Fort Wayne Changing Resale Regulations

Oct 16, 2007 11:10 PM CDT

(Fort Wayne - WANE) The city of Fort Wayne is taking new steps to make sure your bargain

buys aren't stolen goods.

Pawn shops are already required to keep track of seller identification and information.

Tuesday night, the city council voted to take that regulation one step further by extending it to

scrap metal dealers and second hand shops.

Working at McVan's Video Game Store, manager Chris Megerink sees his fair share of stolen items.

The shop buys used video game software and systems for a price, making it a prime spot for

thieves to cash in.

"The police have come and gotten stuff before, that we've caught people doing things they

shouldn't be doing," says Megerink.

Fort Wayne Deputy Chief Karl Niblick explains, "A lot of our burglaries, they're taking play

station 2's, the X box, the video games and those are the things that can be easily traded

at a lot of different outlets."

But that's about to change.

City Council unanimously voted to amend an ordinance to crack down on the flow of stolen

goods.

The ordinance now requires second hand shops, precious metal dealers and valuable metal

dealers, in addition to pawn shops, to record seller information and identification.

Councilman Tom Hayhurst says, "The police want very much, the detective division especially,

to get a handle on what is being pawned, what is being sold, especially in second hand stores."

Stores will be required to input information into a database using the website LeadsOnline.

Serial numbers, and the seller's name and address are some of the information that will be

collected.

Police will then have access to the site, to find leads on any stolen items.

The site can be searched using the seller's name, or even the date the item is pawned.

"We want to make this a process that will be a minimal hassle for businesses, but one that

will result in a safer city and fewer areas where thieves can fence these stolen goods," says

Hayhurst.

Megerink has some concerns about how his business will enforce the new guidelines, but

still thinks it's a step in the right direction.

"If it's just on systems that come in with serial numbers, things that can actually be tracked,

then they're on the right path," says Megerink.

The website is accessible to any store with an internet connection.

Businesses will have 180 days to comply with the new ordinance.