-from kutv.com-

By Kathryn May

SALT LAKE CITY Authorities in Utah County are contacting people to claim their property; they believe they found hundreds of stolen items Wednesday morning.

It all started with a drug bust up in a Provo apartment, but it turned into something even bigger.

Now authorities say some people are getting their stuff back.

David Grierson is one theft victim who may benefit from the bust. “I had my tools stolen out of my truck. About $2,500 worth of tools,” he said.

He is searching for his stolen property at a Provo apartment.

Adam Mitchell is another theft victim. He told 2 News, “I just got some of my golf clubs here that was taken 2 or 3 months ago.”

Adam found exactly what he was looking for, “oh yeah, I’m way excited.”

It started with a drug bust.

Utah County Major Crimes Task Force believed Mike Pino was dealing drugs so they served a search warrant at his apartment.

“We located user amounts of meth, paraphernalia and marijuana,” says Lt. Mike Forshee, a member of the task force.

While searching for drugs they also found two rooms filled with property.

“There were golf clubs, compressors, nail guns, power tools,” said Lt. Forshee.

Authorities believe the items in the apartment and in a moving truck parked outside are stolen so they contacted some possible victims.

“I just got a call while I was at work today that the clubs were found,” said Adam.

Police arrested 39-year-old Mike Pino and his girlfriend Rachelle Hume, 29.

They’ve delt with Pino before. In fact, he’s been in the Utah County Jail 28 times.

It’s frustrating for authorities.

“It seems that we deal a lot with repeat offenders,” said Lt. Forshee. “People who have been into jail and back out a number of times.”

And the burglary victims we spoke with say there needs to be harsher penalties for repeat offenders.

Theft victim David said, “if they’ve already had more than one or two chances I don’t think they should be let out.”

Both Pino and Hume are facing multiple drug and theft charges.

Authorities want to remind the public to mark their property so they can identify it if it’s ever stolen and recovered.

If you can put your name or identifying mark on your tools, golf clubs, laptops, etc., then they can prove that the property belongs to you.