The Prince George’s County Council likely will pass legislation to further limit the number of pawnshops in the county, according to Council Member Eric Olson.
Olson is sponsoring a bill that would reduce the number of pawnshop licenses in the county from 38 to 31, and possibly even lower through attrition.
“If a license is revoked or given up … [it] cannot be reissued,” Olson told The Examiner on Wednesday. Last year, Olson said, between $600,000 and $1 million in stolen goods were recovered from pawnshops.
“From a neighborhood quality perspective, a lot of these stolen goods are coming from the immediate area around pawnshops,” he said. “And from a … community revitalization perspective, it seems like an area is more enticing for attracting new development when your neighbor is not a pawnshop.”
Olson said “one or two” pawnshops beyond the 31 could theoretically open after the council passes the legislation because Prince George’s already has issued them licenses. Olson’s bill was introduced at Tuesday’s council meeting.
“We are [eventually] looking to really reduce the number, which would put some out of business,” Council Member Thomas Dernoga said after the meeting.
Jack Foley, manager of Best Pawn Inc. in Riverdale, said pawnshops have to report every item they buy.
“If you come in and pawn a Bic pen,” he said, “I have to report it.”
“If something is brought into a pawnshop, it’s got a much higher likelihood of being recovered and gotten back to the rightful owner than if it’s just sold on the street,” Foley said, “or if it’s sold to a store that doesn’t have to report items.”
Sharon Taylor, director of communications for the Prince George’s Police Department, said Police Chief Melvin High hasn’t seen Olson’s bill. She noted there is a system in place that prevents pawnbrokers from selling electronics and other high-end items for 30 days after purchase.
“That protects the pawnshops as well as the customer because it gives police a chance to investigate,” Taylor said.
