Officers seen removing items from Yellow House

Lawrence Police and other law enforcement authorities today were removing items from a Lawrence secondhand shop that has been under investigation as part of an alleged fencing operation for stolen goods.

A U.S. Postal Service inspector was on the scene as part of the serving of a federal search warrant at the Yellow House, 1904 Mass.

Witnesses said they also saw officers at the home of Guy and Carrie Neighbors, the store owners.

The store owners have maintained their innocence and say police have unfairly targeted them.

Lawrence police have been investigating the business since last year, focusing on the alleged purchase and resale of stolen goods through the secondhand store and online sales. Police took the unusual step of making public their investigation, though there were no charges filed or arrests made in the months ensuing.

It wasn’t immediately clear what would come from today’s police activity at the business, though early indications were that there were no arrests at the store or the Neighbors’ home.

The fencing investigation by local police has come under scrutiny by the FBI because of allegations that some Lawrence officers had posed as federal agents while conducting their investigation.