By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Theft rings have been operating in Buchanan County, grabbing easily accessible items and taking off.
Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett says his office is working to bust groups of people seeking easy opportunity.
“Meaning trailers and some of those things; stuff out of vehicles, tools,” Puett tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline. “And we have had some entries into sheds and garages and barns, a few burglaries and things like that.”
Puett says the thieves are looking for items that are easy to take; they grab the goods and leave the premises.
Puett urges residents to take steps to reduce easily accessible items.
“One of the best pieces of advice obviously is make sure things are locked up,” Puett says, adding he has talked with one county resident who said a theft crew attempted to steal his trailer, but it had a lock on it. The resident said the thieves didn’t stick around. They left as soon as they found out they couldn’t quickly take the trailer.
Puett urges residents to secure their things and not give the thieves an easy target.
“Making sure that equipment, toys, those types of things are not left out in the yard or near a road, because it’s very easy to roll up, grab something, throw it in the vehicle, and be gone,” according to Puett.
Puett urges residents to call his office if they see something suspicious in their neighborhood.
“When you see something, go ahead and give us a call and let us get deputies on the way,” Puett says.
Puett says if residents hesitate to call, the thieves will be gone. He suggests calling his office, then contacting neighbors.
“Please call us first. Then, you can call your neighbor or your relative or whatever the case is,” Puett says. “But, if the deputy is in Easton and they need to get to Rushville, there’s some travel time there.”
Puett suspects many of the theft rings are seeking targets of opportunity and selling them quickly to raise cash, often to purchase drugs. Puett says his deputies have made some arrests, but he believes groups are still operating in the county.