Suspect held in pawn shop sting
A man was arrested at a Port Elizabeth pawn shop on Tuesday while allegedly trying to sell stolen antiques.
The 25-year-old suspect was arrested during a sting operation set up by police after the owner of the goods noticed some of the items in the pawn shop on Monday.
Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu said the 60-year-old owner was visiting an antique shop in Todd Street, North End, on Monday.
He was looking for items stolen from his house in Perridgevale in November 2018.
“While there, he recognised some of the items and was informed that the person who sold them the antiques was coming back on Tuesday with more items and to collect his money,” Naidu said.
“The owner of the goods then contacted the police.”
Naidu said with the shop under observation, the suspect was soon nabbed.
Items confiscated include a gold medal, gold soda bottle and crystals.
“Some of the items were also recovered from another antique shop in Albany Road.”
Naidu said the total value of the recovered items was about R25,000.
“In total, about R250,000 worth of items, including jewellery, foreign currency and the antique items, were stolen.”
Asked why the pawn broker was not charged for allegedly buying stolen items, Naidu said the investigation was ongoing.
Mount Road Cluster commander Major-General Thembisile Patekile urged secondhand and antique dealers to report suspicious people bringing in expensive items for sale.
The man is due to appear in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. Additional charges could follow.