Resale of goods is a common way to track down stolen property, and the people who stole that property, according to law enforcement officials.

In October, scrap metal was stolen from a storage building on Carolina Avenue in Washington. On Nov. 8 and Nov. 11, a video game system and several video games were stolen from two homes on Island View Drive in Bath. The suspects in each case were identified when they attempted to resell the stolen items, according to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.

According to a press release, Shonta Lamont Brown, 29, of Market Street in Washington, was arrested after attempting to sell the scrap metal from the storage building at a recycling company in Pitt County. Brown was charged with felony breaking and entering and larceny after breaking and entering. The property was valued by the victim at $800.

The suspects in the Bath break-ins were arrested after the stolen items were sold to the gaming store, Game Stop, in Washington. Brandon Shane Burbage, 18, of Pine Tree Path, Bath, and Adam Augustus Tate, 21, of Clark Road, Bath, were both charged with two counts each of breaking and entering and one count each of larceny after breaking and entering on Nov. 15.

Though businesses like Game Stop may not fall under the state’s strict resell requirements for recycling centers and pawnshops, proprietors work with law enforcement to track down stolen goods in cases like this, according to Maj. Kenneth Watson, spokesman for the sheriff’s office.

“There’s potential that they do fall under the reseller part of the state law, but they’re just generally cooperative and willing to help with our investigations,” Watson said.

The video gaming system had been shipped off to another Game Stop location for refurbishment, but is being sent back and will be returned to its owner, Watson said.