The Pawn Shop Unit is staffed by a full time certified law enforcement officer. It is the responsibility of the Detective assigned to this unit to collect and organize specific information on items that are pawned or sold in Charlotte County. The Pawn Shop Unit also does basic monitoring of the Second Hand Dealers and Pawnbrokers to insure that they are following the statutory requirements set forth for them in Florida State Statute Chapters 538 and 539.

If you are a victim of a theft and your property has been located in a pawnshop, what are your rights? Florida Courts have ruled that police may no longer recover stolen property from pawnshops and return it to a victim of crime without providing the broker an opportunity of a hearing. If your stolen property is found in a pawnshop you may decide to purchase it back or obtain a court order to recover the property.

Contact Information

Detective Stephen Burke
3280 Tamiami Trail, Suite 505
Port Charlotte FL 33982
(941) 258-3961
stephen.burke@ccso.org