Based on what I posted and what I know of the situation here apprehension and or presecution of the person who stole the goods has no bearing on the original owners right to claim the goods.
If your house was broken into tonight and your big screen TV was stolen, you filed a police report and provided details of the goods stolen (serial numbers would strengthen your position) you then found your TV in a pawnbrokers a week latter. You would be able to get your TV back.
Would not matter if the theif had or had not been caught or if they were ever caught
