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Public's Chance To Reclaim Their Stolen Property Coming Soon

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By JOSH POLTILOVE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 19, 2008

TAMPA - Missing your guns? Lost your laptop?

Hillsborough County deputies might have them. The sheriff's office will hold a viewing within a month so people can reclaim some of the nearly $1.5 million in stolen items recovered during a recent sting operation, Maj. Paul Davis said. No official date has been set for the viewing.

On Wednesday, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office wrapped up a yearlong undercover effort in which deputies opened a store called SouthEast Auction Service on West Waters Avenue and bought stolen property.

Operation SouthEast Auction Service was designed to get illegal weapons out of the hands of criminals by purchasing them. The operation has led to more than 120 arrests. Investigators recovered 102 firearms, 50 vehicles and other stolen property. They also seized nearly $78,000 cash and about 40 pounds of cocaine valued at more than $1 million.

Before the viewing, the guns will be sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for ballistics tests, Davis said. Investigators want to see whether those guns, which include several sawed-off shotguns, have been used in crimes.

Deputies have reached out to some people they know had stolen items sold to investigators, Davis said.

Carlos Dixon, 28, was among the people contacted by deputies Wednesday. He said deputies recovered his brother's college football bowl game ring as well as a Vanderbilt University class ring stolen from another one of his brothers. He said deputies will give them the rings soon.

Dixon hopes his mother's missing diamond pendant, which he paid a few hundred dollars for 10 years ago and has sentimental value, also was recovered. He and his mother plan to attend the stolen property viewing and look for the pendant.

He thanked deputies for their efforts.

"I think it was a real good tactic for them to use to draw thieves, people of that nature," said Dixon, whose 17-year-old brother, Levi Dixon Jr., was shot dead in Tampa this year in a case that remains unsolved. "I think it was a real good thing they did. I think they should do similar efforts to curb some of the violence that's going on today."

So, how much does it cost to buy about $1.5 million in hot property?

The sheriff's office spent $72,000 in confiscated drug money, paying 5 cents on the dollar for the goods, sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691 or jpoltilove@tampatrib.com.

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