Patrolling pawn shops for stolen merchandise

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla.--Police arrested a Port St. Lucie man suspected in a rash of burglaries near his Sherbrook Avenue home.

Officers charged George Brown, 22, with two counts of grand theft but say he confessed to at least nine break-ins. His father told investigators Brown had been stealing from him as well.

Brown is now in the St. Lucie County Jail.

Investigators noticed Brown while searching for a sapphire that had recently been reported stolen. The sapphire turned up at a local pawn shop, brought in by Brown.

Detectives searched the internet database 'Leads Online' which showed that Brown had an extensive pawn history.

The investigation also led to the arrest of Dino Ortega on a number of misdemeanor charges.
Investigators say Brown was selling some of his stolen merchandise to Ortega, who was not properly reporting the purchases.