Festus Police are investigating two thefts that happened on the same street and during the same period. The thefts occurred on Belmont Drive in Festus and were reported on Nov. 7, Police Chief Tim Lewis said.
In one of the cases, equipment was stolen from an Ameren Missouri work truck parked at an employee’s home in the 1900 block of Belmont Drive. The equipment was valued at $3,000, Lewis said.
The employee, a 43-year-old man, reported the theft at about 6:45 p.m. Nov. 7, Lewis said.
“He (the victim) parked his truck the night before at his residence and reported the incident when he discovered it missing,” Lewis said.
He said police don’t know how the culprit got into the work truck.
As of Nov. 8, the stolen equipment had not been recovered and no arrests had been made, Lewis said.
In the other case, authorities are searching for the driver of a 1997 Ford pickup who led Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deputies on a chase on Nov. 7.
Lewis said the pickup was traced to an address also on Belmont Drive in Festus, and Festus Police contacted the owner, who did not know until then that his pickup had been stolen.
“The Sheriff’s Office contacted us to contact the vehicle owner on Belmont Drive in Festus,” Lewis said. “We contacted the residence, and it turned out he was the victim, who was unaware it had been stolen. It had been parked in front of the residence. The victim is a 58-year-old Festus man.”
Lewis said that as of Nov. 8, the stolen pickup had not been recovered and no arrests had been made.
Anyone with information about either theft is urged to call Festus Police at 636-937-3646.