PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) -
Police are crediting a Fox 12 viewer who helped catch a man responsible for stealing a Vietnam veteran's guns earlier this year.
Joseph McGrew, 30, was arrested in connection with the burglary of Randall Snider's antique guns.
It was after our original story aired that police said they got a tip about who had the guns.
On Wednesday afternoon, Snider was reunited with the weapons he considers priceless.
Each of the guns is unique and all are muzzle loaders.
Snider said every single one of those guns was handmade by his father.
"They were the only thing that I had in my possession that was still from my father. It's these things that remind me of him everyday," Snider said.
Just two weeks ago we told you about Snider's guns being stolen from his Sellwood home last May.
On Tuesday, Portland police detectives arrested McGrew in connection with the burglary. They said he was trying to sell some of those guns.
"When they were gone I figured they were gone forever," Snider said.
According to Snider, it was another Vietnam vet who bought some of his guns, but only knew they were stolen after watching the story on FOX 12.
At that time, police said they got a tip which led them to their suspect, who is no stranger to Snider or his wife.
They said McGrew had done some handy work around the house for them and Snider had once worked with McGrew's father.
"I feel like I've been pretty much used by someone that I would never believe that would do that. Now that I know that he did it, I have no idea what he's stolen before," Snider said.
Police said McGrew knew when Snider was gone and that's when he decided to burglarize the home taking the unique weapons.
Snider is just happy his most prized possessions are back.
"The fact that we were able to get them back, that was the most important thing to me," Snider said.
Members of the Gang Enforcement Team and the Gun Task Force helped in this investigation.
McGrew is now facing numerous charges of burglary and theft. His bail is set at $210,000.
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