The Associated Press
Ex-cop releases ‘Never Get Raided’
LOS ANGELES – A confessed burglar who stole about $16 million in property, including a Degas painting, was sentenced Tuesday to 7½ years in prison after making a police training video showing how he pulled off his crimes.
Ignacio DelRio, also known as Ricardo Caveda, also drew a map that led police to some $400,000 worth of stolen goods he had buried under a San Fernando Valley freeway overpass.
The items, stuffed in socks, included gold chains and necklaces, a jeweled bird pendant, diamond rings and Rolex watches that were stolen in a burglary spree that started in 2004 and lasted until his arrest in February 2006.
Police suspected him in as many as 80 thefts in and around Los Angeles. He stole some $2 million worth of jewelery and a $10 million Degas painting, sometimes cleaning up after ransacking rooms so the burglaries wouldn’t be detected until later.
He melted down some precious metals into ingots that he sold to local jewelers but stored much of his loot.
Detective Robert Longacre said DelRio apparently committed the burglaries for the thrill.
Most of the stolen items have been returned to their owners, Longacre said.
DelRio, a native of Barcelona, Spain, was convicted of 16 counts of burglary, receiving stolen property and attempted escape.