A 24-year-old Pevely man has been arrested and a 25-year-old Hillsboro man has been identified as a suspect in the alleged theft of a pickup, trailer and landscaping equipment from a gated lot at All-Star Landscaping, 18601 Hwy. 66, Eureka Police Capt. David Wilson said.
On Aug. 21, a 2018 GMC Denali 5500 crew cab, J Bond and Son trailer and landscaping equipment were stolen from the company, a report said.
At 1:44 a.m. Sept. 9, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office located the pickup on Mapaville Hematite Road in Festus, and a deputy found the Pevely man near the pickup. The man allegedly had the key to the pickup in his pocket, a report said.
The man, who was employed by the landscaping business, first told authorities he had purchased the truck, but he later allegedly admitted to using a pass code to enter the gated lot at about 11 p.m. Aug. 21, moving a pickup that was attached to the trailer and then attaching the Denali to the trailer and driving off the lot. He allegedly said the Hillsboro man was with him, according to the report.
The Pevely man then led police to a home on Liberty School Road in Pevely where the trailer was located and the other man was found. A 52-inch Exmark walk-behind mower, RedMax blower, toolbox with tools and weed eater that were reported stolen also were at the home, the report said.
The Hillsboro man then led police to the location of another allegedly stolen mower. However, when authorities arrived at a home on Sunridge Trail in Pevely, no one was home, and it was not determined if the mower was at the location, Wilson said on Sept. 12.
Wilson said Eureka Police will seek charges against the Pevely man for first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle and theft of a motor vehicle through the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
As of Sept. 12, Wilson said the investigation is ongoing, and police may seek additional charges against the Pevely man and could pursue charges against the Hillsboro man for stealing and possession of stolen property.
The Denali is worth $60,000, and the trailer is worth $3,000. More than $28,000 worth of equipment was stolen, the report said.
In addition to the items found at the Pevely home, other stolen items include another 52-inch Exmark walk-behind mower, a 32-inch Exmark walk-behind mower, a 21-inch Exmark walk-behind mower, three backpack blowers, four Stihl hedge trimmers, four Stihl chainsaws, a concrete cut saw and a DeWalt side grinder, the report said.
Anyone with information about the stolen equipment should call Eureka Police at 636-938-6600.