Book Signed By Bob Dylan, Guitars Returned After Burglary: Police

AUSTIN, TX — Austin police worked quickly to return valuable stolen goods to an Austin family on Friday, Dec. 22. The Garcia's of Austin called 911 Thursday, Dec. 21, after realizing someone had broken into their northeast Austin home.

Missing were four guitars, a big-screen TV and a book signed by Bob Dylan, according to KVUE. Police were able to track down the stolen items and return them to the Garcia's the next day.

Donya Garcia described the burglary as "crushing." But once police found their stolen personal treasures, "I was stunned," Garcia said.

KVUE reported that the APD's burglary unit uses social media apps like OfferUp, Facebook and Nextdoor to track down stolen goods, as thieves often post stolen items on those apps.

This time, they already had a lead on the suspect from other break-in cases in the neighborhood, according to KVUE. "We were already working this individual. We had some reasons to be looking at him at the time, and then through social media we realized he had stuff up for sale that had just been stolen,” said police Sgt. Jim Kettleman.

An undercover detective used one of the apps to inquire about buying the stolen guitars. The suspect sent photos to the detective, according to the arrest affidavit, KVUE reported.

Kettleman said it was easy to zero in on the stolen items because they included guitars "that were very identifiable."

All the Garcia's are missing, after police returned most of the stolen items, is an old Gibson acoustic guitar signed by Garcia's father. "That was my father's. He got it before WWII. That was it, that was my dad's guitar and it's gone," she said, according to KVUE.

Burglary suspect Roberto Mondragon, 21, was arrested and charged with burglary of a habitation.

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