Thirty-five firearms, personal documents, rare paintings and family heirlooms: Those are among the items Alaska State Troopers said they recovered from two Wasilla residents suspected of six separate burglaries and a string of mail thefts in the Mat-Su.
Two other suspects, officials believe, may be involved in the burglaries and remained at large Sunday.
In an online dispatch, troopers said the investigation began on March 11 as members of the Criminal Suppression Unit assisted in a residential burglary and theft case. In the course of investigation, warrants were served at a Wasilla home and a storage unit, and ultimately resulted in the arrests of 35-year-old Timothy W. Taylor and 31-year-old Linda Friend. At least one of the burglary victims was a customer of Harding Ranch Meats, a delivery service that previously employed Taylor, troopers said.
Upon executing the search warrants, officials recovered items linked to six separate burglaries, according to the dispatch. "Several hundred" items were recovered in all, troopers said, including those 35 weapons, sporting equipment, tools and personal documents that included passports, tax forms and birth certificates.
"The estimated total value of all the recovered items is approximately $20,000, however many of the stolen items were family heirlooms and keepsakes and had more sentimental value than dollar value," troopers wrote.
During the investigation, officials also determined that Taylor and Friend had been stealing from mailboxes, and the U.S. Postal Service was called in to assist in the investigation. In total, "several hundred" people and businesses had been victims of mail theft, the dispatch said. Taylor is alleged to have stolen, forged and cashed checks from one of the burglary victims, according to troopers.
According to court records, Friend and Taylor were each charged with first-degree burglary and second-degree theft. According to troopers, additional charges include third- and fourth-degree theft, evidence tampering, forgery, and fraudulent use of an access device.
"Two other adults have been identified as involved in the burglaries and thefts but are still unaccounted for," troopers wrote. "Arrest warrants have been requested on the two other parties."
Officials with the Wasilla Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted in the investigation.