Michigan State Police are eyeing a way to track so-called "hot" items.
Friday morning in Dundee, troopers brought in a software company called Business Watch International. It designed a program for pawn shops, gold exchanges and scrap yards.
Right now, if you pawn something in Michigan, the company has 48 hours to submit a hard-copy receipt. With an online record, police say they'd be able get the information about the item sooner and that may help cut down on crime.
"Unfortunately, you know, we find a lot of people who commit home invasions, and different sorts of things. They take it and they pawn the merchandise. So, it would be a good tool for law enforcement," said Detective Sgt. Marc Moore.
Michigan State Police say the cost of the software would be covered by a $0.13 fee from the businesses. Eighteen police agencies in the state currently have the software. To get it in Monroe County, troopers say it would have to become an ordinance.
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