shop owners submit electronically their pawn sale slips. This has saved the taxpayers in that city a lot of money by allowing detectives to go back on the street.Contact the detectives in the Janesville police department and see what they have to say. They will tell you that this has been a problem. This is a computer age, it would be much easier to keep track of sales by computer. I might ask but then why use paper? I think we all know the answer to that.

With GM shutting down soon, and Lear and LSI, I think the council needs to be proactive, before someone sells their sisters Heirloom $10,000 ring to The coin shop for $150.

The point of my request for regulations is that this is a computer age, where everything is bought and sold with a computer trail.

Why is a pawn shop owner not required to have a name in his file and be able to look it up right away. If I walk in and say I know my Television was sold by John Smith, did John smith sell you a tv?

When I was missing an heirloom piece of jewelry, I went into the pawn shop on Center avenue and they looked through their paperwork with me standing right there, they were very willing to help me right then.

I went into the Coin shop and Richard Erdman was not out front but his employees said that they could not give me the information without a police order.

I went to the police department and Officer Blank went with me, then Mr. Erdman appeared and I gave him the name of who I thought sold it, and he said nope, did not buy it.

It was not until 4 months later after Detectives got involved did he admit that he bought the jewelry. He never once returned my phone calls. If you want to know how the pawn shop downtown works, talk to the Detectives down town. Ask if they have had them under surveillance. Ask them if they have bought new tvs in the box without question.

I leave you with this article.http://www.govtogovsolutions.org/Default.aspx?tabid=129