Since the beginning of the year, Howard County police have recovered 18,600 stolen construction tools which were stored in numerous storage facilities in the county as part of a massive theft scheme.

While many of the stolen tools are being returned to their owners, thousands remain unclaimed and will now be auctioned off to the public on November 16.

Detectives have identified 155 victims and are returning their tools. The rest of the items – such as new and used drills, measuring tape, saws and more – will be put in hand at a auction in West Friendship through Associate Auctioneers and Appraisers.

Police initially allowed people they believed to be victims of this theft to fill out an online form to retrieve their tools, but that period has now closed. The remaining tools cannot be claimed outside of the upcoming auction, said Seth Hoffman, the police department’s public information officer.

The suspect in the case, Jose Aceves, 52, of Jessup, has been charged by a grand jury on a felony theft scheme, Hoffman said. Aceves failed to appear for a scheduled court date in September, and police issued a warrant for his arrest, Hoffman said. He added that once Aceves is arrested, another court date will be set.

Aceves allegedly stole the tools from Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania, and police said they believe the tools were kept in storage facilities around the county and sold at numerous locations and through various means.

The tools, many of which were new and in the box, were stolen from shops, businesses, vehicles, residential properties and construction sites. Police estimated the value of the tools at between $3 million and $5 million.

“These thefts affect their livelihood,” Howard County Police Chief Gregory Der said in May. “We have heard from victims who have lost their jobs because of their tools. It far exceeds the cost of replacing these tools.”

Detectives began investigating in late January after a tracking device in a stolen tool led police to a storage facility in Elkridge. Since then, Hoffman said, police have searched 12 storage facilities, 11 of which were in Howard County.

“This case sends a clear message,” Der said. “We will not tolerate this criminal enterprise in Howard County.”