The owner of an American Fork pawn shop was arrested over the weekend and charged with buying stolen goods and keeping them at his store.

David Howard Bean, 56, was arrested Saturday and charged with two counts of possession of stolen property and two counts of evidence tampering. American Fork police Sgt. Gregg Ludlow said Bean was in possession of thousands of dollars in stolen power tools, televisions, vacuum cleaners, computers and small appliances.

According to an affidavit filed in Provo's 4th District Court, officers went to Bean's pawn shop on Saturday because of four people who were bringing items to sell at the business. Two of the suspects fled, one was arrested, and police are seeking possession of stolen property charges against the fourth. Audrey Hartford, 23, was charged with obstruction for allegedly concealing some of the stolen property, the affidavit said. She was also charged with possession of heroin, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

When officers searched the pawn shop, they found a number of stolen items, including new televisions, still in the box, with the UPC symbols cut off the boxes, police said. The affidavit said Bean also admitted to taking in two stolen vacuum cleaners from the same suspects on a prior date.

Ludlow said the items were stolen in Utah, Salt Lake and Summit counties. Investigators are still trying to identify all the victims, as well as the other two suspects who fled the store, Ludlow said.

• Jeremy Duda can be reached at 344-2561 or jduda@heraldextra.com.