Not really, 20 years ago sure, but other than illegal fence operations that you're not going to find, there's not "unregulated" pawn shops in Albuquerque. Any business registered as a pawn shop is part of an APD program with a database of stolen goods. There's a detail (I think 2 officers, part time, but they get it done) that go around the pawn shops and look for stolen goods. Get caught too many times and it's just not worth running a pawn shop any more.

Yup. I really learned to like pawn shops through this experience. They were all helpful and great and they all seemed VERY concerned about the potential of accepting stolen property. They said sometimes these thieves are dumb enough to try to pawn stuff if they're inexperienced, so they bust a couple people a month, but that it's really rare.

There ARE illegal fences, drug dealers mostly, who will trade stolen goods for drugs and small amounts of cash - like I said, unless you know who to ask, it's not really safe to just go looking for them and you'd end up stabbed or mugged.

Dude, I LOVED this computer so much. And my prescription sunglasses. And my cheap Amazon.com headphones. Getting them back is REALLY important to me. I mean. I'm willing to trade my spleen, several abdominal stab wounds, or a possible gunshot wound to get it back. So this sheltered white boy is on a mission - I'm gonna go through every drug dealer and fence in town until I get my stuff back!

/s just so you all don't think I'm suicidal.