By Carrie Petersen
Albany Democrat-Herald | Posted: Wednesday, July 2, 2008 12:00 am
An Albany police officer this morning found a $1,300 men's ring in a North Albany back yard, four days after it was stolen from Jordan Jewelers.
Saturday afternoon, a man had taken the ring from the downtown store without paying, police said at the time. The man took off in a car, and police caught up with it in North Albany. After a short foot chase, the man was arrested but the ring was missing.
The thief said he tossed the ring but officers using tracking dogs and a metal detector had been unsuccessful in finding it.
Officer Jorge Salang was on patrol in that area of town today and thought he would try one more time to find the missing jewelry.
He spotted the ring, still inside its box, in bushes next to a chain link fence - which is why police said the metal detector didn't work - in the 1100 block of Lafayette Street.
The ring was brought back to the police station but was expected to be returned to the store soon.
Kenneth Heart, 34, of Portland has been charged with first-degree theft in connection with the stolen ring. He remained at the Linn County Jail this morning, awaiting court proceedings.
Police said they didn't know what had brought him to Albany. The investigation continues, and police said there may be more arrests.