SANTEE, Calif. - A burglary victim has learned the fate of his beloved Chevy Camaro, even as a break in the case leads to the recovery of some stolen items.
In mid-February, 10News shared the story of an emotional Floyd Belleville, whose Santee home was ransacked overnight while being fumigated.
In the burglary, someone grabbed computers, jewelry, guns, a coin collection and $20,000 worth of tools.
The biggest loss for Belleville was the 1981 Camaro he's had since he was 16.
"My mom got it for me, and when she passed from cancer … it was the last time she rode in the car," a tear-stricken Belleville told 10News in February.
A month later, Belleville got a call from a sheriff's deputy. His car was found in the desert near Borrego Springs.
"I was ecstatic. I said, 'Great!'" said Belleville.
The next day, his heart sank when he learned the car had been burned and was a total loss.
"I drove out, put my hand on it and said my goodbyes," said Belleville.
Did the discovery of his car lead to a break in the case?
Not long after, Belleville got another call from detectives. He said he was told a suspect was in custody.
Some of his stolen tools were recovered from a storage shed in the East County, along with a gaming console and some power tools.
"I was brought to an evidence room and it was basically a 10-by-10-foot space with a bunch of property laid out," said Belleville.
Belleville said he was shown a roomful of stolen merchandise, from tools to electronics, which could connect his case to a string of other break-ins.
Investigators say several search warrants have been served, but no arrests have been made.
They declined to talk to 10News about any tie to other fumigation burglaries.
