HUMBOLDT — Two vehicles were stolen in Humboldt over the weekend. One remains missing.
Chief of Police Bryan Dillow told the Register this morning a 2012 Ford Taurus belonging to Joyce Hudson, 204 S. Seventh St., was found wrecked in Kincaid Saturday morning, “before she knew it had been stolen.” Sunday morning Stephen Reed, 702 Mulberry St., awoke to find his 2002 Chevy Tahoe gone from a carport outside his home.
In both cases the vehicles were unlocked and had ignition keys inside.
“We also had several cars entered,” Dillow added. “Nothing (apparently) was taken, but the owners could tell the doors had been opened.” In each case the vehicles were unlocked.
The burglaries and thefts all occurred within a few blocks of each other, which led officers to conclude they were related. No specific suspects were named, but Dillow said officers had some ideas.
In Hudson’s car, golf clubs and a toaster were found that had been stolen from a storage complex at the north edge of Humboldt.
“We had extra officers patrolling Saturday and Sunday nights,” Dillow said, looking a little bleary eyed from being out late both nights. Stepped up surveillance will continue.
Dillow also encouraged the public to help solve the crimes. “They can call our office (473-2341), 911 or (Allen County) Crime Stoppers (1-800-222-8477),” or respond to Humboldt’s website. “We’ve had over 1,000 hits on our Facebook page,” Dillow said, “and we have gotten a couple of tips.”
He encouraged residents to take keys from vehicles and lock them when not in use, stressing the old adage of “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” was applicable.
WHILE Iola hasn’t experienced a rash of car thefts like Humboldt’s, a recent incident remains unresolved.
Thurman Flynn reported the theft Wednesday of his tan, 2004 Jeep Wrangler from the parking lot behind Flynn Appliance, 11 N. Jefferson Ave. The vehicle was stolen sometime between 12:05 and 12:30 p.m.
The keys apparently had been left in the vehicle, officers said.
Iola Police Chief Jared Warner told the Register the thieves apparently had stolen a vehicle out of Fort Scott, came to Iola and essentially “swapped” vehicles, leaving the second vehicle behind and taking Flynn’s back into Bourbon County.
Officers in Bourbon County reported seeing Flynn’s vehicle and gave chase, but the driver got away once the pursuit extended across the state line into Missouri.
