Theft Victims Can Reclaim Their Hot Property : Crime: Police are displaying items seized during the arrest of two men on burglary charges in hopes that they can be linked to other cases.

About $30,000 worth of jewelry, electronic equipment and other valuables were put on display this week by Glendale police, who said they believe the items were stolen from homes and businesses in north Glendale, Los Angeles and Monterey Park.

The property was seized Jan. 17 at a house in Los Angeles after investigators arrested two men who authorities believe were involved in burglaries that resulted in $200,000 in losses over the last two months.

But Glendale Police Sgt. Lief Nicolaisen said “a lot of the property that was taken in these burglaries has already been disposed of.”

Nevertheless, investigators were pleased with the arrests.

“They think they’ve broken up a major burglary ring,” Nicolaisen said.

The recovered property included home and auto stereo equipment, works of art, an expensive decorative clock, clothing, stuffed animals, a Buck knife, an electronic keyboard and a guitar.

Glendale officers put the seized property on display, hoping that break-in victims will be able to identify their belongings and help police tie other cases to the two suspects.

“The investigators hope to clear 10 or more cases by the end of the week,” Nicolaisen said.

He said hundreds of burglary victims in Glendale, Los Angeles and the west San Gabriel Valley have inquired about the recovered items. Officers required them to provide a detailed description of their stolen property and to present a copy of the police report that was filed after the burglary occurred.

Some of the seized valuables have already been traced to a string of daylight burglaries that occurred while residents were away.

“The point of entry was always a rear door or window that was forced open or broken,” Nicolaisen said.

Investigators believe the thieves used a van to haul away the property.

A key break in the case occurred Jan. 17, when Los Angeles police arrested Jose Edgar Vasquez, 18, for illegally discharging a firearm. Officers discovered that the handgun he fired had been reported stolen from a Glendale residence Jan. 13.

Los Angeles police notified Glendale investigators, who took custody of Vasquez and booked him after questioning him about the burglaries. Glendale officers subsequently arrested an alleged accomplice, Carlos Leonal Hernandez, 23.

Police obtained a search warrant for Hernandez’s home in the 500 block of North Berendo Street, where they seized the goods, officers said.

On Jan. 22, Deputy Dist. Atty. Lawrence McGrail charged Vasquez with two counts of residential burglary and one count of receiving stolen property. He charged Hernandez with six counts of residential burglary and one count of commercial burglary.

Both men pleaded not guilty and were ordered to appear at a Feb. 4 preliminary hearing in Glendale Municipal Court. Vasquez is jailed in lieu of $20,000 bail. Hernandez is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.