Florida State Statute Chapters 538 and 539 require all Second Hand Dealers and Pawnbrokers to record specific information on items that are pawned or sold to them. Those statutes also require that such information be turned over daily to the appropriate local law enforcement agency. By requiring this information to be supplied on a daily basis to law enforcement agencies, these statutes recognize the potential value this information could have in solving crimes if property listed as having been stolen could be matched with property listed as having been pawned. It is the responsibility of the Pawn Shop Unit to collect and organize this information 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.

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.

For Additional Information on Pawn Shops:

Contact Information

Detective James Simpson
3280 Tamiami Trail, Suite 505
Port Charlotte FL 33982
(941) 258-3900
james.simpson@ccso.org