By MIKE PACHE
JOPLIN, MO. - Management at Newton's Jewelry Store and Steve's Trading Post in Joplin say many of their customers are bringing in gold coins and jewelry looking for cash.
The price of gold is at an all-time high at $1100 for an ounce of gold.
Jewelers are also working with law enforcement to make sure that every deal is on the up and up. Some jewelers are tracking what comes in to their stores.
Steve Richards is the owner of Steve's Trading Post, a pawn and retail shop on Joplin's south side.
Richards says many of his customers have been coming in and selling their gold for cash.
"It's been a big increase because the price of gold is up and the advertising of people with cash for gold," Richards explains.
Across town the owner of Newton's Jewelers, Bunny Newton, says that many of his customers have been coming in with scraps of gold looking for cash - anywhere from ten to 50 people a day.
"Chains, class rings, gold watches where the cases are gold, anything that is gold, 10, 14, 18, it doesn't matter what carrat it is, any scrap gold," Newton says. "The price has gone up so much that the scrap that they, they are being conscious of it, they can turn it into money. Of course many are doing it with the times the way they are."
The only customers jewelry and pawn shop owners do not want to buy from are thieves with gold.
Both owners say they have working relationships with local law enforcement.
"You can almost tell if there is something that looks fishy," says Newton. "We either don't buy it or we call someone."
Pawn dealers are required to give pawn cards that detail every sellers name and merchandise that are sold to law enforcement to keep track of items coming in.
"We do get hits for stolen property, not a lot but occasionally there are hits for stolen property that come out of those pawn cards," says Joplin Police Corporal Chuck Niess."A licensed responsible gold dealer will require a license to record the transaction in case there are any problems with it," says Richards.
The Joplin Police Department urges all jewelers and pawn shop dealers to report any suspicious customers to them.
