Authorities arrest three in La Harpe burglary

Monday afternoon found Ray Maloney figuring up dollar damage to his La Harpe business after it was burglarized late Jan. 7 or early Jan. 8.

Three suspects from Fort Scott allegedly broke into his business, Ray's Metal Depot, 320 W. U.S. Highway 54.

Stevie Joe Hall, 41, a 17-year-old juvenile and James Edward LaRoche, 20, all of Fort Scott, were arrested Jan. 9 and released to Allen County the same day. Allen County Sheriff Thomas R. Williams said they were charged with arson, burglary, felony theft and conspiracy to commit burglary. Approximately $30,000 in cash was stolen -- some of it burned or singed -- and property from the store.

As of Monday afternoon, the three were in custody in Allen County awaiting an appearance as early as today, likely before 31st District Judge Thomas M. Saxton, Williams said.

Maloney, who has owned Ray's Metal Depot, 320 W. U.S. Highway 54, for 19 years, moved into his current building in 2008 after having his business broken into five or six times at a previous location. The new building had many security features including eight surveillance cameras, offices constructed of concrete block, pay windows with bulletproof glass and a built-in safe.

"These guys were pretty dead set," Maloney said Monday. "I don't know if they were on crack or what. We're in a cash business, so we anticipate something happening. We built around that."

The building has three steel doors that the ski-mask wearing suspects used heavy pipe to break through. "I sat and counted at least 100 dings," Maloney said. "If they had a job, they wouldn't have to work that hard."

They had to use a cutting torch to open the safe. Maloney said the suspects tried to remove the safe, which the building was constructed around, but couldn't get it through the door. The safe contained about $30,000 -- $10,000 of which was recovered.

"It's tight as a drum," Maloney said of the building.

Property stolen included a cutting torch outfit, a 1948 Harley Davidson primary cover with a hole cut out of it for a clock and a gun. Law enforcement recovered the gun and the Harley primary cover, Maloney said. "They cut my surveillance cables," damaged at least one surveillance camera, cut the phone lines and damaged the dashboard of a brand-new forklift, he said. Steel doors with commercial-grade locks and handles custom built in Kansas City damaged in the incident cost $1,500. He ordered new glass from Iola Glass that also had to be custom made with special metal mesh and bullet-proof Lexan windows that cost about $1,000 each. Maloney put up a $10,000 reward for anyone who provided information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators. He said someone came forward with information on Jan. 8, which was passed on to authorities.

Williams emphasized the arrests could not have been made without the help of the Bourbon County Sheriff's Office and Fort Scott Police Department. "Sheriff Ron Gray and the chief, both of those two people spent time helping the investigators. That's just great. That's the way things are supposed to work," Williams said.

"I think we got the main people," Williams said. "They tried to get other people involved in getting rid of some of the money. They bought a four-wheeler with some of the money. I'd say we have a great case between Bourbon County and Allen County."

In addition to the four-wheeler, Maloney said the suspects also bought a 1999 Dodge pickup and had $6,000 in cash.

Fort Scott Police Chief Ron Puterbaugh confirmed his officers helped Allen County make the arrests. "Cooperation between the departments was very good. The information we received helped them develop their case and subsequently make some arrests and recover the property," Puterbaugh said. "In this area, we have very good cooperation between the Sheriff's Office, police department and other jurisdictions. They key for us is to all work together."