This is a great story! It's hard to believe this can happen in America! Datline needs to see these guys! And Jayne Mill from Channel 11
October 25
State of Maryland
Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing
Dear K R:
This is a true and correct detailed and concise explanation in the order in which it occurred and attached documents supporting the complaint against Associated Pawnbrokers. My family has been conducting small business transactions using their layaway plan with Aberdeen Pawn & Jewelry Co.in Aberdeen, Maryland over the past several years purchasing such items as televisions, VCR's, mechanical sign, etc. This location is also owned and operated by Stephen G. Cassidy and Associates. Around the same time my wife had been in the store and looked over their jewelry for sale. Stephen Cassidy, owner happened to be at this location when she was purchasing a TV. My wife showed Stephen her 5 carat, 25th Wedding Anniversary ring. After looking it over and cleaned it for her, he mentioned that it was a very nice piece. It is nearly 100 years old, owned by only 3 women, one who had it made, her daughter and my wife. We had it reappraised at $26,000.00 on 8/12 by Accredited Gem Appraisers. Being curious my wife asked Stephen Cassidy, What would you lend on a ring like this one? Stephen Cassidy replied about $3,000.00.
Several years passed and an emergency arose with a family member and my wife being a good hearted person she thought about the ring. An example of how my wife thinks about others she gave her car away to a family that needed transportation for their children to get to school. The first stop was the shop located in Aberdeen but Stephen Cassidy was not at that location and he was the only one who could help us since he had first looked at ring and also the size of the loan. So we were told to go to the store in Edgewood on Pulaski Highway. We met with Eddie the manager at that time and were told Stephen would be back in 30 minutes. Eddie said he knows of the ring from Aberdeen and he could do $2,500.00 without Stephen Cassidy not being on the premises but we waited for Mr. Cassidy. Mr. Cassidy finally arrived and we agreed on $2,500.00 since the interest rates are high and we were not planning on keeping the ring there for a long period of time. We also gave him a copy of the appraisal which he placed with the ring in an envelope and promised me it would be safe as loans are all kept in the safe. We had a discussion about this with all his employees in the store at that time. Stephen G Cassidy and his employees on June 3 gave an oral promise to us that the ring was absolutely safe and that they have never had a piece of jewelry lost or stolen as it is placed in the safe. The interest payment of $500.00 was paid on time for July, August, and September.
On Saturday, October 1, I went to make a $500.00 payment on the ring and was told The loan will need to be paid in full today and the ring taken out. The manager Eddie and a female employee who was present on June 3 the original transaction date was present on this day. I was also told I had until 6:00PM to pay the amount. I went back to Havre de Grace and since the banks were closed I had a business owner from Havre de Grace, Fritz Sterbak accompany me to the pawnshop with $500.00 cash and a credit card with $9000.00 credit limit. We were then told the computer would not allow them to do such a large transaction with a credit card. We asked just to verify the closing time and we were told We close at 6:00PM but we are here restocking until 6:30PM. We returned once more, me, Fritz Sterbak with the $3000.00 in cash to close out the loan and pick up the ring. This was about 4:00PM and as we entered the store in Edgewood Eddie was cleaning off a TV screen and the look on his face told the story before it even happened.
We placed the $3000.00 in cash on the counter. Eddie counted the money and handed to another employee who also counted the money. Eddie and the other employee walked to the back to the safe to get the ring. We waited for 20 to 30 minutes for them to come from the back with the ring. As the employee returned from the back where the safe is located I noticed along with Fritz Sterbak that the employee pulled his gun out of the hoister ejected the clip and pushed it back into the gun and returned it to the hoister. Fritz and I looked at each other and thought what is up with that? The employee returned the money to us and said It's against the law for us to hold the money and the merchandise at the same time. The employee said He wanted nothing to do with this and the female employee also remarked that she wanted nothing to do with this. And I mentioned to her that you were here when we first brought in the ring and everyone promised it would be placed in the safe and you had never lost a piece of merchandise. I asked Eddie to call the owner, Stephen Cassidy and maybe he has the ring locked in another safe because of its value. I was told he was in a meeting and I said I think if a customer's $26,000.00 ring is missing he might need to know about it. Stephen Cassidy was called and said his meeting was more important and that the ring is in the safe. When I asked to speak to Mr. Cassidy he said he was unable to speak to me at this time but would call me when he returned from his meeting at 4:00PM on Sunday, October, 2 as Mr. Cassidy or employees would come in and look for the ring. So Eddie and two other employees looked for 1 hours for our ring and came back with an empty envelope that had my customer number 26785 and my name, address, and social security number. I was told the ring must have fallen out and is in the safe. I said We are not leaving here without talking to Stephen Cassidy or one of the employee's to file a report with the Police Department to report the ring lost. My friend, Fritz Sterbak at this time is on the phone with the Edgewood Police Department, Officer Datsko Officer Datsko told Mr. Sterbak to have the store write a note that we were there on October 1 with the $3000.00 in good faith to pay the loan and to pick up the ring and that the ring cannot be located at this time. We were then told by an employee they would not write anything down on paper. We were also told to write down the tag numbers of customers and employees vehicles as witnesses to our October 1st visit: 3. As Mr. Sterbak was taking down tag numbers on the parking lot at the request of the Police Officer an employee of Associated Pawnbrokers went outside and told Mr. Sterbak he had to leave the premises. The employee with Mr. Sterbak had his hand resting on his gun. Eddie walked outside to see what the commotion was in the parking lot. Both Eddie and the employee came back into the store. The other employee was yelling to me that your f_cking friend better get the f out of here if he knows what's good for him or he is going to be sorry. And there were about six customers in the store at this time. I mentioned to this employee you have customers listening to you yell and threaten us for no reason as we were just here to pick up a ring that you told us had to be out by today. So Sunday, October 2 has come and gone and without a phone call from Mr. Cassidy at 4:00PM as we were told someone would search for the ring in the safe. Also signs were posted on Saturday, October 1 that the store would be closed Tuesday, October 4 due to inventory and still no phone call about the ring. On Monday, October 3 I called Associated Pawnbrokers and had to explain again what had happened on Saturday with the ring and I was told they were all new employees and no one had any information about the ring. I called a second time was put on hold and disconnected; I called a third time and was told if I report this The ring is really lost now and have a good day. I have yet to receive a phone call from Stephen G Cassidy about this important matter. I fear for my families' life with these so called business people.
We trusted this business, Stephen G Cassidy and his employees who are licensed with the State of Maryland to conduct business and not prey on unsuspecting customers and in good faith I believed our 5 carat ring would be safe as promised by the owner and his employees and to be locked in the safe.
This event has caused great hardship on our family and the family we helped that day. That day Associated Pawnbrokers, Stephen G Cassidy and his employees orally gave their promise to her, my wife that it would be locked in a safe where only employees or the owner have access until I came to pick up the ring.
The inventory on Tuesday, October 4th needs to be seen. The Sheriff's Sheriff's Department, Maryland State Police, the FBI and all insurance companies should be notified that this valuable ring is missing in the safe.
Cc: Office of the Attorney General
Federal Bureau of Investigation/Maryland Division
Insurance Commission
Office of the People's Counsel
Maryland State Police Department Criminal Investigation Division Additional Information -
Note: Reported to Accredited Gem Appraisers 11/02
Additional information - 11/1 When I first contacted the State of Maryland on Monday, October 3 to report this incident to the Precious Metals Department See attached complaint form. I asked if the employees are licensed by the State of Maryland. Example: Home Improvement Commission Contractors need to be licensed and all salesman and employees of contractor's are also licensed with the State of Maryland. There is also a fund for homeowner's who are victimized by unlicensed contractor's also Beauty Salons, Make-up artist, Pharmacist, etc need a license from the DLLR. I did not recievce a direct answer from karen riley, precious metals department if the employee's of pawnshops are licensed with the state of maryland and do they know who's working at these businesses. I CALLED A SECOND TIME TO REPORT THIS AND KAREN RILEY HAD TO ASK HER SUPERVISOR WHAT TO DO AND WAS TOLD TO SEND A COMPLAINT FORM.
Receiving the letter from office of the people's counsel and the letter mentions to please forward the tag number's to the maryland state police of pikesville and that there is an on-going investigation with this agency. I now realize they want the tag number's as pawnshops are not having their employee's go thorugh the criminal background check. On october 4, i went to the dllr website and i could download the application for the employee background directly from the dllr website and i thought here is the background check on the site and the dllr cannot answer if they license the employees at these businesses.
Give these guys a call they are real sweethearts!
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