Here in Metro Detroit, we're legally obligated to submit our daily transactions to Leads On-Line, and are also obligated to be subscribed to ScrapTheftAlert.com. Between these two services we are submitting the daily activity of our transactions, making an available database to the police of all our customers, and what they brought in. Then with Scrap Theft Alert, we're being made aware of what's being reported stolen to keep an eye out for it at the scales. Both are similar services as to what a pawn shop must use.

Both are great services, but I can say from a local stand point I don't believe either tool is used enough on the police-side of things. In their defense, though, most of the legal battles we've witnessed as a result from these programs typically ends in a drastically reduced plea deal, or the suspect getting away almost scott free. It seems the only way to get a solid conviction for the "good guys" is to catch someone red-handed. Probably hurts the morale a bit on the police-side.