topic Jewelry lovers - please help in Community Chat

Jewelry lovers - please help

Kalli — Fri, 09 May 2014 01:31:56 GMT

My good friend and her DH were away overnight recently and while gone, their home was broken into and some of her nice jewelry was taken.

She's been visiting local pawn shops but no luck. Several of the pieces were one of a kind so they'd be easily recognizable. I'm hoping for some advice on where else to search. I suggested the bay and cr aigs list, etc. Any other ideas? TIA

-Kalli

Re: Jewelry lovers - please help

muttmom — Fri, 09 May 2014 01:35:25 GMT

I hate to day it but some of my jewelry was stolen in a home burglary. I never saw it again.

Re: Jewelry lovers - please help

Irshgrl31201 — Fri, 09 May 2014 01:35:32 GMT

Did she file a police report? I would check not only local pawn shops but pawn shops in surrounding towns too. Just in case they were a little cautious and thought if they used a pawn shop in the town over they would be safe. I think checking ebay and craigslist is a great idea too.

That totally stinks. How people feel entitled to come into someones home and take their hard earned stuff makes me absolutely furious.

Re: Jewelry lovers - please help

missy1 — Fri, 09 May 2014 01:37:16 GMT

My guess is they would have the gold pieces melted down for cash.

Re: Jewelry lovers - please help

Kalli — Fri, 09 May 2014 04:16:56 GMT

Yes, she filed a police report. They told her to look on e t s y. I agree she should go to surrounding towns too. Great idea! Thanks.

-Kalli

Re: Jewelry lovers - please help

chickenbutt — Fri, 09 May 2014 04:36:09 GMT

Oh wow, I'm sorry that happened to her. I had that happen some 30 years ago at one of my first houses. I was definitely devastated. Fortunately, I didn't lose any massively expensive pieces, but some meaningful ones.

Of course, I never recovered anything and the police were no help at all. I don't even think they try to recover stuff like that. I really hope you find something but don't get your hopes too high.

What really irked us at that time was that before we headed out on a five day weekend trip, we contacted the newspaper to stop delivering during those days. Well, they didn't. So the newspapers collecting up on our driveway keyed off the burglars (seemed to be some kids) that nobody was there. They went into our back yard and threw a huge brick through one of the bdrm windows so hard it went into the opposite wall. Then they ransacked. Didn't take any of the electronics, though. Just money and jewelry.

The police man, with whom I made the report, was such a jerk. He actually asked me how I felt knowing somebody went through my underwear drawer. As it turned out, as we sat on the couch writing up the report, I saw something that made me just keep my big mouth shut - on the coffee table in a large ashtray was a joint. oops! Like I mentioned, this was some 30 years ago.

Re: Jewelry lovers - please help

occasionalrain — Fri, 09 May 2014 05:07:12 GMT

What about the places that buy gold and silver?

Re: Jewelry lovers - please help

ennui1 — Fri, 09 May 2014 05:58:06 GMT

I suspect it's too soon. This is a project that could take months or years.

Also, why didn't you post this in Jewelry Talk?

Re: Jewelry lovers - please help

------ — Fri, 09 May 2014 12:52:11 GMT

On 5/8/2014 missyw1 said: My guess is they would have the gold pieces melted down for cash.

My thought also.

Does she have photos of the jewelry? She can try to get on the local news if the pieces have great sentimental value. They love stories that tug at heart strings.

Re: Jewelry lovers - please help

happycat — Fri, 09 May 2014 12:59:44 GMT

I know someone who had a lot of jewelry stolen. This lady went to pawn shops religiously and low and behold some of her jewelry was at one of them, in the town where she lives. She did file a police report, they found out who the thief was. It turned out, it was one of her "good friends" so she thought.

Re: Jewelry lovers - please help

colliegirls — Fri, 09 May 2014 23:40:35 GMT

I have two friends who were burglarized and their jewelry was stolen. Both found some of their pieces at local pawn shops. The police also located some pieces at a pawn shop. The burglars pawn it immediately for money.

Re: Jewelry lovers - please help

Mistic — Fri, 09 May 2014 23:52:08 GMT

On 5/8/2014 missyw1 said: My guess is they would have the gold pieces melted down for cash.

This was my 1st thought. Happened to a dear friend of mine. Small town, and it was done within about 48 hours from theft (by a relative). Sick but true.

Re: Jewelry lovers - please help

SharkE — Sat, 10 May 2014 00:10:18 GMT

Why I insure mine. Forewarned is forearmed........

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hsawaknow — Sat, 10 May 2014 03:02:39 GMT

I live in California and if you sell or pawn jewelry they take a thumb print and a photo i.d. just in case someone has reported it stolen they will know when you go to sell it.

Re: Jewelry lovers - please help

Kalli — Sat, 10 May 2014 05:12:47 GMT

Thanks everyone! Tomorrow I'm going to check 2 places that buy gold in my town. My friend lives in the next town so she's looking there. Also will stop at the original place where her one of a kind pieces were made to see if the seller has pictures. He used to keep a picture album of the things he made.

I think there's a chance at least some of the pieces may not be melted down since they would be worth more if kept as they are since it's the labor of making them that made them cost more. (hope that makes sense)

Anyway, I appreciate your responses. I'm upset for her and just trying to help. Even if she got back just 1 piece, it would be a victory over these low life crooks.

-Kalli

Re: Jewelry lovers - please help

Golden_Oldie — Sat, 10 May 2014 22:59:12 GMT

Over 30 yrs. ago, a group of us always attended a huge flea market. One of our group found his retirement watch at a vendor. That was before selling your precious metals was uncommon.

That same flea market is still going strong and people come long distances. Just a thought, but you might want to check it out.

Re: Jewelry lovers - please help

terrier3 — Sat, 10 May 2014 23:10:24 GMT

On 5/9/2014 hsawaknow said:
I live in California and if you sell or pawn jewelry they take a thumb print and a photo i.d. just in case someone has reported it stolen they will know when you go to sell it.

In NY State, they also must keep it on hand for a certain period of time too.

Re: Jewelry lovers - please help

Kalli — Wed, 14 May 2014 03:14:09 GMT

On 5/10/2014 Golden_Oldie said:
Over 30 yrs. ago, a group of us always attended a huge flea market. One of our group found his retirement watch at a vendor. That was before selling your precious metals was uncommon.

That same flea market is still going strong and people come long distances. Just a thought, but you might want to check it out.

Interesting...where is it, in NY?

-Kalli

Re: Jewelry lovers - please help

Anniecamp — Wed, 14 May 2014 17:13:20 GMT

In our area, pawn shops are required to keep merchandise they buy for at least 30 days, in case it was stolen.

I love flea markets, but there are a lot of cash sales gong on, sometimes with unsuspecting vendors buying stolen goods, and sometimes knowing, but not asking questions.

Re: Jewelry lovers - please help

Moonlady — Wed, 14 May 2014 17:14:38 GMT

How sad. Local pawn shops and Ebay are where I'd start.