Thousands of dollars in stolen hockey gear is back in the right hands Monday night after an unusual bust by Fresno police.
Back in October, the hockey equipment of two Fresno Monsters players was stolen from a car. Not long after, one of the players was contacted via Facebook by a woman who claimed to have the gear. Investigators say she, and an accomplice, offered to sell it back for $650. That's when the Fresno Police C-CAT team got involved, and arranged a meeting.
Sgt. Timothy Tietjen said, "One of our officers posed as one of the hockey players, and was on the phone and negotiating a deal. They met here at Milburn & Herndon in the parking lot, actually negotiated the deal with the females. For $650 they would exchange the property."
At that point, officers closed in on the suspects arresting 31-year-old Athena Cadena, and 31-year-old Stacey Levesque. Three men who were in the area and believed to be accomplices were also arrested.
All of the stolen hockey gear was recovered, along with auto theft tools, what appears to be stolen id's and personal information, and a replica handgun.
Officers are now trying to connect those ID's to other burglary crimes.
TXT 24
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