$11,500 in
fishing gear snagged

Fish finders, motor, rods, and reels taken from north county homes

Four Lowrance fish finders, a MinnKota trolling motor, and rods and reels with a total value of $11,540 were stolen from Tampa and Lincolnville homes between July 8 and 14.

Each theft happened during overlapping five-day periods, but Sheriff Robert Craft said there wasn’t evidence linking the crimes.

“I can’t tie them together,” he said. “I can suspect, but I don’t have anything to say they are.”

Bishop Clement Jr., 61, of Tampa reported theft of three fish finders from his home in the 400 block of Main St. between July 8 and 13. Undersheriff David Huntley’s report indicated that an $800 finder was recovered July 13.

Craft said he didn’t know where the finder was retrieved. Units valued at $2,800 and $600 are still missing, he said.

Between July 9 and 14, thieves hit the rural Lincolnville home of Bradley Klenda, 27, on 300th Rd. between Old Mill and Pawnee Rds.

A $3,300 fish finder, $190 trolling motor, and $3,850 of rods and reels were taken. Force was used to enter the property, according to deputy Michael Ottensmeier’s report.

An ad offering a $750 reward for information leading to an arrest in connection with “depth finders and fishing equipment stolen from Tampa area” ran last week. Craft declined to say which case the reward, offered by a victim, was related to.

Another fishing-related theft with a wide window of opportunity occurred between March 21 and April 13. A two-person pontoon fishing boat, a flat-bottomed aluminum boat, and a trolling motor were taken from a farm near 280th and Meridian Rds. Shop equipment and tools also were taken.

A $1,100 Lowe boat was reported stolen from a temporary structure Dec. 31 on Pawnee Rd. between 140th and 150th Rds.

Both cases remain unsolved.