Chief Savors Sweet Ending To Property Thefts

In an exceptional turn of events, a variety of stolen goods have been returned to their owners thanks to the Southwest City Police Department, McDonald County Sheriff’s Office and wronged residents contacting law enforcement.

A string of thefts recently plagued the west side of McDonald County; specifically the rural outskirts of what is considered Southwest City. Victims contacted the Police Department and quickly took to Facebook to get the word out. A variety of motor vehicles were stolen including a tractor, motorcycle, dirt bike, four-wheeler, a go-kart and many other miscellaneous items.

Police Chief Bud Gow estimates the value of the goods at upwards of $40,000.

The loot was located after Gow received information indicating the stolen motorcycle could be found off MM Highway, east of town. Gow, officer Rafael Ramirez and McDonald County Sheriff’s Office Cpl. Tim Jeffers with K-9 Cresso arrived at the suspected location and received permission to search the

property.

As they were searching a storage shed officers discovered an arsenal of stolen items.

Two men were arrested — Mikel Don Britten, 17, of Southwest City for burglary and theft, and David Scott Sanders Jr., 29, of Southwest City for possession of stolen property. Britten received a $3,000 cash bond. Scott received a $7,500 cash/surety bond.

Gow noted that endings like this are sweet, albeit few and far between.

“I know the owner of the motorcycle had worked all summer long to buy the bike in cash and he was thrilled to death to have it back,” Gow said.

Janis Lett best summed up the gratitude felt in a Facebook post she made following the return of her parent’s generator.

“I’ve always had high respect for the police officers in our small town of Southwest City, Mo., but today the respect, honor, and appreciation is elevated at a personal level … I know it doesn’t always turn out like this, but I do know that these men and women still work just as hard each time,” Lett wrote.