The Marietta Daily Journal – New law requires cameras in pawn shops

MARIETTA — Pawn shop owners and precious metal dealers soon will have to do more to keep the police in the loop after the Cobb Board of Commissioners approved a new pawn ordinance.

The ordinance will require pawn and precious metals store owners to participate in an online digital database that gives police access to information and photos of pawn store inventory and customers.

Some business owners called the provision of the ordinance that requires photographing customers an invasion of privacy and raised opposition at public hearings.

Still, the commission passed it unanimously after hearing from a Cobb County police officer who oversees cases dealing with pawn shop and precious metals stores.

The new ordinance will make it easier for the police to find thieves looking to make a quick buck by selling stolen property, said Detective Pat Sullivan. Previously, store owners kept photographs of inventory, fingerprints of their customers and other documents and submitted a daily report to police. That left police responsible for the upkeep of software.

via The Marietta Daily Journal – New law requires cameras in pawn shops.