Remorseful Thief Leads Oregon Newspaper to Loot

By: An anonymous caller who said a thief was remorseful led journalists to a backpack filled with what may be loot from a burglary two years ago at a jewelry store.

"Listen very carefully," the voice mail message to the Albany (Ore.) Democrat-Herald began Thursday. "Mid-Valley Coin and Jewelry was broken into two or three years ago, and thousands of dollars in gold and silver was stolen. The thief wants to return the items to the rightful owner."

Then the message gave the newspaper directions to a bridge on Oregon 99E, where two photographers and a reporter converged to find a blue backpack.

The journalists, not touching the bag, called the sheriff's department, which dispatched Deputy Matt Wilcox. He estimated the pack weighed 25 to 30 pounds, and opened it to find watches, jewelry, coins and cash.

The caller told the newspaper he was trying to get the information to the business and police. He said that he was "unable to reach the police without being caught, so you'll have to carry this."

"My client is in" the message is unclear for a moment "would like to say that he's very sorry for the tragic lapse of his character."

Donna Forrest, the manager of Mid-Valley Gems & Jewelry, said that in a November 2004 burglary, about $60,000 in goods was taken.