The alleged stealing spree of an Elk Creek man and his grandson came to an end last week when an alert business owner spotted the thieves, leapt onto the hood of their vehicle and after falling off, alerted authorities with their license plate number.
Gary Heaslet, 55, and his 16-year-old grandson are accused of stealing from more than 110 storage units across the region. Texas County Sheriff Carl Watson said the number of units is growing by the minute and includes the communities of Houston, Cabool, Mountain Grove, Willow Springs and West Plains.
Heaslet, who was transported Friday to Howell County, is charged with five counts of burglary and one count of vehicular assault. Bond is set at $25,000.
The teenage boy was taken to a juvenile center in Mountain Grove.
Heaslet and his grandson were allegedly swiping items from Pat Stuart’s U Store just after dark last Wednesday night when its owner, Pat Stuart, noticed several nearby units had been broken into. He saw the suspects’ vehicle and jumped onto the hood. He was carried for a distance on the vehicle and although he didn’t stop them, he got the license plate number.
Stuart contacted Willow Springs police, who called the Cabool police department. Texas County authorities were then alerted and traveled to the Elk Creek residence that matched the vehicle’s license plate number. Heaslet was arrested around 10 p.m.
Among the items recovered from the Lebanon Road property – which filled two trailers that were brought Thursday morning to the Texas County Justice Center – were bicycles, fishing equipment, a riding lawnmower, air conditioner units, tool chests, extension cords and a firearm from Modesto, Calif., where the suspect previously lived. Watson said the handgun was reported stolen in 1973.
Watson said $1,000 in stolen cash was also found inside the residence, and three air conditioners were later discovered at an area pawnshop. A trailer that was reported stolen in November 2007 was also recovered.
A second search of Heaslet’s residence Friday morning uncovered more stolen items, and that afternoon authorities found additional stolen property in a Cabool storage unit under his name.
Lt. Melissa Dunn said officers discovered many items, including a 2002 Honda ATV, that totaled more than $10,000. Most of the items had been taken from nearby units at the business, which is owned by Texas County Commissioner John Casey.
Watson initially estimated more than “110 known property owners from several units in several towns” missing items. He said Friday afternoon that the number is growing, and he is uncertain where it will end.
The stolen property was logged and taken into the multi-purpose room at the justice center, where some property was identified by owners. Several items still remain.
Watson said several property owners initially recovered only a portion of their missing property, leading authorities to believe more items may still be on Heaslet’s property.