Miner man among five charged with stealing

Five people were charged recently with stealing more than $9,000 worth of motorcycles, lawnmowers and metals from Miner, Mo., businesses in May.

Police accuse Thomas Lubish, 22, of stealing several recreational and work vehicles from the Miner area on three separate occasions, according to a probable-cause statement.

Lubish was charged with three counts of felony theft and three counts of misdemeanor trespass. He was being held in lieu of a $50,000 bond.

Helping him in some of the heists were Kurt Ochoa, 37, of Sikeston, Mo.; Amber Sanders, 19, of Miner; James T. Wilson, 21, of Miner; and Dusty Baker, 26, of East Prairie, Mo.

All four were charged with felony theft and misdemeanor trespass. Ochoa was also charged with receiving stolen property. Bond for Wilson, Sanders and Baker was set at $7,500, and at $20,000 for Ochoa.

On May 9, Lubish and Wilson stole more than $2,000 worth of car rims, aluminum cans, aluminum wire and copper wire from Paul's Salvage, on Highway 62 East in Miner, according to a probable-cause statement. The next day, Ochoa sold the stolen metal back to Paul's.

Lubish, Ochoa and Sanders participated in the theft of a John Deere lawn tractor nearly two weeks later on May 22 at Aufdenburg Equipment Co., the statement read.

Originally, Ochoa and Sanders said Lubish had kidnapped and forced them to help in the theft. Sanders later retracted that story, telling officers that Ochoa and Lubish stole the mower and were attempting to load it into a van Sanders was driving when the police came, according to the statement.

The tractor, worth $2,500, was found across the street from Aufdenburg with part of it resting inside the back of the van.

Lubish and Baker are accused of stealing several recreational vehicles from ATV Cycle World on May 30. According to the statement, a new Kawasaki four wheeler and a new and used Arctic Cat were stolen from the store, worth about $3,499. Also taken were three small motorcycles worth $399 each.

kmorrison@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127