Three suspects from Great Bend were arrested on burglary and theft charges Sunday after the Barton County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a possible burglary in progress in rural Claflin. Sheriff Brian Bellendir reports that around 3 p.m. Sunday officers were dispatched to 1252 NE 190 Road, near the city of Claflin.

“An alert citizen had observed a vehicle that he did not believe belonged there,” Bellendir stated in a news release.  The rural location was not occupied at the time of the burglary. Sheriff’s officers and a Kansas Highway Patrol unit were able to quickly locate the suspect vehicles and stop them.

“Three suspects were arrested in the area,” Bellendir continued. Eric Reed, 46, Shayla Richmeier 27, and Harold Mason, 47, were booked on burglary and theft charges with bond set at $20,000 on all three.

Reed posted bond and was released. Richmeier and Mason remained in jail as of Monday afternoon.

“Mason was out on bond from a previous burglary charge when he was arrested this weekend,” Bellendir said. “It is believed several other burglaries will be cleared with this arrest.”