Oak Park's Senator Sponsors Law to Limit Pawnshops

A new law sponsored by Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) will make it more difficult to sell items without serial numbers at pawnshops.

Beginning Jan. 1, pawnshops will be prohibited from accepting items if the serial number has been intentionally removed or altered, according to a news release from Harmon’s office.

Shops can accept items if the serial number has worn off through normal use, but they must hold those items for at least 15 days before selling them.

“A missing serial number – particularly on something dangerous like a gun or expensive like a phone or computer – is a real problem,” Harmon said in a statement. “I know most pawnshops don’t want to support criminal activity, but if you resell a major item that’s missing its serial number, you very well might be.”

The law, originally Senate Bill 1820, also sets a statewide minimum of at least 10 days that pawnshops must hold on to all pawned items before they can be sold or moved, even to another store owned by the same company.

“After seeing the patchwork of holding periods throughout the state, we decided to establish a baseline of 10 days to give law enforcement long enough to track down stolen property,” Harmon said. “Cities like Chicago and Oak Park will still be able to set stricter requirements.”