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2 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Family finds glimpses of the past in Medford mausoleum glass ... Our View: Cheers and Jeers ... Guest Opinion: Student loan debt burdens today's graduates ... Family finds glimpses of the past in Medford mausoleum glass ... Our View: Cheers and Jeers ... Guest Opinion: Student loan debt burdens today's graduates ... MEDFORD Medford City Council tones down photo requirements for secondhand stores Comment By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 21, 2015 at 11:18 AM Updated Aug 21, 2015 at 3:08 PM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 21, 2015 at 11:18 AM Updated Aug 21, 2015 at 3:08 PM » Social News Secondhand shops in Medford got a break Thursday when City Council unanimously decided to no longer force them to take photos of new clothing worth less than $20. The council also decided not to require photos and electronic reporting to police for items brought in on consignment. “Dopers and addicts and thieves don’t want store credit,” Medford police Sgt. Brent Mak said. “It’s instant gratification to sell the items then buy the drugs.” Most thieves bring in new items and sell them to secondhand stores for a fraction of the cost you would pay at a retail store, he said. The council decided Thursday not to require photos or reporting for used clothing or pre-owned children’s goods. Mak said photographing items sold to secondhand stores is effective and has already helped retrieve 53 items this year. From Jan. 1 to Aug. 18, Medford police identified 389 stolen items at pawn shops and secondhand stores. Police recovered 256 of those items. Another 133 items were not recovered, primarily because police found out about the stolen goods after the required 15-day waiting period. On March 22, the council voted to require pawn shops and secondhand dealers to take photos of anything of value, with no specified minimum dollar amount. The ordinance met with opposition from pawn shops, but many secondhand dealers were unaware the new law would apply to them, as well. Owners of Kid to Kid of Medford and Runway Fashion Exchange, both on Poplar Drive, protested the ordinance, saying it would force them to take photos of thousands of items each month and upload them to a police database. Kori  Forney, owner of Kid to Kid, told the council in February that the average price for an item purchased by her store is $1.12, and she can receive up to 10,000 items a month. Medford police have set up digital cameras and other equipment to help store owners comply with the law, which will still require photos of new clothing valued at more than $20. “We want to stem the tide of residential and retail theft,” Medford police Chief Tim George said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/reporterdm . By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 21, 2015 at 11:18 AM Updated Aug 21, 2015 at 3:08 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501