July 18, 1904
ORDINANCE MAY BE PASSED BY COUNCIL
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Movement is Started by Pawn Brokers, Who Say that if This is Done Thieves Cannot Then So Easily Dispose of Their Booty.
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At the next session of the city council several local pawn brokers will cause to be submitted an ordinance requiring all pawn shops and places that do a pawn brokerage business or buy second hand articles from unknown persons to close their places of business at 6 o’clock p.m. every day.
The brokers who are behind the movement say that stolen goods are generally pawned or sold after dark and the work of the thieves in getting rid of their booty can be made much more risky if they are forced to do their business in the day time.
“The readiness with which some of the second hand dealers buy stolen goods,” said a broker yesterday, “encourages the thieves as it offers them a ready market. I do not know but what it would be a good and fair law if the city council would enact an ordinance requiring sellers of second hand goods to be identified before they can make a sale, and compel dealers to keep a book in which they shall record all their purchasers, together with the name of the person from whom they purchase, and this book kept open to the inspection of the officers at all times.
“I believe that a law of this kind strictly enforced, would result in curbing petty larceny to a considerable extent.”
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