Bengaluru: Pawn brokers warned against accepting stolen jewellery

Bengaluru: Additional Commissioner of Police (East) P. Harisekaran on Tuesday warned owners of jewellery shops and pawn brokers not to receive stolen jewellery and other valuables. Action would be initiated against them if they ignored this warning, he said. He was speaking at a crime prevention meeting with pawn brokers and jewellery shop owners organised by South-East Division police at Koramangala 6th Block.

During the meeting, the police directed the owners of jewellery shops and pawn brokers to maintain registers of those who approached them to sell or pawn jewellery. They were also asked to conduct a thorough background check of such people and inform the same to the police.

Speaking to this newspaper, Rohini Katoch Sepat, DCP, South-East, said, “In an attempt to curb property-related offences, the meeting was held with pawn brokers and jewelry shop owners. Police have learnt that small and big finance companies are indirectly abetting crimes such as chain-snatching, robbery and burglary in the city. After a detailed assessment of cases such as robbery, chain-snatching and burglary, the police learnt that many offenders pledge the booty with pawn brokers and companies which offer gold loans.”

Over 200 pawn brokers and jewellery shop owners attended the meeting.