A Groveland Township man was arrested after victims of a home invasion spotted their missing jewelry at a local business just hours after it was stolen.
Christopher Lee Lopez, 21, was arraigned Feb. 10 on a charge of receiving and concealing stolen property valued at more than $1,000, but less than $20,000, in front of 52-2 District Court Magistrate Thomas Raguso.
According to police reports, a Brandon deputy responded to the 600 block of East Ridge Drive for a report of breaking and entering after the complainant’s son returned home from school and found a bathroom window broken. A ladder taken from an attached garage was found outside the window. Numerous pieces of jewelry including assorted necklaces, pearl earrings and a bracelet, as well as cash, were taken from the master bedroom.
Shortly after making the police report, the complainant and his wife visited a local business that buys gold and found the missing jewelry. An employee had taken a thumbprint from Lopez , who had also given his identity for the sale. The store also uses video surveillance and had Lopez on camera selling the jewelry.
Lopez was already on probation for maintaining a drug house.