State police raid Berks pawn shop.
Troopers execute warrants at 2 stores in search of stolen items
Pennsylvania State police spent a day at two different pawn shops in Berks and Montgomery counties searching for stolen items.
State troopers could be seen Wednesday, Jan. 4, outside Capitol Cash Exchange, 1415 W. High St., Stowe, as they executed a search warrant and collected items from inside the building.
“We’re serving a search warrant at this location and at their other location in Muhlenberg Township,” said Trooper David Boehm. “I’m not sure how or when they investigation began but it has been going on for quite some time.”
Boehm said troopers had arrived at the West Pottsgrove pawn shop beginning at around 9:45 a.m. and by 4 p.m., he said they expected to be there for at least another two hours.
“We’re going through the store and we’re looking for items that are still in their original packaging,” Boehm explained. “We’re at over 200 items right now that are in that U-Haul truck. We’re going to take them into evidence and whoever the person is that’s doing the investigation will have to try to figure out what is and isn’t stolen.” At the West Pottsgrove shop, Boehm said troopers had representatives from Lowe’s and Target stores present to help them determine if items were stolen from those stores. In Muhlenberg, which is north of Reading, Boehm said representatives from Walmart were on scene.
“This is far-reaching possibly with where some of these unused items are coming from,” Boehm said. Boehm was not able to confirm the identity of the owner of the pawn shops, but WFMZ-TV reported that both the Muhlenberg location at North 11th Street and the West Pottsgrove store were owned by Nicholas Blanck of Fleetwood.
Court dockets indicate that Blanck was arraigned Jan. 4 at 10:50 a.m. before District Judge Dean R. Patton and is scheduled to appear again before Patton on Jan. 30 for a preliminary hearing. He is facing charges of corrupt organizations, knowledge that property is proceeds of an illegal act, organized retail theft, receiving stolen property and conspiracy. He was remanded to Berks County Prison.