In recent years, the pawn industry, once saddled with a skid-row reputation, has targeted a more mainstream and sometimes downright wealthy clientele by offering to deliver short-term cash with speed and discretion.

WSJ: SmartMoney: Hocking the Jewels: Pawnshops Dipping Into Deeper Pockets

Detectives want to talk to Mr Cregan, who has one eye but sometimes wears a black false eye, in connection with Mark Short's death.

BBC: Clayton gun and grenade murder: Man arrested

The price cuts offered are sometimes steep, and a small business swarmed with eager subscribers could be trading some significant profit losses in the short term for potential customer gains in the long term.

CNN: The new frugal: Tech-savvy coupon clippers

Sometimes these numbers reach astounding levels, and the most recent data, as of April 27, lists several stocks with a short interest ratio of over 50.

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