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By Lookout Staff

April 16 -- Police are asking victims of a recent rash of burglaries that took place across Santa Monica last month to help them identify stolen items recovered after a suspect was arrested earlier this month.

Joaquin Palmer -- who had a string of prior arrests and convictions for burglary, robbery and rape -- was arrested on April 2 for attempted residential burglary. After the arrest, police obtained a search warrant of Palmer’s Los Angeles home and cars, where they recovered numerous items stolen in eight residential burglaries, police said. “Detectives also recovered other property that has yet to be linked to a victim of a crime,” said Lt. Alex Padilla, the Police Department spokesman.

Detectives also are researching pawn receipts found for property connected to recent cases, Padilla said.

Among the stolen property police are trying to identify are half a dozen cell phones, chargers, jewelry, purses and bags, a video camera , stereo equipment and a Donny Hathaway cd. (view items)

The burglaries took place in the area bounded by Washington Avenue on the north, Broadway on the south, Lincoln Boulevard on the west and the city limits on Centinela Avenue on the east.

Police arrested Palmer after officers responded to a call of a burglary in progress at around 2:30 p.m. on April 2 on the 1300 block of Franklin Avenue.

“When officers arrived the suspect was gone,” Padilla said.

Palmer was stopped nearby, and a field show up was conducted with witnesses, police said. Palmer was positively identified as the suspect who had attempted to break into the home and was arrested.

The LA County District Attorneys’ office has filed nine felony counts of residential burglary against Palmer with a special allegation of a 3rd strike. More charges may be filed if additional victims are identified.

The Police are seeking assistance in identifying the property still in their custody, Padilla said.

Those who were victims of a recent burglary and are interested in viewing the recovered property can get more information in the Public Information Bulletin published by the Police Department at http://www.santamonicapd.org/Bulletins/PublicBulletin-08-002.htm.