CHARLOTTE, N.C.,None — Thank you for voting on wsoctv.com. Have You Traded or Sold Gold Recently? With the increase in the price of gold, have you traded in or sold any gold lately? Yes. No.
The value of gold is skyrocketing, and that has led local police to warn people that crime could rise with it.
"It's just going up like crazy," said Ernie Perry, who buys gold at his south Charlotte store, Perry's at SouthPark.
He said Monday that an ounce of pure gold will trade for about $1,700.
"Friday and Saturday were probably the two busiest days we've had in three years," he said.
That's good news for sellers of gold, but a red flag for others. Neighbors in north Charlotte's Howie Acres community have seen about five burglaries in the past two weeks. In a meeting Thursday, police warned neighbors that jewelry is becoming more valuable to thieves.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said gold thefts have been going up for a while and could continue to rise. They said they will continue to work with places that buy and sell gold to help make sure they are not inadvertently taking in stolen gold.
In addition to taking names of sellers and recording all purchases, Perry's at SouthPark has security and cameras on hand to discourage thieves from trying to sell there.
Officers advised jewelry owners to use a safe deposit box at a bank if they're concerned about theft. They also said people should take pictures of their jewelry and have valuables appraised so that they can be identified later if stolen.
Previous Stories: August 9, 2011: Gold Prices Keep Pushing Higher To A New Record August 9, 2011: Gold Up With Stocks As Investors Cling To Security July 20, 2011: Undiscovered Gold Attracts Interest In NC