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Burglary victims STILL waiting to get stuff back

Posted at 6:49 PM, Feb 23, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-23 21:11:42-05

In the summer of 2012, police say Killian Hale burglarized more than 40 homes in Chandler, Sun Lakes and Phoenix.

By September 2012 he was under arrest, and viewer Shirley says she's been trying to get her stuff back ever since.

Shirley says she lost thousands of dollars’ worth of jewelry and electronics, but it was the irreplaceable stuff she was most anxious to get back.

Like her mother's engagement ring and her grandmother's pendant.

"Some of the things that were taken only had sentimental attachment to them," she says.

Shirley and her husband checked pawn shops around the Valley, hoping to see her things.

Eventually she found out two of her items were being held by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.

"Five or six times I think, I talked to the detective down there," Shirley says, over the course of three years.

"The sheriff’s department said they couldn't figure out what belonged to whom because of the way it was filed," Shirley says.

She wasn't sure what to do so she let me know, and got in touch with volunteers from the Assistance League of Phoenix.

A spokesperson tells me, MCSO typically does not release evidence until a case has been completely resolved, and this one took a long time.

In addition to getting the required releases from the County Attorney, this case in particular "was very complex. Involving more than five Law Enforcement Agencies, the County Attorney's Office and hundreds of stolen items"

After making some calls volunteer Jim, got in touch with the right person.

Shirley says things happened quickly from there.

"A deputy delivered the pieces to me so, I was shocked," Shirley says.

"I would like for these other people that were robbed to be able to get their things back," she says.

The first step in retrieving your items that are being held as evidence, is by contacting the detective working your case.

He or she should be able to tell you where in the process you can get your things.

Still not satisfied? Contact the County Attorney's Office to see when a release can be sent to the agency holding your stuff, so can get them.

Communicate as much as possible in writing, don't give up, and when all else falls--let me know.

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Need my help? Call the Assistance League of Phoenix volunteers at 1-855-323-1515. You can also send me an email, or a video email where you attach a video explaining the problem.
And you can reach me on Twitter or "like" the Let Joe Know Facebook page and tell me about it there.

AND WE NEED YOUR HELP!  If you want to be a volunteer and help other consumers, let me know.