With Sting, Boston Police Recover Stolen Goods

Boston police have arrested seven people in a sting operation to recover stolen goods.

The name could have given it away. Boston police set up a pretend store in Downtown Crossing called M.I.B. Jewelers. It stands for "men in blue." But Commissioner Ed Davis wasn’t worried that thieves would figure it out.

"We don’t catch the smart ones," Davis said to laughter at a news conference Thursday.

Undercover police bought goods they allege are stolen — such as iPods, watches, Xboxes and cashmere sweaters — and then linked them to home break-ins.

"One time we called one of the suspects who had just sold the phone," Davis said. "So he was kind enough to call us back at the storefront and say, 'They're onto us.' So we were very happy about that. I think we turned the tide on him a little bit. He was surprised."

Brook Woodson had guitars stolen from his Hyde Park house.

"He stayed in touch with me, the detective on the case," Woodson said. "And then he gave me a call last week saying they’d recovered them. It was like a very early Christmas present."

In addition to making the seven arrests, police have issued arrest warrants for two dozen more people. And they plan to issue up to 40 more arrest warrants.