Goods Recovered in Simi Valley : Victims of Thefts, Stolen Items Reunited

A briefing room at the Simi Valley Police Department had the feel of a jewelry showroom Wednesday.

Accompanied by a police office, more than 50 Simi Valley residents filed into the room, hoping to find property that had been stolen from their homes during the past year.

In the past month, police have arrested four people they believe are responsible for about 100 burglaries in Simi Valley, said Lt. Mark Layhew. Police valued recovered property in those cases at $100,000.

There were about 300 items on display at the Police Department on Wednesday. Local residents picked through hundreds of watches, earrings, necklaces, cameras, radios, silverware and platters.

The booty also included a compact-disc player, compact discs, 10 rifles, three shotguns, four semi-automatic handguns, a telescope, a set of workman’s tools and a coin collection.

Susan and Lloyd Maitland, who lost about $20,000 in items in a fall burglary, recovered a diamond ring and a Seiko watch, which together are valued at more than $3,000, they said.

Donald and Mary Anne Withem were more fortunate.

“This is mine,” said Mary Anne Withem, pointing to a necklace with a thick cluster of pearls. “And that one watch. And the little one next to it.”

The Withems identified 16 items. But they said they lost far more in the Jan. 22 burglary of their home. “We had whole boxes with coins, jewelry,” she said.

Police believe that three of the four men arrested were part of a burglary ring responsible for stealing most of the goods.

Gene Curtis Wilkes, 32, was arrested Jan. 28 as he left a house on Tetlow Avenue, police said. His arms were filled with what turned out to be stolen property, police said.

Wilkes said he burglarized at least 40 Simi Valley residences and sold the stolen goods to Charles Elmer Stone, 50, and his son, Charles Earl Stone, 26, police said.

Police said they obtained search warrants for the Stones’ Fletcher Street house, arrested the father and son the same day and recovered most of the property.

Wilkes, charged with two counts of burglary and two counts of attempted burglary, is being held in lieu of $10,000 bail at the Ventura County Jail. The elder Stone, charged with receiving stolen property and possession of stolen property for sale, is being held in lieu of $150,000 bail. His son, charged with receiving stolen property, was released on $5,000 bail, police said.

Police also displayed goods recovered after the arrest of a 16-year-old boy in an unrelated case. Police said they believe the youth, being held at the Ventura County Juvenile Hall, is responsible for a rash of burglaries throughout Simi Valley.