Victims of North County collectibles burglary series can claim stolen property Saturday

Property stolen from North County storage units, including a cache of valuable comic books and sports collectibles, will be put on public display by sheriff’s detectives Saturday in an effort to return the items to burglary victims.

The items, valued at more than $1 million, were stolen from storage units in Valley Center, Oceanside and Escondido, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The stolen property, including power tools and electronics, was recovered in October and November.

The initial viewing will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Sheriff’s Investigations, Crime Lab, Property and Evidence Building, 5590 Overland Ave. in Kearny Mesa. A second viewing will be held on Jan. 3.

Anyone who lost property in the burglaries was asked to enter the County Operations Center campus from Chesapeake Drive. Sheriff’s Property and Evidence is located on the northwest side of the building, south of the gas pumps, with parking in areas marked for visitors.

Those attending the viewing must provide personal identification and will need to meet at least one of the following criteria to claim their property:

— Provide a sheriff’s (or any law enforcement agency) case number

— Prove their name is on the item

— Provide a receipt with the item’s serial number

If a burglary victim did not report the stolen item but can prove it belongs to them, a report will be taken, detectives said. If someone believes the stolen item is theirs but can’t prove it, a sheriff’s deputy will take their information and contact them after the viewing is over.

Two suspects — a 43-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman — were arrested Nov. 4 in connection with the burglaries.