Looters caught with items from flood damaged homes
<p class="p1">Ozark County Sheriff’s Department officers detained six people over the weekend who are accused of looting of items that washed away from homes during the April 29-30 flood, according to Sheriff Darrin Reed. </p><p class="p1">Reed said he will be speaking with Ozark County Prosecuting Attorney John Garrabrant this week, and he hopes that criminal charges will be filed against the individuals. Reed said his deputies are frequenting many of the area’s public river accesses, looking for looters, and the Missouri Department of Conservation was also patrolling the waters this week by boat. </p><p class="p1">All of the suspects caught by area law enforcement were accessing the area by boat, Reed said. Many items were recovered from the suspects’ boats, and law enforcement officers also recovered several more items at two separate residences, one in Douglas County and one in Wright County. Reed said a few of the suspects were even boating up to flood-damaged homes, walking onto private property and taking items from the houses and yards. </p><p class="p1">None of the suspects are from Ozark County, Reed said. He suspects most of those caught were taking the items to sell at the scrap yard.</p><p class="p1">“Folks, we are doing our best to catch these people. I have deputies patrol these areas night and day, and I’m sure some are getting around us. Please keep calling the office when you suspect someone is doing this. We are a small department, but we will keep checking,” Reed posted.</p><p class="p1">The officers are storing the recovered items at the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department and the Ozark County shed. Residents can call the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department at 417-679-4633 to report a suspected looter. Flood victims who are missing items can also contact the sheriff’s office to arrange a time to view and claim any missing items. </p>
<p class="p1">Several items, including this canoe, propane tank, basket and log chair, were found in the boats of suspected looters on the North Fork of the White River last weekend. Sheriff Darrin Reed posted this photo on his Facebook page, along with several others showing recovered items. </p>
