MIDDLETOWN — An investigation into multiple thefts in the Anderson Springs area of Middletown over the weekend resulted in the arrests of three boys and one man.
Several items of stolen property have been recovered and returned to their owners and many other items remain in safekeeping, pending the identification of additional theft victims.
On Saturday at approximately 9:30 a.m. a Lake County Sheriff”s Office (LCSO) deputy was dispatched to a home on Rose Anderson Road in Anderson Springs to investigate a theft from a vehicle. The victim reported that several boys were seen going through her parked vehicle at approximately 3:30 a.m. and several items of property were stolen, including an iPod, a cell phone and tools.
As the deputy was investigating that theft, another resident on Rose Anderson Road reported that he also had property stolen from his vehicle during the night. A pair of binoculars and a pair of sunglasses were reportedly taken from his vehicle.
After talking with several neighboring residents, the investigation led the deputy to another home on Rose Anderson Road where he contacted three boys and a man. The adult was identified as Zachary Aaron Peterson, 20. During that contact the deputy observed several items of property on the premises that matched the description of items stolen in the two thefts.
The iPod, cell phone, tools, binoculars and sunglasses previously reported as stolen were positively identified and all four suspects were arrested. Incident to their arrests, the suspects admitted to stealing property from at least six other parked vehicles during the night but they could not remember where the cars were located. Additional items of property were seized as suspected stolen property from those unreported thefts.
Peterson was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility where he was booked for receiving stolen property. The three juveniles were transported to the Lake County Juvenile Hall where they were all booked for receiving stolen property and petty theft.
The property stolen in the two initial thefts was returned to both victims. Several other items of suspected stolen property are being held for safekeeping, pending the identification of additional theft victims. Those items include numerous cell phone chargers, a deck of playing cards, a “Plantronics” Bluetooth earpiece, a “Scosche” remote control unit, and a black knife. Anyone who believes they may have had property stolen from their car during the weekend in the Anderson Springs area is encouraged to call LCSO investigations at 262-4200.
