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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, June 27, 2002

Theft victims may inspect cache found in 'Aiea home

By Vicki Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer

Burglary and theft victims, take heart: There's still hope that your stolen property may come home at last.

A police photo shows some of the recovered items that will be shown to theft victims Saturday morning.

Honolulu Police Department

A treasure trove of stolen goods — more than 500 items, worth an estimated $125,000 — was seized June 9 in a search of an 'Aiea home that police believe was used as a fence operation.

Police were looking for a fugitive in a drug case when they sought the search warrant, said police Detective Letha DeCaires. Besides drugs, they found a bedroom packed with stolen property.

Theft victims who have filed a police report will get a chance to inspect the hoard for their valuables from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at police headquarters, 801 S. Beretania St. They will be escorted to the basement viewing area by the detective handling their case, who will help point out items that might be theirs, DeCaires said.

The chance of recovering a lost treasure improves if the theft or burglary (most items appear to have come from homes or automobiles) occurred within the last six months to a year, she added.

The fugitive was not found when police executed their search warrant at 6:30 a.m. June 9, DeCaires said. Instead, two men, ages 52 and 51, were arrested, and about $12,000 in drugs confiscated, said police Capt. Kevin Lima of the narcotics/vice division. They included crystal methamphetamine, the prescription painkiller oxycontin, liquid methadone and both black-tar and China-white heroin, Lima said.

"We suspected there was some stolen property there, but we didn't know the extent," he said.

The property included weapons, sports equipment, computers, car and home stereos, electronic equipment, tools and jewelry, DeCaires said. There were some items still in original packaging that apparently were taken from stores, which will not be displayed Saturday, she said.

Police believe thieves brought property to the home at 99-103 Moanalua Road to exchange for drugs, Lima said.

The suspects were released pending further investigation — one was hospitalized for medical problems — and police expect the charges to come through a grand jury indictment. Other arrests may result, Lima said.

Victims who have filed a theft report should contact the detective assigned to their case. Those who have not reported a property crime may still do so, DeCaires said, by supplying detectives with a list of stolen items and any identifying documents or photos.

She noted that having filed a police report can prove worthwhile in such cases, and that a record of identifying characteristics can be essential when opportunities arise to claim valued items.

"Now is a good time to go through your house and make a record," DeCaires said. "A lot of people go through with a videocamera and then save the tape in a safe deposit box. They should mark their property in some way that can identify it in the future."

And Lima warns anyone who might be contemplating faking a theft and trying to claim some of the booty: "It's a crime to falsely report a theft to the police."

Reach Vicki Viotti at vviotti@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8053.