Off-duty officer catches employees stealing tires

Southeast Missourian

An off-duty police officer caught two men in the act of trying to steal merchandise from their employer Saturday night.

Cape Girardeau Cpl. Rick Price got a call from Plaza Tire, 2149 William St. Mark Rhodes, one of the owners, got a tip that someone may be trying to steal some tires. The police department was short-handed that shift, Price said, so he agreed to set up surveillance on his own time. After about an hour he saw the two attempt to take four tires worth $640.

"I waited until the case was made," he said, "then I got them both on the ground and called for assistance."

The two, now former employees, were released pending the issuance of a criminal summons. Until the summonses are issued, their names cannot be released.

Plaza Tire offered to pay him for the extra hours, Price said, but "I thought why should they pay for us to do our job?"

Price will be paid for his efforts though. He said that chief Steve Strong approved his overtime pay for the stakeout.

Rhodes said he appreciates the effort that Price made.

"I don't know very many police officers," he said, "but I hope they're all as dedicated and concerned with doing their job as he is. We often take them for granted but what they do is not easy.

"Anytime we can give the police officers an 'attaboy' I'm happy to do it."