Nearly picture-perfect end to camera theft case

Police solved a camera theft case involving two Colorado Springs photographers.

In September, a man broke into Joe and Kimmie Randall’s home and took their three cameras and other electronics. The total value of the stolen goods was about $4,000.

Last week, police arrested Todd Jamal Dye, 20, in connection with the case. Police said a few days after the burglary, Dye pawned two of the Randall’s possessions. And that he attempted to sell one of their cameras on Craigslist. Joe Randall saw the Craigslist post and asked a friend to inquire about it. On the day of the sale, rather than a buyer, police met with the suspect. They arrested him, and police said he admitted to this theft and another theft in an unrelated case.

“All we wanted was our stuff back, so, we are so very very happy that we got our stuff back,” Joe Randall said.

Police said the couple did the right thing by writing and saving the serial numbers of all their possessions. That way, detectives can track them through their pawn database. They advise everyone to do the same with their electronics.

The Randalls have one of their cameras and a laptop back. A second stolen camera should be returned to them in the coming days. The third camera, a Cannon HSXS50 is still missing. They believe it was sold at a skate park.

Shortly after the theft, an online fund was set up to help the Randalls. They used some of that money to buy a new camera. They will use the rest to replace some components of the cameras that didn’t get returned. And they’re also using it to thank everyone who helped and supported them. They ask that anyone who donated money to contact them to receive a printout of one of their photos. They said any remaining money after that will be returned to the community in some way or another.

“Let’s keep up the good work, as a good community,” Kimmie Randall said. “without our neighbors, without our friends, without our family, without our supporters, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”