Three Arrested After Air Compressor Theft

Thu., Oct. 8, 1998

By Pat Sciuchetti pats@spokesman.com

Sheriff’s deputies arrested three men Sunday after an air compressor was reported stolen from the former Big O Tires store at 14909 E. Sprague.

Douglas R. Kapeluch, 30, of 11704 E. Empire, Kenneth P. Mankin, 26, of 9621 E. Empire, and Joshua James Starr, 21, a transient, all were arrested for first-degree theft, according to police reports.

An employee of Alton’s Tires, which is honoring customer warranties and service contracts following Big O’s closure, reported the $3,500 air compressor missing early Sunday morning.

A tip led deputies to a house in the Valley, where they saw what appeared to be an air compressor in the back of a brown pickup truck.

The compressor was covered by a blanket. Deputies also found a woman sleeping in the back of the truck.

Deputies obtained a search warrant, allowing them to uncover and inspect the air compressor. The Alton’s Tires employee identified the stolen item.

The three men were found nearby and arrested.

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