BCSO recovers ultralight airplane stolen more than a year ago

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

— The Benton County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday recovered an ultralight airplane reported stolen in June 2008 from a storage facility in West Branson, Mo.

Recovery of the planecame after the BCSO received an anonymous tip through the Sheriff's Office Web site, Criminal Investigator Kenneth Paul said.

"We had heard some information about a stolen aircraft in Avoca, but we could not locate it until this tip came in with theaddress," Paul said.

Information received through the Sheriff's Office Web site indicated someone was bragging about breaking into storage units in West Branson and stealing property there. The tip also included an address.

Paul located the ultralight aircraft, valued at $19,000, sitting on a trailer at the address in Avoca.

The address is not being disclosed pending further investigation.

No arrests have been made in the case, although the Sheriff's Office does have a suspect in mind, Paul said.

Other items stolen when the plane was taken, including a spare engine for the aircraft - valued at $6,000 - have not been recovered, Paul said.

Anyone with information about a crime is encouraged to report it - either by using the Sheriff's Office Web site, by phoneor in person.

The Sheriff's Office Web site is www.

co.benton.ar.us/SheriffsOffice.

The Web site "is a good way to report things and remain completely anonymous. We do look into everything that is reported," Paul said.

Community, Pages 6 on 09/16/2009