Pawnbrokers across NSW will soon be compelled to record unique wifi codes for all "pawned" mobile phones and laptops before selling them on, in an attempt to clamp down on the theft of electronic goods.
From June 1 pawn vendors will have to record "media access control" (MAC) addresses and provide them to police, who will be able to check the address with a database of stolen goods.
Almost 20,000 mobile phones and 8000 laptops were reported stolen in NSW in 2015.
"In the event a product is stolen, you can go to the police and they can then go to the pawnbrokers, check the database and find out if your device has been stolen," Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation Victor Dominello said on Tuesday.
"It's going to be great for police because it gives them more information."
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Mr Dominello encouraged people to record their MAC code and supply it to police in case of theft.
Inspector Tony Heyward from NSW Police's Operational Information Agency labelled the initiative a world first in the tracking of stolen electronic goods.
The theft of mobile phones, often used for banking or work, could have large ramifications for a person's quality of life, he said.
Pawnbrokers who do not comply with new regulations will face fines and the potential loss of their pawnbroking licence.
