15Duty of second-hand dealers relating to suspected stolen goods

15 Duty of second-hand dealers relating to suspected stolen goods

(1)  If a second-hand dealer, pawnbroker or an employee of a second-hand dealer or pawnbroker to whom any goods are offered for sale, as a pawn or in some other kind of commercial transaction, has reasonable cause to suspect that the goods are stolen goods –

(a) the second-hand dealer, pawnbroker or employee must forthwith notify a police officer of that fact; and

(b) the second-hand dealer, pawnbroker or employee may –

(i) arrest and detain the person offering the goods until he or she can be delivered into the custody of a police officer; and

(ii) seize and detain the goods until they can be delivered into the custody of a police officer.

(2)  A second-hand dealer, pawnbroker or employee who exercises a power of arrest or seizure under this section must take the necessary action to have the person or goods referred to in subsection (1) delivered into the custody of a police officer as soon as practicable.

(3)  A second-hand dealer, pawnbroker or employee who contravenes subsection (1) (a) is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding 10 penalty units.