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From the reports Prince George's police receive from county pawnshops, the list of frequently pawned items reads almost like a trip to the convenience store. One Washington, D.C., man has made $6,382 in the last month alone pawning beauty products and over-the-counter drugs.

Police say the items mark the latest trend in county crime: theft of relatively inexpensive items from area stores and homes. In a news conference Tuesday, Police Chief Roberto Hylton said burglaries and shoplifting cases have been the only spikes in county crime so far this year and will be their main priority this summer.

"You tell me how an average citizen is going to pawn 26 items that are worth $6,000," Hylton said. "Why are we allowing organized, illegal fencing in Prince George's County? … Why is a pawnshop accepting medicine? Why is a pawnshop accepting a pallet of Tide [laundry] powder?"

There were 18,023 total crimes reported in Prince George's County in the first six months of the year, down about 14 percent from the 20,982 crimes in 2008. It marks one of the lowest crime rates the county has had in two decades, Hylton said.

There were 2,849 violent crimes, which includes homicides, rapes and robberies, down 9.8 percent from the first six months of last year. The 15,714 property crimes, which include burglary, theft and motor vehicle theft, are down 14 percent.

The 50 homicides reported since January are 10 fewer than the same time last year.

The only crime on the rise is burglary — cases where criminals break into homes or businesses to steal. While the number of store burglaries is at 369 cases so far this year, a 32 percent drop from the 541 reported last year, criminals reportedly broke into 2,478 county homes in the first six months of this year, a 14 percent increase.

Hylton and County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) said the fault lies with the pawnshops and the judicial system, which allows repeat offenders back on the streets.

"These officers are removing these people from the streets but what happens to them after? That's the question that has to be asked," Hylton said.

Johnson said he plans to ask for new laws that could target pawnshops trafficking stolen goods.

"We're going to close them down, actually," Johnson said.

Another problem is the failure to convict and jail criminals, Hylton said. The Washington, D.C., resident who patronized area pawnshops last month has been arrested several times, but is repeatedly released, he said.

"I hear from officers all the time where we have people who commit 30 separate burglaries and before they can be locked up, they're put back on the street," Hylton said.

Hylton and Johnson declined to comment further on where they believe the blame lies in the judicial system. Hylton conceded he had not invited State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey to the news conference, which was attended by department heads and officers across the county.

A spokesman for Ivey could not be reached immediately for comment.

Police are also working closely with state probation offices to monitor newly released people with criminal records, Hylton said.

Officials attribute the overall drop in crime to a team approach, including intensified efforts to involve community leaders in neighborhood watches and other programs.

"As we deal with the real crucial questions issues of education, public safety and the safety of our citizens, we must all work as one," Johnson said.

But manpower issues could hamper the department once again this year. County officials were expected to vote Tuesday to impose a 10-day furlough on all county workers, including the department's 1,500 officers.

"Absolutely, I'm concerned about it," Johnson said, adding that the county does not have enough money to boost the department. "My desire was to build this department to 2,000 officers. … It's a difficult situation. But the point is, despite these difficulties, our department is still performing."

E-mail Daniel Valentine at dvalentine@gazette.net.