# pawn shops - Cops find my stolen whatever, I have to pay to get it back? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 20, 2009, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pawn-shops-cops-find-my-stolen-whatever-i-have-to-pay-to-get-it-back/503589 "2009-07-20T03:48:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pawn-shops-cops-find-my-stolen-whatever-i-have-to-pay-to-get-it-back/503589/41 "2010-03-18T16:44:06Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > … along with the common law right of replevin. > . > . > . > actual suit for replevin - where rights would be determined as to the property - this would basically be the same as a detinue sur trover - a very old writ which is a type of interference tort. Ah, memories of “replevin for goods and chattels…” Did you by chance go to law school in or take the bar for Virginia? ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pawn-shops-cops-find-my-stolen-whatever-i-have-to-pay-to-get-it-back/503589/42 "2010-03-18T16:54:49Z")
> [@Cazzle](#): > > I have, **NotSpartacus**. I just hadn’t thought of a person who _un_knowingly receives stolen property as a fence; I’ve always connected the term with someone who receives and sells goods they are aware were stolen. Isn’t a pawnbroker required to refuse to buy goods they believe are stolen? Yeah, and also pawnbrokers are well known for being honest, upstanding businessmen who would never look the other way. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pawn-shops-cops-find-my-stolen-whatever-i-have-to-pay-to-get-it-back/503589/43 "2010-03-18T17:01:57Z")
I saw that episode too. I’ve noticed one of the first questions they ask is, “Where did you get this item?”. If the story sounds phony, they won’t deal with the person. I wonder how Ebay handles this? I’ve read news articles where people claim they found their stolen stuff on Ebay. Proving it’s ownership must be tough. > [@](#): > > I know that the History Channel reality show Pawn Stars isn’t really a reliable source of information, but in one of the episodes cops came and took what turned out to be a stolen necklace and it was given back to the owner. The owner of the pawn shop commented that this is why they had to be super careful about not taking in stolen stuff, because they wouldn’t make money off of it. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pawn-shops-cops-find-my-stolen-whatever-i-have-to-pay-to-get-it-back/503589/44 "2010-03-18T17:03:12Z")
One more reason to hate pawn shops. The pawn shops in these parts are filled with obviously stolen merchandise. They are a ready market for burglars and smash-and-grab thieves. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pawn-shops-cops-find-my-stolen-whatever-i-have-to-pay-to-get-it-back/503589/45 "2010-03-18T17:12:30Z")
You know this thread is making me wonder: what if you saw an item that was stolen from you in a pawnshop and you simply took it? If this happened to me frankly that’s what I’d do, and I’d _dare_ them to call the police. (OK I might run, but I wouldn’t feel bad about “stealing” back my own property) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pawn-shops-cops-find-my-stolen-whatever-i-have-to-pay-to-get-it-back/503589/46 "2010-03-18T17:26:32Z")
You have noticed the people working in Pawn Shops are armed? Same as liquor stores. They usually have a belt holster. I’d think twice about grabbing and running. Pawn Stars tries to show a more classy image. However, I’ve seen a rather large black dude in the background handling security. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pawn-shops-cops-find-my-stolen-whatever-i-have-to-pay-to-get-it-back/503589/47 "2010-03-18T18:01:38Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Ah, memories of “replevin for goods and chattels…” > > Did you by chance go to law school in or take the bar for Virginia? Nope. I went to IUB and haven’t taken the bar - decided not to work in the industry, although I’m thinking of taking the bar just for the heck of it before I forget everything. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pawn-shops-cops-find-my-stolen-whatever-i-have-to-pay-to-get-it-back/503589.md?page=2)