Sikeston man pleads guilty to stealing from employer

SIKESTON, Mo. -- A Sikeston, man pleaded guilty Monday to stealing from his former employer, according to KZIM KSIM.

Derrick Collins, 38, pleaded guilty Monday to felony theft before Judge Fred Copeland. He was sentenced to five years in state prison, but instead had that suspended, and was placed on five years' supervised probation.

Collins reportedly stole 6,500 valves over time and sold them for around $7,800. On Dec. 29, the manager of Reliable Propane reported a theft from the company's location at 126 Larcel St. in Sikeston.

A person had taken large brass propane valves from old 20-pound tanks. Police used security video and records obtained from the recycling center to arrest Collins.