Plaza Pawn employee clarifies transaction regarding stolen ring

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correctly state that the probable-cause statement was from Cape Girardeau police detective Joe Thomas.

Plaza Pawn employee Christina Roosman said she pawned a ring from Tonya Denise Dent, 41, of Cape Girardeau, for $100, but the pawn shop did not buy the ring.

“We would not buy a ring worth $25,000 for $100,” Roosman said, “nor would we ever do that.”

The way pawning works at Plaza Pawn is a person offers an item for collateral in exchange for a loan, Roosman said. When the person returns with the money and interest, the item is returned.

“We’ve had customers for years,” Roosman said. “Some have brought us something that is not worth $10, but we know their word is good. We have people who have done 100 pawns with us.”

In this case, Roosman took the ring for collateral but later saw a picture from an employer at Chateau Girardeau indicating the ring was stolen. She said she immediately contacted police when she saw the picture. On every item the pawnshop buys or takes as collateral, Roosman said it makes a record and sends that record to Cape Girardeau police.

Dent has been charged with financial exploitation of the elderly and admitted to police she stole the ring from a resident at Chateau Girardeau where she worked.

The probable-cause statement from Cape Girardeau police detective Joe Thomas stated the ring was bought by Plaza Pawn and sold by Dent, but the statement also said the ring was pawned for $100.

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