Numerous McCracken County construction site thefts have recently been reported in the McCracken County area including the new Harley Davidson Motorcycle Dealership located near Exit 11 in McCracken County.

Numerous items were reported stolen to the sheriff's department on March 10 from the construction site at the new Harley Davidson dealership. Suspect(s) reportedly broke into a construction trailer on the property and stole numerous tools also making entry into the building, breaking into locked tool boxes belonging to several different contractors working at the site.

Name brand tools such as Dewalt, Milwaukee, Hilti were taken. Expensive electronic type surveying equipment was also reported stolen.

Over the past several weeks, sheriff's detectives had been receiving information and following up on leads. On Wednesday evening at about 5:00PM, an out of state tip was received as to a possible location of some of the stolen property. Sheriff's detectives secured a search warrant for a residence located at 2202 Dixie Avenue which is located in the Farley area of McCracken County.

Myself along with Detectives Tom Emery, Bob Caskey, Dep. Mark Vallelunga, and Sgt. Matt Carter searched the home at about 7:30PM and located some of the stolen property. A small amount of Cocaine, Marijuana, and Drug Paraphernalia was also found. Arrested there was 41 yoa Toby McKinney.

Detectives learned that stolen property from area construction sites were being brought to this residence and hidden, and in some instances sold.

Through previous investigation, detectives had also learned that a suspect who resided at a home located at 702 Milliken Road (also in the Farley Area of McCracken County) possibly had additional stolen property from the construction site at his home and had been committing the thefts.

Myself and the detectives then went to the Milliken Road home and placed the resident Jason Brown under arrest for the theft of the Harley Davidson construction site. A search of the home and his vehicle turned up an additional amount of stolen tools and equipment including but not limited to: a kerosene Salamander type heater, numerous extension cords, Hilti brand nail guns, electric sanders, Milwaukee saws, hoses, numerous hand tools, a concrete finisher, paint gun, and numerous other items. The vehicle Mr. Brown owned (an Isuzu pick-up) was seized as it was used the night of the thefts, as well as to transport stolen property in. Several of the items had their serial numbers ground off to obscure it's identity. In Kentucky, it is a Class D Felony to intentionally remove a serial number from property.

The suspect confessed to the thefts from the Exit 11 construction site, as well as at least five (5) other sites in the McCracken County area. He advised that he had sold about $5,000 dollars worth of the equipment to various persons. This case continues to be under investigation.

"Anyone that may have purchased any type of tools or equipment from these suspects are urged to call the McCracken County Sheriff's Department and return the items purchased. There are many victims in this case as several companies and contractors had equipment stolen and we wish to get as much of the equipment as possible back to the victims."

Anyone with information are asked to contact Detectives Tom Emery or Robert Caskey at 444-4719.

Both suspects were transported to the McCracken County Sheriff's Department and later lodged at the McCracken County Regional Jail.

End of Release

Thanks,

Sheriff Jon Hayden

McCracken Co. Sheriff's Department