Owensville Police Chief Robert Rickerd said this week he was notified that two Kubota pieces of equipment stolen May 6 from Schaeperkoetter International Service have been recovered by Illinois State Police (ISP).

Rickerd said he was told the ISP task force had arrested at least two of the members of a ring of thieves believed to number between 10 and 15. All were believed to be Illinois residents.

“This investigation is still on-going as there are still several others involved,” said Rickerd. “Several of the items were recovered from a search warrant.”

Members of a Missouri State Highway Patrol task force on crimes against the agriculture industry have also been involved in the investigation, said Rickerd. Attempts to contact an investigator with that agency for comment were unsuccessful.

A Cub Cadet lawn mower owned by the city of Gerald was also stolen from the dealership here. It had been in the shop for repairs. Rickerd said the ring of thieves was described as an “organized group of between 10 and 15 individuals.”

In their heist in Owensville, something apparently spooked the thieves as a utility vehicle was found running outside the store and another mower had been left on the loading dock where it had been moved. A previous theft of a skid steer was reported.