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Gold, Silver Supplies to Rise While Prices Decline in 2014
Press Release: Global gold and silver mine production is set to achieve record highs in 2014; two of the key findings from Metals Focus’ inaugural Gold & Silver Mining Focus report. Article here
Chicago looking at unlocked cell phone crackdown
Plagued by cell phone thefts, especially on the CTA, Chicago aldermen endorsed a measure Monday that would require those who make money off unlocking the devices to keep records on their customers. Read report here
New ordinance possible for Hopkins Co. pawn shops
County Attorney Todd P'Pool introduced a draft for a new county-wide ordinance concerning record keeping and the ability of law enforcement to track shop inventory to make sure stolen merchandise isn't being sold. Read more
Exclusive: Payday lender subpoenaed in U.S. criminal probe
(Reuters) - A U.S. grand jury has subpoenaed a company that a federal regulator has said is at the center of a deceptive payday lending scheme, a source familiar with the matter said. AMG Services Inc was subpoenaed as part of a criminal probe conducted by the office...
Pro athletes in dire financial straits turn to KCK pawn shop
Don Budd has been buying and selling championship rings from cash-strapped athletes since the 1980s. While he sells some sports memorabilia, Budd also keeps them so that the athlete can regain their beloved ring once they get on better financial footing. Read on
Changed Life of the Poor: Better Off, but Far Behind
Americans — even many of the poorest — enjoy a level of material abundance unthinkable just a generation or two ago. That indisputable economic fact has become a subject of bitter political debate this year, half a century after President Lyndon B. Johnson declared a...
Maryland gun store drops plans to sell ‘smart guns’ after threats
Andy Raymond, co-owner of Engage Armament in Rockville, a Washington suburb, said he was trying to protect his business by reversing his decision to sell the Armatix iP1 .22-caliber handgun, which electronically limits the ability to fire the weapon. Read more here
ASHAMED TO BE A PAWNBROKER?
You’re not a jeweler! Why not admit you are a pawnbroker? If my experiences have value, I suggest it can be very difficult to make that admission. My pawnbroking peers will appreciate the following example that underscores the difficulties involved with such an...
Pawn shop charged with failing to record purchases
A Poconos pawn shop specializing in the resale of diamonds, jewelry and other goods allegedly failed to report its purchases to authorities as required under state and local laws to prevent the sale of stolen goods. Read on
Should You Disclose That a Diamond’s a Trade-In?
We have heard a lot lately about recycled diamonds. At an informative discussion on trade-ins last week at the American Gem Society Conclave (ably summarized here), a retailer raised a loaded question: Must a jeweler disclose to a consumer if a diamond, or piece of...
MIT Nanocrystals Can Use Your iPhone To ID Fake Money And Drugs
MIT IS DEVELOPING ANTI-COUNTERFEITING NANOCRYSTALS THAT CAN STICK TO CURRENCY, MEDICAL BLISTER PACKS, AND EVEN ART. TAKE THAT, CRIMINALS! Read full article
Florida pawn shop owner gets 1 year in federal prison
Tallahassee, Fla. (WTXL) -- A North Florida pawn shop owner is sentenced to one year in federal prison after pleading guilty to multiple counts of selling firearms to a convicted felon and a single count to selling a firearm to someone under the age of 21. Read report...
Zakk Wylde’s custom guitar recovered
A custom-made, $10,000 guitar stolen in March from heavy metal rocker Zakk Wylde’s tour bus outside The Chicago Theatre has been recovered after being sold to a Chicago pawn shop, Wylde’s manager confirmed Saturday. Article here
Trial ordered for man accused of Lansdale pawn shop armed robbery
Gardner, who is accused of robbing the pawn shop with a firearm in his bag and making off with $28,000 worth of jewelry plus $600 cash, had all eight criminal counts filed against him... Read on
Gold Prices Rise as Clashes Erupt in Ukraine
Gold for June delivery climbed $19.50 to settle at $1,302.90 an ounce. Silver for July jumped 50 cents to $19.55 an ounce. Early Friday, the Ukrainian government launched what appeared to be its first major offensive to regain control of an area held by pro-Russian...
US Rare Coins: 1792 Dime and Silver Center Copper Cent Patterns
Perhaps the most famous of all patterns is the ‘Silver Center Copper Cent’ of 1792. It is certainly the most famous non-gold pattern. The 1792 dime patterns, then each referred to as a “disme,” are famous and desirable, too. U.S. cents were not struck until 1793 and...
HOW COFFEE MAKES YOU MORE HONEST
STUDIES ON SLEEP-DEPRIVED WORKERS SHOW THAT CAFFEINE CAN HELP STEEL US AGAINST UNETHICAL TEMPTATIONS AT WORK. Read more
Racine man accused of pawning stolen jewelry, but where did he get it from?
RACINE (WITI) — 19-year-old Andrew Casper of Racine has been charged in a case in which he is accused of pawning stolen property. Casper faces one count of receiving stolen property (greater than $10,000) as party to a crime. Read report here