Arizona couple arrested in home theft cases
Oct 15, 2012, 2:29 PM | Updated: Oct 17, 2012, 8:29 am
A Red Lake couple has been arrested in connection with multiple thefts from separate area homes, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office said in a release.
According to CCSO, Steven Melvin, 58, and Kathryn Melvin, 50, were asked to house sit on multiple occasions beginning in Nov. 2011. In July 2012, one couple noticed that Kathryn was wearing a piece of costume jewelery that belonged to them.
After giving a false account of how she ended up with the jewelry, Kathryn admitted she took the item and returned it.
The victims then took an inventory of their home and discovered several items were missing. They confronted the Melvins, who allegedly presented them with three large bags full of watches. The victims did not identify any of the watches as their own.
The victims said Steven returned five watches with an estimated value of $1,000 to the couple, but did not say how he and his wife came to be in their possession.
Detectives linked Steven Melvin to two pawn shop transactions, one of which involved a bracelet passed down from a grandmother to another homeowner.
Steven was arrested on two counts of trafficking in stolen property and theft. Kathryn was arrested on one count of theft, four counts of possession narcotics with intent to sell and one count of possession of marijuana.
Anyone who had asked the Melvins to house sit for them is asked to contact CCSO at (928) 226-5039.