Acting on a tip through Allen County Crime Stoppers, Iola police officers said Wednesday they were requesting charges against a suspect believed to have stolen roughly $120 worth of candy from the football stadium at Riverside Park.
The theft occurred sometime on Sept. 19 or 20. The candy was being used for an Iola Middle School fundraiser.
Officers received the tip Monday evening, officer Mike Ford said. A series of interviews followed, and confirmed much of the information.
The suspect’s name has not been released, pending formal charges being filed, Ford said.
The candy was not recovered. However, there’s a sweet ending to the tale.
Upon reading about the thefts, Kenneth Shetlar of JKS Sanitation out of Erie, donated $150 to pay for the stolen candy.
“He didn’t think the school should have to pay,” to make up for the lost goods, Ford said.
WITH THE candy bandit mystery out of the way, Crime Stoppers has set its focus on a number of other misdeeds.
King’s Sandwich Shop was robbed of a small amount of money sometime in the wee hours of Sept. 20.
D&R Plumbing, in the 200 block of North Washington, was robbed sometime between 3 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. Monday.
Stout Electric, in the 400 block of North Street, was robbed and vandalized sometime between Monday at closing time and Tuesday morning. Venison, custom-made hunting knives and loose change were reported stolen.
Tholen’s Heating and Air was robbed sometime between closing time Tuesday and Wednesday morning.
THOSE with information regarding crimes can contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or online at allencountcs.org. Cash rewards of up to $2,000 are offered to tipsters, who will remain anonymous.
