Tools and four all-terrain vehicles valued at nearly $18,000 have gone missing after burglaries at two rural Winfield properties this past weekend, according to reports from the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office.
The first burglary was reported Friday evening at Southern Kansas Cotton Growers Co-op Inc., also known as the county’s cotton gin, located at 19493 51st Road. Thieves there walked through a door on the north end of the facility and removed a Honda 4-Trac ATV, according to the report. The ATV was a vehicle owned and used at the cotton gin. It was valued at $1,700.
The second burglary took place two days later on Sunday morning, the second report showed. Three four-wheelers were removed from a shed located at 2764 182nd Road. Tools were also stolen. A total of seven sheds were entered, but only two were targeted for thefts, the report said. Victims included Roger L. Treadway, Richard L. Treadway and Hubert B. Caulfield. The report did not specify what kind of tools were taken.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the burglaries and believe the incidents could be related.
“Considering (the burglaries) were relatively close together and had a similar time frame, we are certainly looking at that possibility,” said Lt. Bill Mueller.
No suspects have been arrested in the case at this time, Mueller said.
