Two boats recently reported stolen from a home in the 2700 block of Sunnyside Road in the Festus area were recovered about 10 a.m. July 4 at Mr. B’s Storage in the 6600 block of Hwy. 61-67 in Imperial, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reports.
The boats and other items, altogether valued at more than $32,000, were stolen between 2:30 a.m. June 13 and midnight June 14, the report said.
Some forced open doors to the home and three other buildings on the property and stole the blue and white Mercury Triton 20-foot bass boat; a black Mercury 225-horsepower motor; a white Triton dual-axle boat trailer; an aluminum Freedom 22-foot pontoon boat; a black Mercury 75-horsepower outboard motor; a white Bear boat trailer; miscellaneous tools; a blue air compressor; a Pierson compound bow; and fishing equipment. In all, the items were valued at $32,150, according to the report.
In addition, the culprit pulled down an electric meter from a utility pole at the property, said Capt. Ron Arnhart of the Sheriff’s Office.
On July 3, the victim received a text message from someone he knew who told him to “check local storage places” for the stolen boats, and then he found them at the storage business, the report said.
A deputy found a cigarette filter in one of the boats that the victim said didn’t belong to him, so it was seized as evidence and sent to the Missouri State Highway Patrol lab for DNA analysis, according to the report.
The boats have since been returned to the victim, Arnhart said.
As of today (July 13), there were no suspects, he said.
Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office tip line at 636-797-5515.