CLAFLIN — A rural Barton County man who was on his way to work saw a suspicious pickup leaving the Claflin Lumber Yard around 6 a.m. Monday and decided he would follow. As a result, a stolen solar panel and a stolen trailer were recovered, according to Barton County Undersheriff Bruce Green.
The BCSO took a theft and criminal damage to property case.
“The solar panel came out and (the suspect) ditched the trailer,” Green said.
The alert citizen said he saw the pickup pulling the trailer with no lights, leaving at a high rate of speed, headed north at the intersection of NE 110 Ave. and NE 130 Road. Somewhere near the Hitschmann elevator the pickup went through a field to avoid road construction.
The man who followed the suspect asked that his name not be used. He said he called 911 shortly after he started his pursuit. He stopped following the pickup when it entered a field. “I just don’t like people stealing,” he said.