K. Timberlake	T. Matthews	B. Fitch

Eight thefts were reported to police between the months of March and October 2010 in Rich Grove and Cass townships. The stolen items included two operational semi-tractors, two inoperable cars and one pickup truck, tractor weights, a radiator from an operable grain truck, a diesel irrigation pump, and several farm implements such as plows, discs, cultivators, and combine grain heads. Some of the farm implements were reported to have been in operable condition at the time of the thefts.

Police report the suspects were stealing the items and selling them for their scrap value. In some of the cases, the suspects cut the articles where they
found them and loaded them up. In other instances they pulled the articles or autos to another location and cut them up. Most of the stolen articles were sold at Starke County Recycling in Knox, or Paul’s Auto Salvage in Westville. Detectives obtained receipts and tickets from these locations confirming some of the transactions.

The agri-business incident involved the theft of scrap steel from FTC on U.S. 421 in Francesville.

During the course of the investigation detectives were also able to obtain information relating to two other similar thefts occurring in Jasper County.

Matthews and Timberlake have posted bond. Fitch is being held on a $30,000 corporate surety bond.

This investigation is ongoing, and being conducted by detective Dave Walters and Robert Taylor.