Weber County detectives seek owners of hundreds of stolen items


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HOOPER —Police are attempting to return hundreds of stolen items to their owners.

Looking through piles of items outside a storage unit, Matt VanMeeteren was hoping for a bit of luck after having several tools stolen from his roofing business.

"This is how we make our living," VanMeeteren said. "They took our nail guns, saws, stuff like that, and I'd just like to get them back."

Brad Luke, one of Van Meeteren's employees, said the tools were taken from his garage one night about a month ago.

"Woke up one morning, and poof! They were gone and I was like, 'Whoa!'" Luke explained

VanMeeteren didn't find what he was looking for. He's already taken a loss on the tools, buying new ones so he can work.

But the dozens of items Weber County Sheriff deputies had laid out Wednesday was just one small part of what was stolen.

"These guys were serial burglars," said Weber County Sheriff's Lieutenant Nate Hutchinson. "We've tracked it to storage units, open garages, carports, yards — really about any crime of opportunity. Anything that these guys could take, they were going to do it."

Hutchinson says well over 300 stolen items have been recovered so far. Detectives believe the same group struck parts of Weber, Davis and Box Elder counties over the past year or longer. Deputies worked with various agencies over the past several months, including Ogden Police and the Weber-Morgan Narcotics Strike Force, to track down the items and suspects.

So far, 45 year-old Brandon Christensen and 23 year-old Zach Schofield have been arrested and charged with multiple counts of burglary and theft, but Hutchinson says there are likely several more arrests on the way.

"We've tracked down at least 22 victims right now that we've been able to return the property to," Hutchinson said. "But we're talking hundreds of items, so there's more victims out there."

Potential victims, hoping to recover items who have filed a report previously are asked to call the Weber County Sheriff's Department. People who have not reported items stolen who might be victims should contact their local police agency where they'll be asked to fill out an affidavit, stating what they've lost and declaring that they're being truthful.

Contributing: Xoel Cardenas

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