By Lori Ehde
Local law enforcement can add another crime to its list of things to work on.
A new pickup was reported stolen from the Papik Motors lot Saturday, Dec. 29. It's a 2002 black Chevy Silverado extended cab pickup valued at $30,500.
According to office manager Charlie Goehle, the vehicle was reported stolen on the 29th, but it could have actually been stolen a week earlier.
He said they needed to check with sales staff to see if a customer had the vehicle out on a trial basis. Some salesmen were out of town, so he said it took awhile to confirm the pickup was actually stolen.
Goehle said it's the first time he can remember in his 20 years with Papik's that a vehicle was stolen off the lot.
He said vehicle keys are kept in lock boxes on the driver's side windows, but he said there was no evidence of the lock box being broken into (there were no pieces on the ground).
The Rock County Sheriff's Department is working with Windom law enforcement on the case, because on Dec. 21, a vehicle stolen from a lot there was recovered in Luverne north of the ice arena.
"They probably drove down from there, left it and picked this one up," said Sheriff Ron McClure, alluding to a possible connection to the cases.
The new Pontiac Bonneville has been returned to the Towlerton dealership in Windom. It had no significant damage.