A suspect has been identified and stolen property recovered after a Facebook post showing a thief caught in the act went viral.
Big Country Farm Center, located at 1800 17th Street NE, turned to the public for help on July 12th after a white male was caught on camera stealing equipment from the business, as well as a Kubota RTV from Paris Farm and Ranch.
Within hours, Chief of Police Bob Hundley said the suspect had been positively identified and after an investigation ensued, a complete case will now be presented to the district attorney for charge(s) to be filed soon.
“After receiving the report of the theft, the investigation picked up speed due to surveillance cameras capturing the thief and his actions,” said Hundley. “After identifying the suspect, other information came about which led to the recovery of the side by side in the Pattonville area by Paris Patrol Officer Nick Yosten and more stolen items being recovered by Lamar County Sheriff Deputy Josh Stringfellow out in the county.”
Paris PD Detective David Rowton has become lead on the case.
Hundley said this investigation is a good example of what surveillance video can do to help an investigation along with the cooperation between the police department and sheriff’s office in getting property recovered and suspects charged.
“Criminals do not pay attention to jurisdiction lines on a map, we (including our citizens) are all in this together.”
Photo: Big Country Farm Center
