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Philadelphia residents flock to recover stolen belongings [The Philadelphia Inquirer](Philadelphia Inquirer (PA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) July 14--Shaunte Smith wanted his iPod back. It had been stolen from the 28-year-old's East Oak Lane home in October. Thursday, he waited in a long line in the lobby of the 18th police district, at 55th and Pine, hoping he was in luck. Inside, spread out along tables and benches in an old courtroom, were over 1,000 high-end electronics -- cameras, laptops and game systems -- which police confiscated from a West Philadelphia retail shop. Bracelets, rings and necklaces were also on display. Police recovered the merchandise in May from M&N Fashion and Jewelry, at 45 South 52nd Street. The raid occcured after investigators tracked a woman's stolen laptop and camera to the store, said Lt. John Walker, commander of Southwest Detectives. The owner of the store told police he bought merchandise from customers with cash. Shelves and storage rooms at the shop were filled with electronics and jewelry. The owner couldn't produce proof of purchase for the items. "We believe he was conducting a fencing operation," Walker said. Police did not release the owner's identity, but expect to charge him for buying stolen property, Walker said. He could face one count for each item illegally purchased. Since May, police have been cataloging the items and tracking down owners. One man got back his GPS system, stolen several months ago at 25TH and Federal, Walker said. And a woman who was pickpocketed at Harrah's Casino in Chester got her iPhone back. From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, people waited to recoup their lost things. More than 50 people searched the room in the first hour. They needed to bring theft police claims or electronic reciept numbers for proof. Though some were successful, others didn't find what they were looking for. Lia Boyle, 25, hoped to recover her laptop and a Xbox, stolen from her Cedar Park home in April. She checked identification numbers of a black Xbox, but deemed it wasn't hers, and left empty handed. "No luck," said Boyle. "I guess I'll continue to work without a laptop for school." Others were reunited with more than electronics -- they also recovered memories. Danyel Johnson, 47, had laptops, iPods, cameras, a Xbox and a PSP stolen from her N. 53rd Street home in October. On Thursday, she recovered a camera card with hundreds of lost photos. "I feel good," Johnson said. "My grandfather passed away in February. I would have rather gotten my computers because they had a lot of pictures." Shaunte Smith scoured the iPod table for his beloved music player. He kept all his receipts, which came in handy. After verifying the numbers with an officer, he happily reclaimed his white iPod classic. "It looks like my baby," he said. "It looks like her." Police regard the stolen property raid as a "big win," Walker said. People like getting their stuff back, of course. But moreover, it allows police to "build positive relationships with the community," he said. "It shows we still continue to investigate all crimes." Contact staff writer Alia Conley at 215-854-2917 or [email protected] ___ To see more of The Philadelphia Inquirer, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.philly.com/inquirer. Copyright (c) 2011, The Philadelphia Inquirer Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com, e-mail [email protected], or call 866-280-5210 (outside the United States, call +1 312-222-4544) |