MILPITAS — Officers have arrested a man in connection with a stolen football signed by Hall of Fame football player Jerry Rice and auctioned at a charity event to help Chinese orphans, Milpitas police reported Saturday.
San Jose resident Patrick Van Lam, 45, was caught on video after a live auction April 9 at the Koi Palace restaurant in Milpitas. Once Lam realized his image from the video was released to local media, he surrendered to detectives on Saturday, said Milpitas Police Sgt. Steven Fox.
Lam returned the football, police said, and was booked into Santa Clara County main jail on burglary and grand theft.