2 Suspected Thieves Arrested in Motel Room Packed With Loot

Call it case closed for West Hollywood’s “Christmas burglars.”

Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies on Wednesday arrested two men at a West Hollywood motel room that was stuffed with an estimated $10,000 worth of stolen gifts and other merchandise, deputies said.

It didn’t hurt that the suspects left a stolen luxury car parked in front of the motel.

“They weren’t the smartest crooks you’ll ever meet,” said Deputy David Oliva, who, with Deputy Jeff Hoslet, arrested the men at the Alta Cienega Motel in the 1000 block of La Cienega Boulevard.

Because many of the items had name tags, investigators were able to begin notifying crime victims almost immediately.

The suspects, Michael J. Myette, 24, and Roman J. Ferreira, 25, both of West Hollywood, were being held at the West Hollywood sheriff’s station on suspicion of auto theft, burglary, receiving stolen property and narcotics possession, Sheriff’s Sgt. Mike Parker said.

Authorities had reported a rash of thefts in West Hollywood--many involving gifts stolen from the vehicles of unsuspecting holiday shoppers--during the weeks before Christmas.

Items recovered Wednesday included skis, a bass guitar, a wide array of clothing, jewelry, a clarinet, a pellet gun, stereo equipment, expensive liquor and candy and an assortment of unopened boxes with the wrapping paper and ribbons intact.

The deputies, who were patrolling on bicycles, arrested the men after recognizing the car--a $50,000 Mercedes--as one reported stolen Tuesday, Parker said.

While questioning the men at the door of the motel room, one of the deputies noticed a white bass guitar leaning against the wall that resembled one that had been reported stolen only hours earlier.

“It was only a small room, but it looked like a warehouse in there,” Deputy Oliva said. “They had stuff stacked everywhere.”

The suspects, who were arrested without incident, explained that they had “found” the car, and that the rest of the items--many in designer luggage that also was stolen--were personal belongings, the deputies said.

Among the expensive men’s suits and leather jackets, however, the deputies also discovered a fair share of lingerie and other women’s clothing. “One of (the suspects) tried to say it was for his mother, but he knew we weren’t buying it,” Oliva said.

“It’s really amazing how quick” deputies were able to notify crime victims of the recovered items, said George Gund, 22, who was reunited with his prized guitar within hours of reporting it stolen from the back seat of his girlfriend’s car, a block from the motel.

“That’s my pride and joy,” Gund, a college student, said of the instrument. “It was like getting an extra Christmas present.”