A PAWNBROKER says he has lost so much money trying to catch criminals he will no longer help police.

Kevin Fisher, who runs Cash in Hand, in Queen Street, Colchester, said he has lost thousands of pounds by passing on stolen goods to the police.

Despite customers having to provide evidence of purchase, a thumb print, photographic ID as well taking a web cam picture, he later finds some of his stock is on Essex Police’s stolen goods list.

But when he gives police the items and criminals are taken to court and convicted, he is rarely compensated, meaning he is losing thousands of pounds a year.

Now he says he will deny police officers access to his computer system unless they have a warrant from the court.

Mr Fisher said: “It’s getting more and more frequent that we’re losing out."

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