Hutchinson, Minn., man charged for stealing camper, fish house

LITCHFIELD — A 24-year-old Hutchinson man faces a felony theft charge in Renville County and could face charges in Stearns County for stealing a fish house and a camper.

According to Meeker County Sheriff Jeff Norlin, Cody Alan Vorbeck allegedly admitted to stealing a fish house from Bird Island and to taking a travel trailer from a Paynesville RV lot.

Vorbeck made his first court appearance Monday and pleaded not guilty to the single theft charge. His next appearance is March 8 in Renville County District Court.

Both the fish house and the travel trailer were located recently in Meeker County. The fish house was located on Jan. 8 on Star Lake southwest of Litchfield after law enforcement received an anonymous tip. The house was valued at more than $10,000 and was identified by the owner. According to Norlin, the license number affixed to the house led investigators to Vorbeck.

On Monday, a citizen reported to investigators that a camper, a 2010 18-foot Four-Winds trailer valued at more than $10,000, was parked at a rural Litchfield address for a considerable length of time. The investigation showed the trailer had been taken from Ted’s RV in Paynesville and that theft was reported to Stearns County officials on Oct. 2.

The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office is involved in the investigation and the case is being sent to the Stearns County Attorney's Office for a formal charging decision.