The Secretary of Banking and any person designated by him for that purpose may at any time investigate the business and examine the books, accounts, records, and files therein of every pawnbroker and of every person who or which shall be engaged in the business of pawnbroking whether such person shall act or claim to act as principal or agent, or under or without the authority of this act. For this purpose the Secretary of Banking shall have free access to the office and places of business, books, accounts, papers, records, files, safes, and vaults of all such persons. A person, who is not licensed under this act, shall be presumed to be engaged in the business of pawnbroking if he advertises or solicits business as a pawnbroker as defined in this act, and the Secretary of Banking is in such cases authorized to examine the books, accounts, papers, files, safes, and vaults of such person for the purpose of discovering violations of this act.

The costs of every examination of the business of a licensed pawnbroker by the Secretary of Banking shall be paid by the pawnbroker so examined, and the Secretary of Banking may collect such costs from the surety company which has executed the bond required under this act, and he may maintain an action for the recovery of such costs in any court of competent jurisdiction.