Police Seeking Owners of Recovered Items

Torrance police are looking for Bill West, Tracy, D. B. J. and others whose homes have been burglarized in the last two years in cities throughout Southern California.

West’s name was found inscribed on a 1962 class ring from USC. Tracy is missing a charm bracelet and D. B. J. a gold pocket watch. The items are part of a huge cache of stolen merchandise collecting dust at the Torrance Police Department.

All of the items, which have an estimated value of $50,000, are at Torrance police headquarters, 3300 Civic Center Drive, where they can be seen by people who believe they may be the rightful owners.

Police say they recovered the items after arresting John Wesley Milligan, 27, last month on burglary charges. Milligan, dressed in a blue suit and tie, was spotted climbing into a window of a Torrance home, police said.

A search of Milligan’s home in Carson uncovered thousands of dollars’ worth of property that police say was taken from residences throughout Los Angeles and Orange counties.

Milligan, who has pleaded guilty to two burglary charges, is in the custody of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, police said. Four additional burglary charges against him are being filed, police said.

Property has already been returned to victims in Rancho Palos Verdes, Long Beach, Huntington Beach and Torrance. But the police still have a Yamaha keyboard, a gold-colored locket with the initials EML on one side, a pair of pewter Indian scout statuettes and other valuables.

Police sa they will ask those claiming the merchandise to describe their missing items and show police reports documenting a burglary at their home. Items that are not claimed may be sold at the next police auction.

“We’ll screen people before they see the stuff so that they don’t come up and just say, ‘Yes, that’s mine,’ ” Sgt. Ronald Traber said.

Police are confident that the owner of one item is sure to show up if the message gets out.

“The strangest thing we have is a three-quarter-length hooded coat made of skunk fur,” Detective Pete Velis said. “It has to be the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s one of a kind.”