Police start lost and found website after warehouse raid in West Philly

Philadelphia Detectives say a recent raid on a West Philadelphia warehouse yielded about a thousand pieces of stolen electronics and jewelry. They allege the owner paid cash for stolen goods. They are now trying to re-unite owners with their stolen property.There are hundreds of items–Play Stations, Blackberries, iPods, cameras, gold crucifixes and wedding bands– lined up on tables at the Southwest Detectives Division. The contents of camera cards have been posted online for victims to identify. They include images of weddings, vacations to Rome and high school graduations.  

Lt. John Walker shares his favorite story. “We think probably the best was the first person who came in here, a young lady, early 20s, her mother had just passed and she was able to find the photographs,” says Walker. “So her to see her tears of joy come thorough was probably the best moment we’ve had here today.”

Clelia is here with her sister, searching for items stolen from their apartment in 2008. They’re out of luck. “I’m looking for a camera, a laptop, a Sidekick cell phone, a gold ring with diamonds, a gold pendant with diamonds, and a pair of gold ear rings,” Clelia says.

At the end of their search, the sisters say they feel “defeated.” “You were just hoping. You were hoping that it would be there,” they say. John and his girlfriend, however, are victorious. “We relocated a television a that was stolen on south 16th street. We weren’t expecting to find anything but we got lucky and were able to identify the television.”

Victims can prove ownership by showing a police report, or other proof that they owned the item. Lt. Walker says it’s the largest haul of electronics he’s seen in his six years here.”We’re satisfied with the results of this. Often time we’re meeting people in desperate times. In this it’s joyous times where they’re able to get stuff back from crimes that they were victimized in,” he says.