CHEVERLY, Md. - Prince George's County Police are looking over hundreds of potentially stolen items, seized from a Cheverly pawn shop.

Police raided the Maryland Computer Exchange pawn shop, taking dozens of $500 vacuums, expensive televisions, costly yard tools, even $3,000 bicycles -- all new and in the box.

"We have complaints from retail establishments which matches up to evidence we're finding here, merchandise we're finding here," said Maj. Andy Ellis, Prince George's County Police.

One week prior, the Prince George's County Chief of Police announced a crackdown on pawn shops, which he blamed for encouraging an epidemic of theft.

The Maryland Computer Exchange was, according to an ABC 7/NewsChannel 8 police source, packed with stolen goods.

"Our message is simple to second-hand dealers in the county: if you're accepting stolen merchandise, stop it. If you can stop it, shut your doors. And if you can't do that, we're gonna come in and take your merchandise and shut your doors for ya," said Ellis.

Once released from custody, shop owner Dennis Buroughs and his lawyer watched the raid in disbelief. They claim to have followed the pawn shop laws. 

"The police knew exactly who we bought it from and when we bought it and how much we paid for it," said Buroughs. "We've been doing this for years and there's no reason for them to come in like this."

"They can put off on the pawn shop dealer their failure to do their job and their due diligence, which is to go through the items within the first 30 days and seize them if they're stolen," said Ron Schwartz, shop owner's lawyer.

"Those regulations, from what we can see at this moment, have not been followed," said Ellis.

The representative of the pawn shop owner said tags on all of the merchandise shows the owner properly recorded and reported the goods to police. The police have 30 days to determine if the merchandise was stolen. After the time limit, the pawn shop owner says he's allowed to sell the items.

No arrests have been made.

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