Troopers have arrested two people who they say are responsible for at least six residential burglaries/thefts in the Mat-Su Valley area.
In March, the Alaska State Troopers’ Criminal Suppression Unit executed a search warrant at a residence and a storage unit in Wasilla. During the investigation, several hundred stolen items were recovered, according to an online AST dispatch posted Sunday. Troopers say these stolen items included rare paintings, 35 firearms, sporting equipment, tools, family heirlooms and personal documents, including passports, photo IDs, IRS information and other items.
The six unsolved burglaries/thefts were linked with the stolen items AST recovered. Further investigation linked Timothy Taylor and Linda Friend, both from Wasilla, to the crimes.
“Further investigation determined the parties had been stealing U.S. Mail from mailboxes,” AST says, adding that once the U.S. Postal Service was notified, authorities identified “several hundred individual and business victims of mail theft.”
CSU also determined Taylor had stolen, forged and cashed several checks from one of the burglary victims — with the estimated value taken totaling about $20,000.
“However, many of the stolen items were family heirlooms and keepsakes and had more sentimental value than dollar value,” AST says.
Troopers say at least one victim in the string of burglaries has been identified as a previous customer of a meat delivery service company called Harding Ranch Meats — one that Taylor previously worked for.
Taylor and Friend have both been arrested. Arrest warrants have also been requested for two other adults who are suspected to be involved in the string of burglaries and thefts, troopers say.
Those affected by the mail theft have been notified by U.S. Postal Inspectors.