SRPD Teams Up With Victim To Recover Stolen Items: Police

SAN RAFAEL, CA — Officers in San Rafael worked with a theft victim to recover equipment stolen from an Oakland construction site valued at more than $10,000, according to police.

Investigators allege the items were taken in March, and the rightful owner recently spotted them for sale on Facebook Marketplace. The man told police he immediately recognized the stolen equipment, still marked with his company's identification tags, and arranged to meet the seller at a San Rafael shopping center.

Officers set up nearby and observed the meeting as the suspects arrived. Once the suspects opened their trunk and showed the stolen wares, the officers moved in to make an arrest. Police said one suspect was carrying illegal drugs, and both were booked into jail on suspicion of theft.

Investigators said the case highlighted the usefulness of making valuables easily identifiable to counter thieves.

"This is a great example of ensuring that valuable property is uniquely marked and serial numbers are recorded," the department said Monday. "property with unknown serial numbers or [that] is not uniquely marked is rarely recovered or returned to the owner."

Police recommend that victims who find their stolen property on online marketplaces contact law enforcement before setting up a potentially dangerous meeting.