Tracking down stolen items may become easier for Medford Township Police.
The department is looking at the use of a new technology database to track transactions at secondhand shops and dealers. Business Watch International runs the database in a number of states, including New Jersey.
Police Chief Richard Meder asked council to consider passing an ordinance allowing the police department to regulate secondhand good transactions. The ordinance would require all secondhand dealers to register with the township and enroll in the database. Transactions including gold, jewelry, electronics and other items would fall under the proposed ordinance.
“When somebody comes in to try and sell, they enter everything into the database,” Meder said.
The database would include specific details and a photo of the item being sold. In addition, information about the seller would also be recorded.
The goal is to crack down on illegal transactions where criminals may steal jewelry, gold or other valuables from a house and sell them quickly for cash. Meder said township detectives struggle to find stolen goods sold to secondhand dealers because there is no easy way to track them. The new database would allow police to search for stolen items quickly, as it will eliminate a lot of the backtracking process. Meder also said more crimes will be solved with the database.
Other municipalities in South Jersey have already passed similar ordinances to regulate secondhand dealers, including neighboring Mt. Laurel and Evesham.
Meder said there is a lot of support for this ordinance from both the police department and local businesses.
“The detective bureau has gone out and spoken to a number of businesses and they’re in favor of it,” he said.
The ordinance would include a $250 fee per business that is needed to pay for a business license.
Councilman Randy Pace voiced concerns about Business Watch International and the privacy of people’s information. He also didn’t think it was necessary to include items such as electronics in the ordinance. He believed the ordinance should only track the transactions of gems and precious metals.
However, other members of council believed the ordinance could be beneficial in solving thefts.
“It’ll improved the efficiency in which they solve crimes,” Councilman Jeff Beenstock said.
Council has recommended drafting an ordinance to regulate secondhand goods transactions. An ordinance could be up for first reading as early as the June 17 council meeting.
