Lakewood police hoping to return stolen jewelry

Lakewood police have tens of thousands of dollars in stolen jewelry just sitting in their evidence vault, and they’d like to give it all away.

The items were taken in 2014 by a prolific burglary team that targeted high end homes and focused on stealing easily sold items to make fast cash.

There are rings, bracelets, earrings,  necklaces, and watches, along with diamonds and other gems.

It was all taken by  Norman Solomon with the help of his wife, Amber, and a third accomplice,  Annie Padgett. All pleaded guilty to a number of charges.

During a 10-month crime spree the three managed to get a huge payday selling the stolen goods to pawn shops.

“We were able to determine he got at least around $44,000 pawning this jewelry,” said Lakewood police spokesman lieutenant Chris Lawler.

Since pawn shops pay pennies on the dollar in trade,  that means the three may have stolen well over $100,000 in jewels. And the money?  All used to buy drugs, and all long gone.

Lakewood police would like to track down the owners of the jewelry.  The items were taken in burglaries in Lakewood, University Place, Puyallup,  and the Summit-Midland area between January and October of 2014.

If owners can produce a police report or other documentation to prove they own the items,  police will happily give it back to them.

“Obviously it’s a great deal of satisfaction for us to return property in any case,” Lawler said. “And a victim always feels good when they get their stuff back. We feel good about it, too.”

Police ask anyone who believes they may have own any of the stolen property to contact detective Russ Martin at 253-830-5026.

Cox Media Group