Crime & Safety

Sheriff: Business Owner Bought Stolen Jewelry From Area Burglars

An elderly business owner was arrested for allegations that he was purchasing stolen jewelry from residential burglars in exchange for cash and selling the goods in his secondhand store, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.

SCSO detectives arrested 86-year-old Richard Dombro, owner of Commodity Exchange, 1918 Bay Road, Sarasota, after he purchased stolen stolen goods from undercover detectives and violated state laws and county ordinances that regulate second hand dealers, according to a report.

While investigating recent residential burglaries detectives learned that multiple suspects were fencing stolen jewelry through Richard Dombro, according to a report. 

Detectives were told Dombro didn’t ask for ID or record of the transactions, the report shows. They also confirmed that Dombro was not photographing or holding items for 30 days, which is required for second hand dealers, the report said. 

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Dombro paid cash for items valued at more than $100, which is also prohibited, the report states. After discovering the alleged violations, undercover detectives conducted two separate operations during which Dombro purchased jewelry and violated the laws, according to the report.

Dombro, of Pinecrest Street, was charged with one felony count of Dealing in Stolen Property, and two counts each for a Second Hand Dealer Transaction Form Violation, Not Keeping Required Transaction Records, and a Second Hand Dealer Method of Payment Violation, all misdemeanors.

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Dombro surrendered his second hand dealer license at the time of his arrest. He has prior arrests for falsifying dealer purchase records, grand theft and exploitation of the elderly, the report stated.


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