Two ATVs worth $41,000 were stolen early on Oct. 3 from Surdyke Motorsports, 1305 Hwy. 61, in Crystal City.
Crystal City Police have questioned a 33-year-old St. Clair man who was arrested in Farmington in connection with the case.
Police Chief Jeff McCreary said the man told Crystal City detectives he had taken the vehicles but that he no longer had them. McCreary said the man has been released from the St. Francois County Jail pending application of warrants.
The stolen vehicles were a red 2014 Polaris Ranger 900 UTV, which was a customized side-by-side valued at $31,000, and a green 2015 Polaris Sportsman 570x2 ATV valued at $10,000.
A third ATV, a 2014 Polaris worth $7,200, was recovered from a ditch near St. Pius X High School, which is across Hwy. 61 from the dealership.
“Apparently they couldn’t fit the third one on the trailer,” McCreary said.
The chief said the suspect and a woman who had not been identified as of Tuesday morning (Oct. 7) parked their truck and trailer at a nearby gas station, cut a fence at Surdyke’s, stole the ATVs and drove them to a far corner of the St. Pius property.
“Then they got their truck and trailer and loaded up two of them,” McCreary said.
A witness who saw some of this activity between 6 and 7 a.m. didn’t call 911 until after the truck and trailer left, McCreary said. After 911 called Festus Police, Festus called Crystal City Police at about 8:45 a.m.
Police developed leads from the witness’s description and security tape from Surdyke’s, McCreary said.
“Obviously others are involved since he no longer has the vehicles,” he said.
Anyone with information about the ATVs is asked to call Crystal City Police at 937-4601.