U.S.

Owners try to identify some of the 30,000 pieces of bling pinched by thief over 5 years in NY

Associated Press
Published | Updated

This Jan. 2, 2013 photo shows a pile of primarily costume jewelry among the mass of seized stolen goods during a news conference at Hudson Falls Village Court in Hudson Falls, N.Y. Few clues exist pointing to the owners of the roughly 30,000 items discovered after 39-year-old burglary suspect John Suddard’s recent arrest. So police are taking the novel step of displaying the items at the local high school Wednesday night, Jan. 9, 2013. (AP Photo/The Post-Star, Derek Pruitt) (The Associated Press)

In this Jan. 2, 2013 photo, New York State Police Lt. John Durling shows a picture of 39-year-old serial burglary suspect John W. Suddard, Jr. during a news conference at Hudson Falls Village Court in Hudson Falls, N.Y. Few clues exist pointing to the owners of the roughly 30,000 items discovered after Suddard’s recent arrest. So police are taking the novel step of displaying the items at the local high school Wednesday night, Jan. 9, 2013. (AP Photo/The Post-Star, Derek Pruitt) (The Associated Press)

This undated photo provided by the Hudson Falls police shows serial burglary suspect John W. Suddard, Jr. Police in upstate New York who recovered 31 duffel bags stuffed with jewelry after Suddard's arrest now face the daunting task of finding owners for the mini-mountain of loot. (AP Photo/Hudson Falls Police via The Post-Star) (The Associated Press)

People whose homes have been burglarized in upstate New York's rural counties have come to the village of Hudson Falls hoping to identify their stolen property.

Francesco Venturiello of Schenectady, who had cash and about $75,000 of his wife's jewelry taken from his home in May, says he was among hundreds of people who went to the local high school Wednesday night where displays were set up.

He left empty-handed.

He laments, "Must have been another crook who got into our house."

About 30,000 items have been discovered in 31 duffel bags since the recent arrest of 39-year-old John Suddard on charges of possession of stolen property. Hudson Falls police Chief Randy Diamond says items recovered link Suddard to 24 burglaries, though there could be many more.