Staff writer
At least one, maybe more, thieves amassed a $94,000 tab of stolen and damaged property Dec. 27 at the home of Merle and Michelle Flaming near Lehigh.
“That’s easy to do when you start with a $65,000 Ford pickup,” sheriff Rob Craft said. “They took a 2007 trailer with the truck and damaged Merle’s motorcycle [a Harley Trike] in the process.”
The Flamings’ house also sustained damage when it was broken into while they were away, Craft said. A computer and other smaller items taken combined with all the damage to the Flamings’ property contributed to the $94,000 estimate.
However, Howa rather large clue was left behind.
“A stolen vehicle that was taken from somewhere in Missouri was left at their house,” Craft said.
Investigation rendered a trail.
“We have tracked Merle’s truck to several locations between Wichita and Kansas City,” Craft said. “We have identified at least one male suspect, maybe more. We just don’t have the location of that suspect.”