They discovered the theft on Thursday when they went to check on their storage unit at Security Public Storage near Shaw and Marks.
They found a giant hole in the back of their unit, which they believed thieves made to get in. The thieves also broke into the storage unit next to them.
Muzio says the thieves ransacked through her unit. Some of the things that went missing were family collectables and memorabilia. The thieves also stole some things that can never be replaced like decades of family albums, a slide show projector and photos, as well as more than 70 porcelain Santa Claus figures that her Muzio's mother had collected over the years.
"Ninety percent of the Christmas decorations belonged to my grandmother that's deceased now," she said. "All the trading cards were going to be my grandsons. I don't know how many boxes of photos they took, including 5 albums that belonged to my grandmother, and she was 105 when she passed away."
"My kids hardly knew any of the family," Bucolo said. "And they won't even get to see the pictures now."
All of the items have been in storage for more than two years. Now they are finding pieces of it through the rail road tracks directly behind the storage unit. The mother and daughter believe it's the route the thieves took after the crime.
Some of them they found in a nearby dumpster and some were found in ashes in a fire pit nearby. They say it seems like the thieves maybe have started a bon fire and used their items to fuel the flames.
Muzio still hopes they'll get back some of the family's belongings, especially the Christmas items that belonged to her mother.
"I hope somebody has a heart to understand these belonged to a woman that was 85-years-old and is dead now so there's a lot of sentimental feelings to me for them," she said.
Steve Terpstra of the Security Public Storage released this statement:
We understand the concerns this has raised, and would like to reassure you that we are cooperating fully with both local law enforcement and insurance agencies in their efforts to assist those affected. Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our customers and their belongings, which is why we will also be taking a close look at our own security procedures to determine how they may be improved upon.
Muzio says the company has also added security measures by adding a guard to walk the property. She says the company has been very helpful and sympathetic, that's why she's decided to stay with them.
They've given her a new unit, as well as helped move her remaining things into it.
If you have any information in this case, you're asked to call the Fresno Police Department.
