TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - A pair of burglars returned the Star Trek memorabilia they stole from a home on Tucson's northwest side.
Last week, Nine On Your Side aired the story with surveillance video from the homeowner that showed the thieves grabbing two boxes full of items from an open garage.
That same night, the crooks were once again caught on surveillance video, but this time they threw the stolen items back on the front yard.
Kermit Stephen has been collecting Star Trek memorabilia for decades. He had seven boxes full of items stored in his garage near Thornydale and Oldfather Roads.
The items were originally stolen on March 2nd. The KGUN9 story aired on March 21st.
"11:55 that night, they pulled on the side of the house and they threw the two boxes and two plastic bags in the front yard and took off," said Stephen.
In the original boxes were dozens of videos, figurines and collectibles from the Star Trek franchise that are worth an estimated $1,000.
But when the thieves brought some of the items back, they were in different boxes and were no longer in mint condition.
"Not all of it, but some of it. But a lot of it had been damaged and ripped out of the package which decreases the value. But they did not return everything."
Stephen says he's happy to have his stuff back but he still wants to catch the crooks.
"They'd seen it on the TV, and they got scared and they figured if they returned the items, we'll lay off. But they were mistaken because I still want them off the street."
On March 2nd, his wife and son were inside when he left the house to run an errand.
"I left the garage door open because I figured I would only be gone 30-45 minutes," said Stephen. "When I came back home, I saw a box laying right in the driveway and I figured something was wrong because my Star Trek stuff wouldn't be laying in the driveway. So, I looked and I saw there were two boxes gone."
Kermit has 13 surveillance cameras set up outside his home. The cameras came in handy when he looked back at the video from the day they were robbed.
The first suspect is described as a Caucasian man, wearing a blue hat, dark long shorts, a dark shirt, and dark tennis shoes. The second suspect is described as a Caucasian male with brown hair, wearing a blue shirt, dark long shorts, and white tennis shoes.
Anyone with information about this crime or the possible identity of the suspects is asked to call 9-1-1 or 88-CRIME.
