Police recover more jewelry from heist suspects

Additional jewelry has been recovered from the personal possessions of four people arrested in Las Vegas last week following a nationwide spree of thefts that netted more than $100 million in merchandise, Metro Police said today.

Metro Property Crimes Lt. Larry Spinosa said a search warrant obtained following the Oct. 25 arrests netted "several rings and necklaces worth a couple of thousand dollars. It appears this was stuff they decided to keep."

Police are comparing the items to the descriptions of jewelry stolen during a nationwide spree of smash-and-grab jewelry store burglaries that dates back as far as 15 years.

During the arrests an expensive watch taken from the wrist of one of the individuals matched a watch that was taken in a recent burglary in Pleasantville, Calif., Spinosa said.

To date, police from five jurisdictions have come to Las Vegas to question suspects or look at the items confiscated to determine if they are part of the loot taken from heists in their areas. Spinosa said officers from other cities also plan to come to town as part of their investigations.

Arrested last week were three men and a woman: Clinton Randolph, 34, Anthony Billberry, 36, Jabbey Lawson, 32, and LaDonna Livingston, 19.

In addition to the warrant to search their belongings, police also obtained a warrant to take blood samples because other agencies told Metro they had obtained blood evidence at their crime scenes. Spinosa said today it is his understanding that blood samples have been taken from the four suspects.

Spinosa said that more arrests are possible, but police have yet to identify additional suspects in the jewel theft ring.

"We've heard that others may be in L.A. or here, but we just don't know at this time," Spinosa said.

While the gang may have been active as long as 15 years, police are focusing their investigation on thefts within the last two to five years. Some of those were committed in Las Vegas at the Boulevard, Meadows and Fashion Show malls, Spinosa said.

The theft ring may have been responsible for as many as 80 burglaries, netting $100 million worth of stolen jewels, police said. The ring also may be responsible for heists in California, Texas, Arizona, Illinois, South Carolina, Missouri, Michigan, Virginia and other states, police said.

Anyone with additional information about the burglaries may call Metro property crimes detectives at 229-3573.

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