Some young thieves are stealing ATVs in Leake County. Sheriff Randy Atkinson says, since early November, three thefts have been reported. And in each instance, the owners were trying to sell the ATVs on Facebook Marketplace….
“Basically, they’re making a deal online to meet them and to bring the ATVs to them.”
Atkinson says the victims were asked to take the ATVs to an address which turned out to be an abandoned house near Thomastown….
“They want to test drive it and the victim lets them take it on a test drive and never never show back up.”
The sheriff says one of those vehicles was recovered shortly after it was taken…
“We were able to be there pretty quickly when we were called and we were able to find it. (We) found it at the edge of the woods. They had abandoned it. And I believe that’s what they do. They run off with them and just take them in the woods and hide them.”
Atkinson says they believe the suspects are juveniles. He’s urging people who are trying to sell something online to meet with the prospective buyer in a well-lit location….
“I tell people all the time there’s plenty of room here at my facility and you’re more than welcome to have somebody meet here. If they’re going to try to rob you or harm you and whatever the case may be, they won’t meet at a police department or sheriff’s department.”
The sheriff says they’re still working to try to recover the other two stolen ATVs and arrest the thieves.
