35 year-old Jonathan Staggs was arrested by Missoula police last Friday for a string of theft cases that stretch back to last April.

Public Information Officer Travis welsh said the investigation focused on Staggs when last April, a witness spotted a man wheeling a construction grade concrete saw from a job site, which was then taken to Staggs' home.

"Eventually, detectives began looking at many other cases that seemed to lead directly to Staggs," Welsh said. "Hundreds of items of property, all believed to have been stolen, have been recovered. The list includes bicycles, tools, construction equipment, and outdoor and camping gear. Ultimately, after months of investigation that included search warrants, an arrest warrant was then issued for Staggs."

Now that Staggs is in the Missoula County Jail, Welsh said the process of connecting all that stolen property to the rightful owners has begun.

"If anyone has reported a theft, and you believe it's possible that your property has been recovered in this investigation, you're asked to contact Detective Brad Waln at bwaln@ci.missoula.mt.us, or call and leave a voice mail at 552-6318," Walsh said. "We are working as quickly as possible to reconnect the victims with their property, however, due to the high volume of property, it has become a very lengthy process, and we are asking for the public's patience while this is all sorted out."

Staggs appeared in Missoula Justice Court on Monday, and was remanded back to the jail on a bond of $125,000 for numerous counts of felony theft.

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