The Nodaway County Sheriff and the Maryville Public Safety departments are coordinating efforts to arrest those responsible for a string of larcenies occurring last week in Maryville and the outskirts of the city.

Seven larcenies in city limits, five from a motor vehicle, and two from a business, are leading law enforcement officials to believe multiple groups are involved.

Keith Wood, director of Maryville Public Safety, said the larcenies occurring within the city limits on Aug. 15 and 16 and involved vehicles that had been locked and broken into, and others that had been left unlocked with items taken.

“That’s way too many for a short time,” Wood said. “Lock your car first and foremost. Always be mindful — I guess I’d call that being a good neighbor. Watch out for the other guy and hopefully the other guys is looking out for you too.”

Wood believes there could be two different groups involved in these thefts — with the difference in items taken and break-in entry being the differing factors.

Five larcenies were reported by Lt. Randy Houston, of the Sheriff's Department, who said, like the city’s thefts, they involved both locked and unlocked cars. However, a vehicle was actually stolen from Village O Drive, broken into with items taken, and then recovered that same day. 
Houston said the five larcenies that occurred on Aug. 14 and 15 were not a normal amount for that length of time.

“That's not common,” he said. “That’s a lot for that period of time.”

As with the Public Safety Department, the Nodaway County Sheriff’s Department has not yet made any arrests in the case, and the larcenies are still under investigation.

Wood said they are looking at a couple of their usual suspects and comparing notes with the Sheriff’s office in an effort to tie the crimes together.

Both law enforcement agencies are stepping up their patrol, and ask neighbors to be vigilant.

“We always feel like the key is the start of the midnight shift,” Wood said. “We are always patrolling and observing. We like to have a general idea as to who is out and around in the early morning hours, so that when something comes up — even if they weren’t the ones up to no good — maybe they witnessed someone that was.”

Wood said it is better to get as many tips as possible, even if they turn out to be useless.

“We like the unfounded suspicious circumstances,” he said. “We’ll go to the bad ones (calls) all day, because that means at least the public is trying to be aware.”

Wood added he doesn’t believe a burglary at a Maryville business was connected to the other larcenies from a motor vehicle.

Those with information about the larcenies are asked to call Maryville Public Safety at (660) 562-3209, and the Nodaway County Sheriff's Department at (660) 582-7451.