'Aladdin's cave' uncovered in Albany

An "Aladdin's cave" of allegedly stolen property greeted police when they acted on a tip-off in Albany last Wednesday.

A variety of large and small household and workshop goods, given an initial value of more than $20,000, was found packed into the room of a shared house.

Acting on a warrant, police discovered 82 individual items ranging from a washing machine to a chest of drawers, cots, packed tool boxes, angle grinder, computers, televisions and other electrical goods, along with Swarovski jewellery and an Asian tea set.

The property is alleged to have been stolen on a number of occasions from storage units in Yakamia since June, with most taken over the past two weeks.

Property involved in other burglaries in Albany is being considered in the ongoing investigation as the items are identified.

Police arrested a 33-year-old man on Wednesday, who was held in custody after bail was refused.

Daniel John Potter appeared in Albany Magistrate's Court last Friday where he pleaded guilty to four charges of possession of stolen or unlawfully obtained property.

Potter was remanded in custody for sentencing on September 30.

"It was like walking into Aladdin's cave. There was so much stacked in the room," Constable Warren Jacobs said.

"We half-filled a removalist truck." Police gained the warrant after they received information from the public when an item was placed for sale on local social media and identified.

They searched the man's room in a house he shared with other people.

Const. Jacobs said the housemates were totally unaware of what was in the room, where the items were packed along walls and under the bed.

It is alleged a list of items with their value was found in the room. Some had been scratched off.

Police handed back much of theproperty after identifying those people who leased the storage units. But a bedspread that was part of the alleged haul was rejected by its owner.

Const Jacobs said there was still some property left that could have come from the storage units or other burglaries.

He advised anyone with property in the storage units to contact the police station with proof of ownership to claim their items.