Police: Theft from store leads to $4,600 in stolen goods

Cape Girardeau County sheriff’s deputies were alerted after a Cape Girardeau man stole a lighter from a convenience store Friday, police said.

A search for the man led them to a residence at 209 Alpine Drive, where he had stashed about $4,600 worth of stolen goods.

Deputies arrested Rasho Meadows, 49, on Friday. The Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney’s office charged Meadows with second-degree burglary and felony theft. Meadows’ roommate, Steven Matthew Trout, 35, of Cape Girardeau was charged with felony receiving stolen property.

Deputies investigated a burglary June 23 in the 500 block of County Road 206, according to a probable-cause statement filed by deputy Ben Juergens. The property owner reported a computer, checkbooks, cash, pesticide and several tools were stolen from his shed while he was at lunch, Juergens wrote.

On Friday, deputies went to the Route K One Stop about 6 p.m., where the clerk said she saw Meadows buy a 12-pack of beer and steal a lighter, Juergens wrote. The clerk said she did not want to press charges but wanted to inform Meadows he was not welcome back. Meadows was on foot and fled when he saw a sheriff’s deputy, Juergens wrote.

Juergens went to Meadows’ residence and spoke with Trout, according to the statement. Trout consented to a search and led them through the residence, and Juergens cataloged all the items he could remember from the burglary about a week earlier, including a pellet rifle, chain saw and other tools, according to the statement.

Trout said Meadows had the items with him when he moved in early June and denied knowledge the items were stolen, Juergens wrote. Deputies found Meadows in the back corner of a neighbor’s backyard, according to the statement.

The property owner identified 26 stolen items with an estimated worth of $4,698, Juergens wrote. The items included an air compressor, power water, leather horse halters and a Dell desktop computer, according to the statement.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address:

209 Alpine Drive, Cape Girardeau, Mo.