A 93-year-old World War II veteran is hoping surveillance video will help police nab the thieves who stole military memorabilia and priceless family heirlooms from his West Covina home.
Bill Berger said the thieves moved fast, posing as electric company employees pretending to install energy efficient bulbs in street lights.
One of the thieves convinced him to walk to his backyard to discuss a new pole. That's when the other thieves went in, headed straight to his bedroom where the safe was bolted to the ground.
"They had it down to the science and I was gullible, I guess, and they saw me coming probably," Berger said.
Berger didn't realize it was gone until police alerted him a week later, when the safe was discovered at Venice Beach.
Photos in the house show some of the priceless family heirlooms that were inside, including his wife's wedding ring. She died just five years ago
"I'm very sad about it," Berger said. "It was a lot of family stuff, you know. You don't get that again."
U.S. & World
Sad and frustrating for the feisty vet who also lost medals he earned while serving as a pilot in the Marines during World War II.
He says he wants the items back and wants the thieves caught. Police said that from the surveillance video they are looking for a silver sedan and a new Camaro.
“I hope the catch (them) and hang ‘em. That’s how I feel,” he said.
