What is more effective and humane? Is it about removing the poverty that drives that kind of theft, or were you thinking of something more direct?
We haven't banned pawn shops, either. But we do understand that they are a conduit for theft and can induce other crime, and so we tend to impose a certain amount of regulation upon them to reduce the scope of the harm.
What exact form that would take is up for discussion.
And, of course, there's other secondary markets-- sketchy people with tables illegally selling gray market consumer goods.