Three sheds at Lakeview Storage in Pearl Lake were burglarized earlier this month, and the Stearns County Sheriff’s Department is encouraging anyone with information to come forward. According to Detective Dave Hoeschen, to the surprise of many, the theft occurred Sept. 1 in broad daylight. “Take into consideration the date – Labor Day,” Hoeschen said. “There are plenty of boaters going out on that day, so no one paid attention. It would seem a very common thing for someone with a trailer to go into a storage facility and get their stuff. And what better time to do it than daytime? People expect burglaries to take place at night and it’s not necessarily that way.” The thieves used “screw driver-type tools” to open the metal and aluminum sheds. Over $33,000 in equipment was stolen from the three storage receptacles. The missing property includes a 1997 Suburban, Minnesota license 263PGS, a 1995 Karavan trailer, Minnesota license B81982, a Polaris XC700 snowmobile, license CA4183, an Arctic Cat F7 Firecat, a children’s snowmobile and an assortment of fishing equipment. Later Sept. 1, between 5-6:30 p.m. a vehicle and trailer carrying two snowmobiles matching the description of the aforementioned were headed southbound on Highway 15 toward Kimball. The local police and the Stearns County Sheriff are still in pursuit of the thieves, whom Hoeschen suspects, formulated a very simple plan to commit this crime. “It’s very common for crooks to do,” he said. “They scope out and area, observe it, see how often people are around, and determine what is the best time to hit the place.” Hoeshen also said storage facilities are a common target for thieves and advised storage owners to increase security, and renters to find a storage facility with increased security. “Look for a storage system that has a secondary security system,” Hoeschen said. “Whether that is good solid fencing – chain link fencing – or someone patrolling, a secondary security system is very important.” Another option storage users have is to obtain renters’ insurance. Tom Ehlinger of American Family Insurance in Kimball recommended renters photograph or take videos of their sheds and the items inside. “Renters can have different items insured to a certain amount,” Ehlinger said. “There is also liability insurance.” In the meantime, Hoeschen encourages anyone with information regarding the crime to call (320) 259-3700 or (320) 251-2240. There will be a reward for helpful tips.
