POLICE RECOVER TRUCKLOADS OF STOLEN PROPERTY

Authorities have recovered a large quantity of property they say was stolen during approximately 13 burglaries dating to the fall.

Cape Girardeau County sheriff's deputies and city police officers found the property Thursday during a search of a residence at 531 Albert St. Lt. David James of the sheriff's department said authorities filled up six pickup trucks and the back seats of three cars with suspected stolen goods. James said the property fills the department's 20-by-30-foot property cage.

Cape Girardeau police Lt. Carl Kinnison said the property was discovered after Kingston Howard Wilson was arrested on charges of attempt to manufacture methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Wilson resides at the Albert Street address.

James said Wilson, 33, had not yet been charged in connection with the burglaries but was in custody at the Cape Girardeau County jail in Jackson on the drug charges. James said Wilson is a suspect in the burglaries, as are a number of other people.

"We have 13 burglaries dating back to last fall, so it will be a little bit of a mess to sort it all out," James said.

The burglaries occurred throughout the county.

Items recovered included as many as 30 firearms, a large number of power tools and construction equipment, jewelry, numerous video cassette recorders, televisions and other household items.

The property is being held at the sheriff's office pending identification by the owners. James said the property will eventually be returned to them.