Posted: Friday, November 30, 2007 12:00 am
CORVALLIS - Patricia Coke is a retired nurse and a grandmother. She never expected to become a detective. But the 68-year-old Corvallis woman helped police track down $25,000 in jewelry stolen last month from her mother, Jean Green, and another resident of Stoneybrook Assisted Living.
"It wasn't fun. It took a lot of work. It took a lot of my time. My mother was very worried," Coke said. "It was devastating to have that loss. Those were keepsake pieces."
The most expensive stolen item was a $15,000 diamond ring. A bracelet worth $2,500, a $1,500 diamond ring and a simulated ruby ring worth $300 also were taken from Coke's mother, according to a Corvallis Police Department report.
Coke and her husband drove to eight pawn shops and jewelry stores in Corvallis, Albany and Lebanon in search of the items. They found some at Albany's Ace Buyers, whose owners cooperated with police.
Police officers found other jewelry Nov. 6, after serving a search warrant at the suspect's house. Investigators said that there may be other victims at Stoneybrook. They found another 14 pieces of jewelry whose owners have not yet been identified, according to a police report
Kristy Belcher, 21, of Albany, was arrested three weeks ago in connection with the thefts. She was working at Stoneybrook when the jewelry was stolen from Coke's mother and Joyce Wilson, another Stoneybrook resident.
Belcher was arraigned Thursday in Benton County Circuit Court on charges of first-degree aggravated theft, first-degree theft and two counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment. All are felonies. She was ruled ineligible for a court-appointed attorney, and another court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 20.
Belcher, who would not comment, was given a conditional release from jail on Nov. 7.
Coke was dismayed that her mother had became a victim.
"My mother is 95, and she has very low vision. She is frail, and she depends on these people as caregivers, depends on them as being honest," Coke said.
The theft of Greene's jewelry was reported in mid-October. Stoneybrook staff later asked other residents if they were missing items, and that led to the discovery that Wilson's wedding ring, worth $4,000, also was missing, Alberto said.
Lt. Dave Henslee, a Corvallis police spokesman, said the department usually has only four patrol officers on duty, so they have to prioritize calls, with emergencies receiving the highest attention.
Coke said that she understood.
"This was important, but it wasn't a priority," said Coke. "They have too much else they are dealing with every day."
Henslee said it is not unusual for officers to enlist the help of victims in a theft case.
"They can identify the property pretty easily," Henslee said.
An officer using a written description might miss a stolen item, although a photograph would help.
Troy Standard, manager of Ace Buyers, said his shop checks out sellers' identification and fills out electronic forms on transactions, and not just for the jewelry and firearms, as required by Albany ordinance.
Those forms are forwarded to local law enforcement agencies in Linn and Benton counties.
"You want thieves to know they're going to get caught," Standard said.
By Kyle Odegard.He can be contacted at kyle.odegard@lee.net or 758-9523.