Pawnbrokers are required by law in California to report every item to the Department of Justice. If you attempt to pawn stolen property, you will be caught and face prosecution. Licensed pawn shops play a crucial role in solving property crimes. In the rare event that a stolen item is brought in, the police can easily track down the thief as they must provide identification, a thumbprint, and a signature. It would be a grave mistake to bring in stolen items. Hear what Rick from Pawn Stars has to say about stolen goods.