Friday, September 28, 2012

Stolen Art Watch, Jeffrey Jubilant As His Precious Art Heads Home To Santa Monica


 

Tip leads to stolen paintings, two suspects in San Gabriel Valley



SANTA MONICA - A San Gabriel man and a manager of a Pasadena store selling car stereos and sound systems were arrested for allegedly stealing art valued at $10 million from a Santa Monica home, police said Thursday. Detectives recovered most of the stolen paintings at Al & Ed's Autosound in Pasadena, four at a San Gabriel residence and one in Glendale.
The store manager, 45-year-old Jay Jeffrey Nieto of Canyon Country, and San Gabriel resident, 40-year-old Wilmer Bolosan Cadiz, were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of possessing stolen property.
Pasadena police received a tip where the stolen art was being held and contacted Santa Monica police on Wednesday, Santa Monica Police Sgt. Richard Lewis said in a statement.
He said investigators served a search warrant at Al & Ed's Autosound at 30 S. Rosemead Boulevard and found most of the paintings. Nieto was arrested Wednesday night.
Lewis said additional information led detectives to a residence in San Gabriel where they arrested Cadiz. He allegedly had four of the paintings.
Another painting turned up in Glendale.
The person who had the painting in Glendale was interviewed and cooperating with police, according to Lewis.
Burglars took paintings, two wooden box art pieces, a red 2010 Porsche Carrera 4S, watches, wine and a small amount of cash sometime between 3 p.m. Sept. 12 and 8 p.m. Sept. 14 from a house in the 500 block of 12th Street.
The resident, Jeffrey Gundlach, discovered the break-in when


he returned home from a trip. He offered a $1.7 million reward. Booking records show Nieto was being held at Santa Monica jail in lieu of $20,000 bail. He will be arraigned Friday at the Airport courthouse.
Cadiz was released from custody at 6:50 a.m. Thursday. It's not clear if he is out on bail.
Santa Monica Police are looking for the other stolen items and for additional possible suspects.



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