Police charge Lakeport pawn shop owner has knowingly been receiving stolen property

LACONIA — Following what they say was a long investigation, police yesterday arrested Ralph Alexander, Sr., 42, of 169 Sheridan Street, who owns and operates Curbside Treasures, the pawn shop at 49 Elm Street, on charges of receiving stolen property and making false statements.

According to police, officers learned from anonymous informants that Alexander would purchase stolen items — ranging from jewelry to tools — and sell them outside the city and its environs. Police allege that he willingly bought goods that he knew were stolen yet completed a written statement that he never purchased stolen property.

Police are still pursuing their investigation as several items that Alexander allegedly purchased are still missing.

Last year the City Council approved an ordinance authorizing the License Board to license pawnbrokers as well as prescribing a licensing procedure and setting a licensing fee. When the council considered the ordinance Captain Steve Clarke of the Police Department explained that all pawnshops and second-hand stores were required to provide the police with an inventory of items either purchased or pawned on a regular basis and to hold the items for 14 days. He explained that the detectives and patrol officers compared the list to items reported stolen in order to further their investigations and recover stolen property. He emphasized that the licensing requirement had no bearing on the reporting procedure.

During the discussion Alexander expressed concern that if pawnbrokers unknowingly and unintentionally failed to report a stolen item they would be at risk of losing their license while the same standard would not apply to second-hand stores, which are not licensed. He suggested that the same licensing requirements should apply to both pawnbrokers and second-hand dealers.