Jeweler Licensees Required to Take Pics of Purchased Wares

The Committee passed an ordinance last week requiring jewelry licensees to maintain additional documentation when purchasing precious gems or metals, specifically requiring them to take and save photographs of all items purchased.

The ordinance, which was unanimously passed by the committee, amends and supplements the “Precious Gems and Metals” chapter of the code of the Township of Manalapan which requires licensees to maintain additional documentation when purchasing precious gems or metals. The original law simply required licensees to keep the identification information of the sellers and a receipt.

Now, the licensee must take a digital photograph of all purchased jewelry, gems and precious metals, as well as a photograph of the identification of the seller presented at the time of purchase.

The licensee is also required to keep these photographs for no less than 2 years and copies of the photographs may be requested by the .

The change to the ordinance was made at the request of the Manalapan Police Department, according to Capt. Chris Marsala.

"The ordinance addresses the purchasing and retention of gold and jewelry by all licensed jewelry stores and pawn shops," Marsala said. "The purpose of the amendments to the ordinance is to enhance the police department’s ability to investigate and solve criminal cases involving stolen jewelry."

A public hearing on this ordinance took place at the committee meeting on March 28; no member of the public wished to be heard.