| For Immediate Release Case # TBA
December 17, 2008 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
MAN CHARGED WITH RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY OF NEIGHBOR’S CHRISTMAS
AND LAWN ORNAMENTS
WESTMINSTER – A man has been charged with possessing various holiday and lawn decoration items from several of his neighbors. Vuong Ngoc Pham, 48, Westminster, is charged with two felony counts of receiving stolen property. If convicted of all charges, Pham faces up to three years and eight months in state prison.
On Nov. 16, 2008, Pham is accused of parking his van in front of a victim’s house in the dark. Another neighbor called the police and followed Pham’s van until the defendant arrived home, located a mile away. The defendant is accused of removing the statue from the van wearing gloves. The statue, worth $80, was recovered that day.
Over the last two weeks, Huntington Beach and Westminster Police Departments received numerous complaints about items being stolen from their front yards. Pham is accused of concealing numerous stolen items, which belonged to several of his neighbors, in his home. The approximate worth of the stolen property exceeded $2,500. Much of the property was returned to the victims.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Margaret Roper is prosecuting this case.
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