Glen Ellyn might regulate secondhand stores
Glen Ellyn officials are reconsidering an ordinance that would regulate some stores that sell secondhand goods.
The proposed ordinance would require businesses such as jewelry and electronics stores that buy secondhand goods to photograph and enter the property into an online database, then wait seven days before reselling it while police search the system to see if the property was stolen.
Police said the rules were proposed in an effort to help victims of burglaries and thefts recover their property.
The village board unanimously rejected an earlier version of the ordinance Jan. 28 after hearing from business owners who said it would be too burdensome to comply with the village regulations.
The police department’s latest proposal would remove coins and currency from the items that would need to be entered into the database. It also would no longer require businesses to pay a $250 license fee. Instead, the village will fully cover the costs to utilize the LeadsOnline database, which is used by thousands of police departments nationwide.
When the ordinance was proposed last year, officials sought to regulate businesses such as antique stores and bicycle shops, but they scaled back the proposal after hearing negative feedback from business owners.
The Glen Ellyn village board was set to discuss and vote on the ordinance Monday night, but it was removed from the agenda in order to give business owners additional notice of an impending vote. Officials say the board will take up the issue April 29.