MONROE – Lined up behind the yellow crime-scene tape were televisions, VCRs, Macintosh computers, cordless power drivers, drills, chain saws, bows and arrows, a traffic light and some metal chest armor.
These were among about 350 items – approximately $400,000 worth – displayed Saturday at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds. Julie Busch / The Herald
Hundreds of people throughout the day walked up and down the lines searching for their treasured things.
The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, the Sultan Police Department and the State Patrol held a public viewing of the items confiscated from an alleged fencing operation just south of Sultan in March.
Investigators believe stolen goods were being traded for methamphetamine.
Red Bacigalupo, 65, wandered around the floor with police reports in his hand. Someone broke into his Edmonds home a year and a half ago and stole $5,000 worth property, including 13 hunting rifles and shotguns, an air compressor and drills.
| Those who missed Saturday’s public viewing of confiscated property from a fencing operation south of Sultan but still want to view the goods may call the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office at 360-805-6770. |
“Some of the guns are like 40 years old, I want to get them back if I can,” Bacigalupo said.
Somewhere among the bicycles, guitars and welding equipment, Bacigalupo spotted three hunting knives and a roof-cutting tool.
Bingo.
“Finally,” he said, adding that he’d been to four viewings without any luck.
But the joy didn’t take away his anger about the unsolved theft, Bacigalupo said. He estimated the worth of the recovered goods at about $550, or 9 percent of his total loss.
Bacigalupo said he will continue to search for his other stolen items.
“I’m retired. I’ve got time,” he said.
Bacigalupo was one of about 20 people who had been waiting in line outside the building half an hour before the viewing began at 9 a.m.
As Bacigalupo found his goods inside, the line got longer.
Rich Niebusch, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office, said he originally expected 200 people Saturday but figured the turnout would be much more by the end of the day.
Rick Wayland drove from Arlington to the fairgrounds around 8:30 a.m. and was fourth in line. Wayland, 35, a carpenter, hoped to recover tools such as nail guns and saws stolen from his trailer about six weeks ago. The tools were worth about $9,000, he said.
The day after the break-in, Wayland said he had to go to Home Depot and buy tools for $5,000 before he could go to work.
On Saturday, Wayland went home empty-handed, but said it had been worth checking out.
“I’m glad either way,” he said.
Marvin Ashford of Stanwood said he didn’t find any of $2,500 worth of carpentry tools that disappeared from his truck in August.
“We’ve got to live in a society where people steal from us,” said Ashford, 54.
As Ashford left the fairgrounds around 10 a.m., a long line of people were still waiting outside.
“I’m not surprised that there are so many victims,” Ashford said.
Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@ heraldnet.com.
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