POLICE UNCOVER MAJOR CRACK COCAINE RING

Police are looking for the owners of about $100,000 worth of appliances,
art and jewelry stolen during recent home break-ins. Fifteen VCRs, more
than a dozen cell phones, 113 television converters, bicycles, art prints
and jewelry are among the goods seized during a drug bust last week.

Hamilton-Wentworth police said it took days just to catalogue it all. They
estimate the property was taken in the last three months from more than 50
homes and businesses. Police also say that many of the new items were
likely stolen Christmas gifts.

Police have charged an east Hamilton woman and her boyfriend, who they say
are major local drug dealers who sold crack cocaine for stolen goods.

The single drug seizure -- 160 grams -- is more than half of the 263 grams
of crack cocaine seized last year. The street value of 160 grams is about
$32,000.

Police say this is more a story about drugs -- and what addicts will do to
get their fix -- than it is about break-and-enters.

"This whole thing is a quality of life issue. When these crack houses open
up ... they bring the hookers on the street. The addicts support their
habit by stealing. It brings on so much," said Detective Sergeant Rick
Wills of the drug and vice unit. "This (seizure) will create a temporary
drought in the community for crack cocaine ... But it's a never-ending
story. The drought will be filled before too long."

Police allege the 41-year-old man and 38-year-old woman ran a "fence"
operation. Addicts would hand over the stolen property in exchange for a
quick fix.

A fence is a person who has the ability to get rid of property and has
purchasers for large amounts of property.

Police say fewer than a dozen addicts are involved. They are not sure where
the stolen property was headed but it was likely intended for the local market.

"The scale of this operation was the largest I've ever come across," said
Sergeant Ron Collingwood, a 27-year police veteran.

Police said they knew something was wrong about three months ago when
east-end break-and-enters began to jump from about three to 12 or more a day.

"We knew something had to be driving that. It's fairly sophisticated
because it's on a grand scale," said Staff Sergeant Tom Andrew, as he
surveyed the roomfu of goods. "But because you're dealing on a street
level, word is going to get out and it's not going to remain a secret for
very long."

Police used a search warrant last Friday and seized the property from an
apartment on Cannon Street East, a home on Mayflower Avenue and an East
Bend Avenue garage rented by one of the suspects.

Collingwood remembers entering the Cannon Street East home and finding
little room to walk around.

"It was stacked. In the middle of the room wa about all you could walk
around. Even when you went in the front door, the door was colliding with
stolen property," he said.

Residents who think some of this property belongs to them can call a police
hotline at 546-2943. The hotline will operate from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. until
next Wednesday.

Police have already identified $10,000 worth of goods stolen from a
Mountain home. A woman came forward yesterday to claim a $7,000 ring. An
east Hamilton couple has also retrieved a cell phone, jewelry and
collectibles and Sears is claiming about $10,000 worth of goods.

Police want to be able to prove the items are stolen, otherwise the
merchandise could be returned to the couple.

The couple faces a litany of charges, including possession for the purpose
of trafficking, manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of a
controlled substance and living off the proceeds of
crime.