Crime & Safety

New Law Would Affect Exeter Secondhand Stores

Police want to crack down on the sale of stolen goods.

A bunch of Exeter secondhand stores like would be affected by a new law being discussed by town officials.

The put forth the proposed law, which aims to prohibit the sale of stolen goods to secondhand stores, thrift shops, and pawnbrokers.

Shirley Pitts, owner of Two Flights Down, told officials last week that she agrees with the intent of the law, but said she's concerned about the new amount of bookkeeping she would be required to do.

Find out what's happening in Exeterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The new law includes the following provisions for shops like Pitts':

  • They must obtain a license for $250 and have video recording equipment in their shop
  • They must submit a list of their employees to the police department
  • They may not accept items from minors or people clearly under the influence of drugs
  • If someone sells them an item, they must make a photocopy of that person's license and record the item
  • Records of goods purchased must be delivered to police after no later than three days
  • Goods that they buy from someone may not be sold until two weeks after the purchase, except with consent from police
  • Police may inspect records of goods purchased during regular business hours, while making "all reasonable efforts ... to avoid disrupting the normal course of business"
  • Fines for not following the above regulations start at $100 and officials may revoke permits

Exeter officials have not signed off on the law. They will discuss it tonight at 7 p.m. during a Selectmen meeting at the .

Find out what's happening in Exeterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A copy of the proposed law can be found above under "PDFS."


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