Man jailed on burglary charges after discovery of backpacks, safe filled with jewelry

A 25-year-old firefighter for the U.S. Forest Service was arrested Thursday, March 5 and remains in jail on suspicion of felony burglary, possession of stolen property and drug charges, a Carson City sheriff’s deputy said.

Rory William Torvik of Carson City was arrested following an investigation that led to the recovery of a safe and backpacks filled with stolen jewelry. He was taken into custody after finger prints matched those collected at a Malaga Drive home that had been burglarized March 4. According to the arrest report, the homeowner reported being gone from the residence, returned home and discovered that a wedding ring was missing and the back front door of the garage was forced open.

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab senior criminalist recovered evidence, including fingerprints from various areas inside the home. On March 5, the criminalist notified investigators that a positive identification was made of a suspect from a fingerprint impression that was recovered. The fingerprint was identified as belonging to Torvik, which had been collected by the sheriff's office after he was jailed previously in February, the arrest report states.

Torvik had been arrested by the sheriff’s office Feb. 20, and again Feb. 27 and was released March 3. He was also arrested Feb. 22 by Reno Police Department for suspicion of attempted burglary, according to the deputy.

Officers checked with local pawn shops and found a transaction at a Carson City payday loan business on March 4. Torvik allegedly sold the pawn shop a gold chain. Officers spoke with the homeowner and asked if she was missing a gold chain. The homeowner confirmed it was missing.

The Carson City Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Team was called to locate Torvik, and learned he had been living at a Woodside Drive address in Carson City. SET took the man into custody. A tenant in the apartment allowed officers to conduct a search, in which a safe was recovered that contained a large amount of jewelry, the arrest report states.

Officers then obtained a search warrant of the man’s vehicle. Inside deputies found a backpack with a large amount of jewelry. The burglary victim later arrived at the investigations office and wasn’t able to identify any of the property as theirs.

Torvik agreed to speak with detectives and signed the Miranda rights waiver. He initially denied involvement in the Malaga Drive burglary, saying he tried to open the garage window and bedroom window. He stated he looked through the windows of the home and entered into the garage through the garage door. He said he remained in the garage until he heard someone entering the home and then stated he yelled to a partner that someone was coming.

He stated he fled the residence and denied going inside any further than the garage. He refused to give any further details and refused to say where the property went, the arrest report states.

During the course of the investigation, other property found inside Torvik’s backpacks has been recovered from other home invasions, said Carson City Sheriff’s Lt. Brian Humphrey.

Officers found a gold pocket watch with engravings that belonged to an Aquifer Lane resident. The victim, a retired Army officer, was contacted by the sheriff’s office. The victim advised the gold watch had belonged to his deceased father. The victim also identified his own 1969 high school class ring and pendant. Still missing was a college ring.

The charges brought on Torvik are not related to the “pillow case bandit” burglary ring that was broken up last month, said Humphrey.

“We are still seeing a few residential burglaries taking place in Carson City. It has slowed tremendously since the pillow case bandits, but we still have seen a few, and have been actively involved in those investigations leading us to the warrant arrest” of Torvik.

Detective Sam Hatley notes there may be many more victims who may not know they have been burglarized. The amount of jewelry recovered from the backpacks and safe lead investigators to believe the property is stolen. Hatley said people who may have had unusual circumstances in their homes but did not contact the sheriff’s office, should check to see if their belongings are secured. If anyone is missing jewelry, they are asked to contact Hatley to investigate. He can be reached at (775) 283-7852.

Also recovered inside Torvik’s vehicle was a baggie containing rock cocaine and 20 miscellaneous pills, including 6 alprazolam and 3 trazodone pills in baggies.

Torvik is being held in Carson City jail on charges of residential burglary, possession of stolen property, possession of cocaine, and possession of dangerous prescription drugs without a prescription, all felonies, and a misdemeanor charge of violation of conditions. Bail amount is $30,500 but is expected to increase with additional felony charges to be filed.