VANCOUVER, WA (KPTV) -One man's determination to get his stolen pinball machine back helped lead to the arrest of two people accused of trafficking stolen property in Vancouver.
James Bray told FOX 12 that someone broke into his Vancouver home and stole his Bally Aladdin's Castle pinball machine.
The machine is just more than fun and games to Bray. It's been in the family for nearly 30 years.
Bray and his brother figured they would never see it again.
"I didn't think anyone would try to sell it around here because it's rare, and if you did, someone would know about it," he said.
Still, Bray filed a police report and kept an eye on Craigslist. Sure enough, last week his rare pinball machine was posted for sale in Vancouver.
"I was like, 'That's it, oh my gosh,'" he said. "I was calling people, I was shaking like crazy because I was excited about it."
Bray called police, which led to a SWAT operation at an apartment complex on Southeast 152nd Avenue. It was part of an ongoing theft investigation by Vancouver police that included warrants being served at several locations.
The pinball machine, along with other stolen property, was recovered, and two people were arrested.
Kristine Nelson, 25, and Shawn Justin, 36, both appeared in court on Monday and are facing charges of trafficking in stolen property.
Investigators were also interested in more than just the stolen machine for one of the suspects.
Nelson is also accused of forging checks at multiple businesses in Portland and Vancouver. They are both scheduled for formal arraignments on May 2.
For Bray and his family, they're just happy to hear the sounds of their pinball machine again.
"It's wonderful to have it back," he said. "I remember the day my dad brought it home when I was 3. He put it in the living room. My mom wasn't happy about it, but you can imagine as kids something like this was fun."
Copyright 2014 KPTV-KPDX Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved.
Video here http://www.kptv.com/story/25314531/determination-to-find-stolen-pinball-machine-leads-to-arrests-in-vancouver
James Bray told FOX 12 that someone broke into his Vancouver home and stole his Bally Aladdin's Castle pinball machine.
The machine is just more than fun and games to Bray. It's been in the family for nearly 30 years.
Bray and his brother figured they would never see it again.
"I didn't think anyone would try to sell it around here because it's rare, and if you did, someone would know about it," he said.
Still, Bray filed a police report and kept an eye on Craigslist. Sure enough, last week his rare pinball machine was posted for sale in Vancouver.
"I was like, 'That's it, oh my gosh,'" he said. "I was calling people, I was shaking like crazy because I was excited about it."
Bray called police, which led to a SWAT operation at an apartment complex on Southeast 152nd Avenue. It was part of an ongoing theft investigation by Vancouver police that included warrants being served at several locations.
The pinball machine, along with other stolen property, was recovered, and two people were arrested.
Kristine Nelson, 25, and Shawn Justin, 36, both appeared in court on Monday and are facing charges of trafficking in stolen property.
Investigators were also interested in more than just the stolen machine for one of the suspects.
Nelson is also accused of forging checks at multiple businesses in Portland and Vancouver. They are both scheduled for formal arraignments on May 2.
For Bray and his family, they're just happy to hear the sounds of their pinball machine again.
"It's wonderful to have it back," he said. "I remember the day my dad brought it home when I was 3. He put it in the living room. My mom wasn't happy about it, but you can imagine as kids something like this was fun."
Copyright 2014 KPTV-KPDX Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved.
Video here http://www.kptv.com/story/25314531/determination-to-find-stolen-pinball-machine-leads-to-arrests-in-vancouver
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