Cash Converters to inform police about dubious gold
A pawnbroker plans to share information with the police about gold and suspicious goods brought to its stores.
The agreement between the Metropolitan Police and Cash Converters, which has 197 shops in London, came as the price of gold crossed £1,023 an ounce.
There has been a "rise in snatch thefts" of jewellery and some cash-for-gold shops reported receiving "blood-stained gold necklaces", police said.
Asian women have been asked to be vigilant and not to display jewellery.
Since June the Met has arrested 6,000 people during Operation Target, which aims to tackle robbery, burglary and violent crime.
Police in Brent, Harrow, Lewisham and Newham have warned the Asian community in the boroughs.
In Harrow, six incidents of snatch thefts, mostly gold chains, were reported in May and all the victims were Asian women.
In Lewisham, two snatch thefts and one break-in by masked men was reported in the first week in May, police said.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stephen Kavanagh said: "We are determined to crack down on this type of crime which is extremely traumatic for the victim.
"Criminals will have no place to hide and this agreement makes it easier for us to identify, arrest and prosecute them."
David Patrick, chief executive of Cash Converters, said: "We do not want stolen goods in our stores."