Saratoga News

Year long theft investigation comes to an end with an arrest

San Jose man suspected of stealing audio equipment

Goods found across country

By Michelle Alaimo

A burglary along the Saratoga border that happened more than a year ago is making a big noise with police departments coast to coast. Officials from the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department's Westside Substation announced they apprehended a suspect in the theft of $100,000 in high-end audio equipment--with stolen goods being found as far away as New York.

Lt. Cary Colla said Walter Clark Allen Jr. was arrested Sept. 1 at 8 a.m. at his San Jose home on suspicion of the possession or control of stolen property. Allen, 32, was arrested after Detective Randy Bynam at the Westside Substation found shipping receipts that allegedly connected Allen to a May 1997 burglary of Bay Area Audio's storage facility, located in Saratoga. The store is located at 1362 S. DeAnza Blvd.

Bynam said "very unique" circumstances led to the arrest of Allen. He said the owner of Bay Area Audio called him earlier this year, saying he thought he knew where some of his stolen property might be. According to Bynam, a customer and friend of the owner had seen some property similar to what was stolen advertised in a magazine at a White Plains, N.Y., store. Further investigation by the owner led to him to discover that serial numbers on the equipment at the New York store matched his stolen property.

When Bynam contacted the store, he found that two of the stolen amplifiers had just been sold. The New York store owner reportedly told Bynam he had purchased the equipment from Allen. Bynam said Allen had allegedly been trading high-end audio equipment for lower-end equipment with the New York store owner, and Allen's last contact with the store was June 29 of this year.

Bynam said then he thought that the suspect still might have some of the stolen equipment. An investigation, Bynam said, turned up shipping receipts from a local shipping company that allegedly link Allen to merchandise at the New York store.

The Sheriff's Department obtained a warrant for Allen's arrest and a search warrant. During the search, Bynam said, detectives found telephone bills, merchandise and receipts that allegedly connect Allen to the year-old crime. Property recovered in New York is being held in the Islip, N.Y., police department property room pending the outcome of the case.

Allen, who has no criminal history, was booked into Santa Clara County Jail and later released on his own recognizance, Bynam said.

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