StarBulletin.com

$2M heist has police searching Hilo home


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POSTED: Tuesday, September 30, 2008

HILO » Police in Bend, Ore., are asking the public in Hawaii for information on two Hilo residents recently arrested in Oregon and California for allegedly stealing $2 million in gold, silver, precious coins and jewelry.

Dakotah Yarborough, 43, was arrested Sept. 19 in Bend on suspicion of stealing the property from his former stepmother, Bend police said.

Yarborough's wife, Connie, 38, was arrested Wednesday in Redwood City, Calif., and is awaiting extradition to Oregon.

On Friday, Hilo police executed a search warrant on the couple's Polynesian Capri apartment.

Bend Detective Michael Tabor was just returning to the eastern Oregon city of 72,000 late yesterday after joining the Hilo search Friday.

He said there are reasons why Hawaii residents might want to talk about the suspects.

“;They made a few enemies over there,”; Tabor said. He can be reached at (541) 322-2960.

Hilo Lt. Mitchell Kanehailua said the search included a safe where police found a shotgun, two rifles, and three handguns.

Yarborough has an Oregon felony conviction so it's illegal for him to own firearms, Kanehailua said.

The search also uncovered a single gold coin and a book printed in 1547 that may be worth several thousand dollars, he said.

Tabor said the book is believed stolen, but not from Yarborough's ex-stepmother. There is more than one victim in the case, he said, but he declined to say more.

When Yarborough was arrested, his rental car was found with 1,200 pounds of silver ingots, Bend police said. Search warrants found more stolen items and a machine gun with a silencer.

Hilo residents in apartment units neighboring the Yarboroughs said the couple was quiet and did nothing unusual.

Hilo police also searched the couple's black Toyota sedan. It bears a bumper sticker saying, “;A patriot must be ready to defend his country against his government.”;