Box of jewelry returned to Campbell couple

CAMPBELL, Calif. (KGO) -- A Campbell man sold a dresser on Craigslist only to realize his wife's wedding ring and jewelry were still inside.

Wedding rings, family heirlooms, and a lot of sentimental value were stashed away inside the dresser.

"We're on our way to Nepal to do some volunteer work to help with some earthquake victims," said Campbell resident Mike.

In a rush to move out of his Campbell home, Mike sold the dresser two weeks ago on Craigslist.

"We realized that shortly thereafter one of the drawers had not been emptied," Mike said,

A simple mistake but the price much of his wife's jewelry. Calls, texts and emails to the buyer all went unanswered.

"It's a lost cause and when I got a phone call from Officer Terry it took me by surprise,"

The couple had filed a police report weeks before and Campbell Police Officer Terry Gallagher worked their case the whole time.

"With help from my dispatch, I was able to come up with a name and an address based off of a phone number," said Officer Gallagher.

The address was from an old apartment in San Jose, but a few leads later, Officer Gallagher was able to find someone who knew the buyers. It turns out they had a recent death in the family and they weren't returning phone calls.

"I think there's good in everyone and hopefully they saw it and had the intent to return it," said Officer Gallagher.

Good people and a good day's work.

"I've been doing this job for 20 years, but when I get people their property back that's worth more than putting people in jail -- just to see the look on their face," said Officer Gallagher.

And perhaps some good karma as Mike and his wife leave for their volunteer work in Nepal.