Police receive more than 130 calls over stolen goods

Hamilton police say they’ve returned many stolen items recovered from a Stoney Creek townhouse to their rightful owners after a public appeal last week.

But police are also hoping to find the owners for the last few items left.

Hamilton police BEAR (Break, Enter, Auto Theft and Robbery) unit officers recovered the goods — mostly tools, generators, air compressors, bikes and keys valued at more than $20,000 Feb. 22 during a search at a townhouse complex at Highgate Drive and Upper Centennial Parkway.

Detectives have been making their way through more than 130 calls from people who believed they may be rightful owners, Const. Jerome Stewart said Thursday.

Police and are asking those who’ve left messages to be patient as officers work through all the calls.

The Feb. 22 search at the townhome sent three neighbourhood schools into “hold and secure” after 32-year-old Shawn Hunt allegedly refused to come out of a unit next door to his own. Tactical officers eventually forced their way in and Hunt was arrested.

He was charged with dangerous driving and flight from police in an unrelated incident.

Thanks to the rightful owners of the stolen goods coming forward, police now say they have enough evidence to lay more charges, Stewart said.

Police are expected to release details of those charges Friday.

Anyone who believes they may be the rightful owner of any of the stolen goods, which police believe were taken largely from construction sites going back as far as 2016, is asked to contact Det. Sgt. Emidio Evangelista at 905-546-2991.