After several months of team investigations, equipment and ATVs stolen from the dealerships and private citizens throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin are slowly being recovered. One of the businesses to benefit from the agencies’ hard work is Mies Equipment in Watkins. Mies had a variety of merchandise stolen twice this year. “We’re pretty sure some of what we’ve recovered is from Mies,” said Sheriff Mike Hirman. “But we haven’t sorted through everything yet.” Investigators from Meeker and Hennepin counties, along with the FBI, joined forces to conduct several searches in Minnesota and Wisconsin for the stolen items. “Together we’ve taken in 60 leads and executed search warrants that recovered ATVs in the metro area,” Hirman said. Officials in Carlton County, Chisago County, Lino Lakes, Oakdale, Stearns County, St. Louis County and Wright County, as well as officials from counties in Wisconsin have made contributions to the recoveries. “All of the agencies have been working together and we’ve been recovering items for one another,” Hirman said. According to Hirman, this string of thefts is unlike other crimes for several reasons. “First, there are so many agencies involved,” he said. “So you have a lot of help. But then there are ATV thefts that may have no connection to us, and it can be hard trying to find out if the thefts are related.” “It’s also unusual because it covers such a big area,” Hirman said. Hirman said the publicity is to thank. “That is how the agencies knew what was going on,” he said. According to Hirman, those responsible for the thefts can be charged in either the county or city where they committed the crime, the location where they are discovered, or both. That is for the attorneys to decide. Although right now the investigation is far from complete, Hirman is pleased with the progress made thus far. “I feel really good about it,” Hirman said. “The investigators are doing a bang-up job. They have been working hard on this case and getting their other cases done.”
