Stolen truck located; arrest made

Pictured is the stolen truck and trailer, which was recovered Friday in South St. Louis County.

It appears the case of a white 2015 Chevrolet Silverado and attached 16-foot trailer stolen Monday while parked on a field road off Steppig Road in rural Columbia has been solved.

The owner of the truck, Delbert Wittenauer, said he drove his Polaris Ranger from the trailer to conduct work on the nearby levee and when he returned in the afternoon, his truck was gone.

The truck was unlocked with its keys inside when stolen, Monroe County Sheriff Neal Rohlfing said. A handgun from inside Wittenauer’s truck was also stolen, the sheriff said, but the gun was found inside a separate stolen truck out of Hillsboro, Mo., that was recovered in this county. Police apprehended two suspects on Wednesday.

Rohlfing said Wittenauer’s truck was recovered Friday in South St. Louis County.

“A guy we arrested Wednesday admitted to it and told us where it was,” Rohlfing said.

“Thanks to all involved with helping to help find my truck and return it,” Wittenauer posted Saturday on Facebook. “I was told that most of my possessions are still intact, although the trailer is still missing. I was afraid that my gun would be used for a crime, but instead it is one of the main reasons they knew he had something to do with my truck.”

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