Police Find Man's Stolen Camera Containing Pictures Of His Late Wife

SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — A man recovered a stolen camera that contained pictures of his late wife, thanks to the Santa Ana Police Department.

CBS2's Michele Gile reports that David Lacey's camera, filled with pictures of the funeral of his wife, who died from lymphoma at 30, was taken during a home burglary more than a year ago.

"I'd written it off; like, it was gone," Lacey said.

Police said the camera landed in the hands of 21-year-old Monica Molina and sold to a local pawn shop.

Authorities said Molina's boyfriend, 20-year-old David Aguilar, broke into several homes. A tracking device on a stolen iMac led Det. Jerry Verdugo and his partner to the couple's residence.

Inside the home, they found 21 pawn slips. One of the pawn slips was for Lacey's camera.

Verdugo said a picture caught his eye.

"There was a photograph of a neighborhood that had distinct trees and a large wall and when we drove out there, we located [Lacey]," he said.

"I was like, 'What? No way!' I was super surprised and stoked," Lacey said.

Molina was arrested Thursday and denied being involved with the crime.

"I didn't take anything," she said.

Meantime, more property from the string of burglaries remains unclaimed. Police hope to reunite the items with their owners.