Police recover and return stolen merchandise

Local St. Augustine reporters at Historic City News were informed by police that an anonymous citizen turned over approximately $500 in stolen merchandise that has been returned to several downtown stores.

Saturday eveing, Officer Jeff Truncellito was called to the J.R. Bennet store, located at 62 Saint George Street, where the clerk reported that someone had turned in a bag to her containing “a lot of merchandise”.

The unidentified person who turned in the merchandise told the clerk that the bag was found next to Scarlet O’Hara’s located at 70 Hypolita Street.

The clerk inspected the bag and recognized 16 items as those missing from her store.

Officer Truncellito was able to identify items belonging to St Augustine Art Store, George’s Treasures, Silver Feather Jewelry, Sunburst Crystal, and St Augustine Gift Shop. Those items were returned to the stores.

Community Affairs Officer Barbara Stevens of the St. Augustine Police Department reports that seven remaining items were submitted into property for safe keeping until their rightful owner can be identified.