Port Angeles police target transient metal and jewelry buyers that buy from anonymous sellers

PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles police said they are cracking down on transient businesses that buy precious metals and secondhand jewelry from anonymous sellers.

Precious Gems and Metals of Wabash, Ind., which was operating out of the Port Angeles Red Lion Hotel, was asked to stop operating Tuesday when a plainclothes officer purchased an item without being asked for identification.

“I did not make a custodial arrest, but I collected all their information,” said Port Angeles Police Downtown Resource Officer John Nutter.

“I’m going to be referring them for charges with the city prosecuting attorney.”

Legitimate pawn shops require identification from people who sell precious metals and coins, police said.

That way, a thief is running the risk of getting caught if victims of thefts see their property on display.

“That happens fairly often,” Nutter said.

“I arrest people for pawning stolen property.”

Police are asking the public to be aware of transient pawn brokers who don’t care who the seller is.

“We’re going to be stepping up the enforcement of this stuff,” said Port Angeles Deputy Chief of Police Brian Smith.

State law requires every pawnbroker and secondhand dealer to keep detailed records of their precious-metal and coin transactions. The city of Port Angeles also requires pawn shops to have a business license.

Nutter said transient pawn brokers have “very quickly become the No. 1 source for dealing in stolen property.”

“One of the challenges in this case is I’m dealing with someone from out of town,” Nutter said.

Rather than issuing a criminal citation with a mandatory court appearance date, Nutter said he referred the case to prosecutors to give them flexibility to work with the suspect on travel arrangements.

“The city prosecutor can work with her in terms of timing and if she needs to come back for something,” he said.

Meanwhile, police are asking the public to be on the lookout for shady pawn dealers.

“A lot of times, they don’t require ID.”

A citizen’s complaint led to the local shutdown of Precious Gems and Metals.

Based on the violations, Port Angeles Police Chief Terry Gallagher advised the company representative to terminate the secondhand buying operation.

As of Wednesday, state law will change to essentially mirror the city code. State requirements will include a prohibition for people with theft convictions to sell precious metals. Records must be kept for 30 days, and a business license will be required statewide.

Police will be auditing transactions, conducting inspections and, in some cases, using plainclothes officers to make transactions with transient businesses, Nutter said.

Anyone with knowledge of businesses buying precious metals and jewelry in violation of city code or state law is asked to phone the Port Angeles Police Department at 360-452-4545 or North Olympic Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

________

Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com

More in News

Joe Nole.
Jefferson County Sheriff Joe Nole resigns

Commissioners to be appoint replacement within 60 days

Residents of various manufactured home parks applaud the Sequim City Council’s decision on Dec. 9 to approve a new overlay that preserves manufactured home parks so that they cannot be redeveloped for other uses. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim preserves overlay for homes

Plots can be sold, but use must be same

A ballot box in the Sequim Village Shopping Center at 651 W. Washington St. now holds two fire suppressant systems to prevent fires inside after incidents in October in Vancouver, Wash., and Portland, Ore. A second device was added by Clallam County staff to boxes countywide to safeguard ballots for all future elections. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Political party officials fine with Clallam’s loss of bellwether

With election certified, reps reflect on goals, security

For 20-plus years, Bob and Kelly Macaulay have decorated their boat and dock off East Sequim Bay Road for Christmas, seen here more than a mile away. However, the couple sold their boat earlier this year. (Doug Schwarz)
Couple retires Christmas boat display on Sequim Bay

Red decorations lit up area for 20-plus years

Hurricane Ridge day lodge funding held up in Congress

The fate of $80 million in funding to rebuild… Continue reading

Judy Davidson, left, and Kathy Thomas, both of Port Townsend, look over the skin care products offered by Shandi Motsi of Port Townsend, one of the 20 vendors at the second annual Procrastinators Craft Fair at the Palindrome/Eaglemount Cidery on Friday. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Procrastinators Market

Judy Davidson, left, and Kathy Thomas, both of Port Townsend, look over… Continue reading

Services could be impacted by closure

Essential workers won’t get paid in shutdown

A now-deceased male cougar was confirmed by Panthera and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff to have been infected with Avian influenza on the Olympic Peninsula. (Powell Jones/Panthera)
Two cougars infected with bird flu die

Risk of human infection still low, CDC says

D
Readers contribute $58K to Home Fund to date

Donations can be made for community grants this spring

Jefferson Elementary School in Port Angeles designated Thursday dress up like a candy cane day. Back row, from left to right, they are: Wyatt Farman, Ari Ownby, Tayo Murdach, Chloe Brabant, Peyton Underwood, Lola Dixon, River Stella (in wheelchair), Fenja Garling, Tegan Brabant, Odessa Glaude, Eastyn Schmeddinger-Schneder. Front row: Ellie Schneddinger-Schneder, Cypress Crear, Bryn Christiansen and Evelyn Shrout. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Dress like a candy cane

Jefferson Elementary School in Port Angeles designated Thursday dress up like a… Continue reading

EYE ON THE PENINSULA: Jefferson commissioners to meet on Monday

Meetings across the North Olympic Peninsula

A 40-year-old Quilcene man died and a 7-year-old boy was airlifted to a Seattle hospital after the car in which they were riding collided with the back of a school bus on Center Road on Friday morning. (East Jefferson Fire Rescue)
One dies in two-vehicle collision involving school bus

A 40-year-old Quilcene man died and a 7-year-old boy was… Continue reading