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as Mr. Smith noted a favorable article featuring his business in today's edition of the Minneapolis <br />�a Star/Tribune in Columbia Heights, with the proposed Roseville store to be modeled after that one. <br />�:: Mr. Smith reviewed his cooperation with all jurisdictions in identifying any stolen property; and his pro- <br />56 active legislative activity and support of the Automatic Pawn System (APS) computerized purchase and <br />�� inventory system in Minnesota and a few other states. <br />�3 Mr. Smith reviewed the purchase process, with every transaction posted to the Bureau of Criminal <br />�e Apprehension (BCA) computer system, and available to all MN Police Departments and other law <br />��: enforcement agencies. Mr. Smith assured Commissioners, and the public, that his business was under <br />�;� constant monitoring as part of the licensing process, and he supported and cooperated with all law <br />a' enforcementjurisdictionsandagencies. <br />o:s Mr. Smith advised that less than one percent (1%) of his business resulted in items stolen, due to <br />�a improved digital photography and technology. Mr. Smith advised that he did not purchase guns, <br />o:; pornographic materials; did not perform check cashing or pay day loan services; with thirty percent (30%) <br />�. of his business serving as a loan to advance money on items held, and if not repaid in a certain <br />�3,' timeframe, he then could sell the merchandise. Mr. Smith advised that he was amenable to any <br />63 conditions the Commission wished to apply; and assured them that that any municipal police department <br />o� contacted would speak highly of his operation. <br />Commissioner Wozniak questioned Mr. Smith on power equipment purchases and practices (i.e., <br />7 i gasoline remaining in equipment while in the store), due to the proposed location in a multi-tenant <br />�? building. <br />?� Mr. Smith advised that no gasoline containers were allowed, and equipment could only have fuel up to a <br />� i certain level, in compliance with Fire Code requirements, based on the type of equipment. Mc Smith <br />�, advised that he and his managers made every attempt to monitor the equipment; and advised that <br />?s landlords leasing space in multi-tenant buildings held lessees accountable for their operations, in addition <br />% to the City; and noted the similar multi-tenant facility operations in Coon Rapids, with the Coon Rapids <br />%a landlord providing a letter of recommendation to the Roseville landlord on Mr. Smith's business <br />�r? operations. <br />tt'; City of Roseville Police Department, Lt. of Operetions Lorne Rosand <br />8 i Lt. Rosand reviewed the DepartmenYs experience with the existing pawn shop in Roseville, Pawn <br />a2 America, and noted that they maintained excellent relationships with all of those managers. Lt. Rosand <br />3? concurred with Mr. Smith's description of the purchase process, and noted that any spikes in police calls <br />>3 � with pawn shops were usually "good calls" where a law enforcement agency was recovering stolen <br />+3: property, due to the superior computer monitoring of purchases. Lt. Rosand opined that, in his <br />�3� experience of performing investigations over the last ten (10) years, he had experienced no negative <br />8� dealings in pawn shop businesses. Lt. Rosand noted that serial numbers entered into the computer <br />�3:s system at the time of purchase, as well as imaging of those purchases, and requirement for identification <br />s, and photographing of customers and that data being entered into the state-wide APS system; and <br />�; unannounced visits by law enforcement agencies to compare records with actual pawned items all served <br />�! to improve law enforcement recovery of stolen items and subsequent legal action as applicable. <br />3% Discussion between commissioners and Lt. Rosand included no negative reports or information on any <br />��3 Cash-n-Pawn operations; licensing processes and investigations; lack of evidence of any increased crime <br />� i around pawn shops; and identification of customers and their signed statements at the time of sale, along <br />�� with their identification, as per City ordinance, verifying that the property belongs to that individual, and if <br />�7� misrepresented, the seller would be subject to misdemeanor charges. <br />9� Mr. Smith addressed concems regarding jewelry sales and how that would be tracked, since serial <br />��3 numbers were not available, noting that fifty-one percent (51 %) of his business was jewelry, with jewelry <br />�� weighed, any distinguishing marks detailed in the description, as well as a photograph of the item. Mr. <br />toa Smith assured the commission that he was not promoting crime and that it was detrimental to his <br />ii� i business to purchase stolen merchandise; and opined that selling stolen merchandise at a pawn shop <br />t o2 was the best way to get caught, since a digital photo was taken of the sellec Mr. Smith advised that, if he <br />io3 received stolen merchandise, he took the loss, as the merchandise is confiscated and had already <br />� o a expended the cash, with little or no chance of restitution of those monies from the culpnt. <br />ii�:, Commissioner poherty assured Mr. Smith that the Commission was experiencing the "learning curve" as <br />io:s they came to better understand this type of business. <br />� ^ <br />