Right now, gold can be melted down after ten days from the time it is purchased. Austin Police want to change that. (KEYE TV)

Ten days, by law that's how long gold buyers in Austin have to wait to melt down gold.

Austin Police Department detectives say that makes it hard to track down stolen items, which is why APD recently began taking a closer look at gold buyers.

"It's very heartbreaking to see a victim lose something so sentimental to them," says APD Detective Christopher Juusola.

Juusola is working with the city to revise their ordinance for precious metal buyers. Right now, gold can be melted down after ten days from the time it is purchased.

"Any amount of time that we have to jump on that lead and go recover items for the victim would make a difference," says Juusola.

He's hoping the city will require gold buyers to take pictures of items and electronically report what they buy. "So that way when we get that report we can search for it immediately and we can get a chance to go get that item," says Juusola.

But gold buyers aren't convinced it will help. David Hayes who owns Austin Cash 4 Gold on Burnet Road says, "It's going to be more of a problem for us, it's going to take hours for us."

But not everyone is upset by the idea. Shannon Haas is co-owner of The Ring by Gold Gals in Round Rock. She's owned a chain of gold buying stores throughout Central Texas. Haas says, "My experience in Minneapolis, before I moved to Texas, we actually had to do that."

After years of gold buying, they built an upscale engagement ring and jewelry store in Round Rock. While they won't be impacted by any changes to city rules, she says it's the right things to do. "Really and truly, it's being done to protect people who have had something stolen from them. I mean, why wouldn't you want to help that person? I realize it's a little more work, but it's not that much," says Haas.

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