Los Angeles County Sheriff’s investigators say 45 victims have been reunited with their stolen property after their homes were burglarized by thieves who used stolen LA Times vacation hold delivery lists.
Detectives say they received hundreds of phone calls from the public helping them return valuables to owners who were burglarized in the extensive San Gabriel Valley-based ring.
Hundreds of stolen property items priced at over $100,000 were recovered when authorities arrested Joshua Box, 43, of Arcadia, Duane Van Tuinen, 51, of Azusa; Randall Whitmore, 43, of La Verne, and Edwin Valentine, 52, of Covina. The arrests were made thanks to a region-wide effort including law enforcement agencies from Glendora, Arcadia, Chino Hills, Monrovia and San Marino.
Victims resided in Diamond Bar, Walnut, Hacienda Heights, Chino Hills, West Covina, Arcadia, Pasadena, and Santa Monica in Los Angeles County, as well as Redlands and Ontario in San Bernardino County.
"Valuable items being returned to owners include a collection of Elvis Presley art as well as a numbered Thomas Kinkade print," said Sheriff's Major Crimes Bureau Lieutenant Kent Wegener in a written statement. Wegener said that one woman discovered that her grandfather’s WWI military deployment records had been among the items recovered.
Investigators say it will take several more months to follow up with phone calls and return the rest of the recovered property.
Anyone who believes they may have been a victim in this burglary ring is encouraged to call Sheriff's Major Crime Bureau at (562) 946-7893.
