WILLMAR -- Two men have been charged with felony theft for stealing auto parts from a Sunburg business and then selling the metal for scrap.
Cody Lyle Lawren Jackson, 18, of Atwater, and Timothy Lee Smith, 21, of Litchfield, both made their first appearances on the charge Friday in Kandiyohi County District Court. Judge Michael J. Thompson set unconditional bail for both at $10,000. Conditional release was allowed on their personal recognizance, provided they have no contact with each other or the auto sales business. Both have their next court appearance on May 12.
According to the complaint, the owner of Jorgenson Auto Sales contacted the Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office on March 15 to report that radiators and aluminum wheels were taken from a storage shed. Both contain a significant amount of valuable metal.
The next day, the man contacted law enforcement again, notifying investigators that he had found several of the wheels, which were rare items, at Windy Hill Auto Parts of rural New London. He had also gotten a photocopy of the check and receipt for radiators and rims from the business to Jackson.
The next day, the owner and a detective from the sheriff's office interviewed Windy Hill personnel, who said another young man was with Jackson and that some of the rims were rare and not something that would commonly be sold for scrap.
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The value of the items was estimated at $1,825.
When interviewed, Jackson and Smith admitted to the thefts and using a bolt cutter to enter the shed. They said they were in Sunburg to visit someone and knew they could get money for the metal auto parts. Smith said they split the money from the scrap sale between them.
