The Paola Police Department is requesting charges against a suspect who has been taken into custody and linked to a report of a stolen vehicle on the morning of Friday, October 4th. A 2009 Dodge Ram Pickup truck was taken from a driveway in the 400 block of East Chippewa Street. The truck was left unlocked, and the keys were in the vehicle. According to a media release, the truck was recovered in Anderson County, and a suspect in the street was detained. A request for charges against the suspect has been forwarded to the Miami County Prosecutor’s office, according to the release. Paola Police Officials say there has been an uptick in auto burglaries and thefts recently, and they are urging residents to lock and remove the keys from their vehicles.
They say all of the incidents were crimes of opportunity, where the victims left their vehicles unlocked. Last month, there were six separate reports of automobile burglaries between the 900 and 500 blocks of East Peoria and East Wea Streets in one night.
