For Ron Lavin, Monday morning was a time to get back what he lost.
His shop, Ronnie’s Tree Service, was burglarized last year. The thief took about $8,000 worth of equipment.
"We lost power heads, which are considered chain saws. We lost rigging supplies, ropes, pulleys, harnesses, safety equipment, blowers, chains. This stuff’s expensive. You know this stuff you don’t purchase at Home Depot or Lowes," said Ron Lavin.
It did a number to his business.
"It took food from my family. That’s the honest, that’s the truth. Then you got to go out and work twice as hard to recoup," said Lavin.
Lavin is getting some of those stolen items back. West Haven Police were investigating a lot of thefts of commercial vehicles in the area and ended up finding a storage trailer in Orange that was filled with stolen goods. They arrested the man the trailer belonged to, and he was convicted in the burglaries.
"It gives us the ability now that he has gone through the system, to make an opportunity for the rightful owners to come here and claim the property that was taken from them," said Detective Sgt. Paul Raucci.
That’s an opportunity the West Haven Police Department says it rarely gets, but it's one that Ron Lavin is thankful for.
"Thanks to a wonderful officer that went the extra mile, we got our stuff back," said Lavin.
West Haven Police are holding viewings of the stolen items through Thursday. People who believe their stolen property may be part of the collection are asked to come down the West Haven Police Department between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Officers say to bring documentation like parts' serial numbers if they are available.
