WEST BRANCH — The Ogemaw County Sheriff Department, in conjunction with other area law enforcement agencies, is working to return thousands of pieces of stolen property to owners.

This was after the Aug. 16 arrest of Rose City resident Richard Neeley, 55, who deputies said was allegedly operating a multiple county theft ring, selling the stolen items in yard sales and in flea markets in the state.

Det./Lt. Dave Stahl said Neeley was allegedly stealing items in Alcona, Crawford, Roscommon, Ogemaw, Oscoda and Montmorency counties.

“We were told also in Alpena County but I never got confirmation,” he said.

Stahl said the arrest for the alleged thefts was the result of a two-year investigation by that sheriff department.

He said Neeley became a person of interest after talking to other breaking and entering suspects over the two years.

“We backtracked where the property went and we were getting a common denominator,” he said. “Ultimately we got enough for a search warrant and we went in to seize the property.”

When they searched the property in Lupton, Stahl said, thousands of items were found.

“There were 32 air compressors,” he said. “Lawn mowers, power tools, hand tools, ice augers, weed wackers, tool boxes, ladders — anything he could make money on. He would pick and choose what he could get rid of and what would make him money.”

Stahl said it took a semi trailer and six smaller trailers to haul the alleged stolen property out of the area.

Now the sheriff’s department is working with other local agencies to help find owners for the items. Stahl said if anyone suspects an item was stolen through the alleged theft ring they should contact their local police agency.

“We are going to go through the reports and if something seems to match we’re going to contact the victims,” he said. “All the local agencies are aware of this. It’s going to be a very long process with a lot of communication with people trying to identify their property. I want to return it to the rightful owners.”

Stahl said he is already working with the Alcona County Sheriff Department on returning stolen items to Alcona residents and said that the process has been gratifying.

“Hopefully we can work to try to get some of the victims whole again,” he said.

Neeley remains lodged in the Ogemaw County Jail on two felony counts, one for criminal enterprise and a second charge of delivery and manufacture of a controlled substance.

Officials with the 82nd District Court said a judge set the criminal enterprise charge bond to $250,000.

Police report said there are other persons of interest in the case.

Jason Ogden can be reached via email at jogden@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5693. Follow Jason on Twitter @jo_alpenanews.