ELKINS, WV (LOOTPRESS) – An investigation is currently ongoing into the theft of 7 UTVs and an ATV from Elkins Motorsports on Monday.
According the Sheriff Rob Elbon of the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, on Monday, October 31, 2022 a call for service from Randolph County 911 was received for a breaking & entering situation at Elkins Motorsports located on the Beverly 5 lane.
The breaking & entering situation was reportedly not in progress at the time of the call, was had happened earlier during the am hours.
Upon his arrival at the scene, Deputy Elbon spoke with the owner of the business, Sterling Daniels, who informed Elbon of a large-scale theft which had occurred involving at least 4 UTVs.
At this point the owner and staff were in the process of gathering vin numbers and other vital information pertaining to the stolen vehicles so they could be listed as stolen in the NCIC.
Officers began to conduct a canvassing of surrounding businesses and residences for video footage so as to establish an accurate timeline of events.
Various video surveillance was captured and a timeline established.
A direction of travel was also determined, and several witness statements obtained.
It was eventually concluded following the collection of evidence that 7 UTVs and 1 ATV had been stolen from Elkins Motorsports.
Later, the sighting of 4 side-by-sides on US Route 33 coming off Isner Creek and going up the hill across from Smoke on the Water by citizens.
Based on this sighting, authorities pursued the TV’s into the mountain area above Isner Creek and into the Sky View area of Randolph County.
Deputies and city officers were on foot and on side-by-sides throughout the pursuit, but ultimately lost the ATV’s after several hours of searching in the rain and darkness.
On Monday, November 1, 2022 a call was received by 911 from a citizen reporting having found a UTV in an overgrown, wooded area.
Deputy Elbon responded to this scene and confirmed this was one of the stolen TV’s. The investigation continued as Sergeant B.W. Cogar, Corporal S.D. Kyle, Senior Deputies Z.T. Pingley, A.M. Channell and Deputy J.L Wolfe collected evidence at the scene.
This UTV was recovered, processed and returned to the owner.
Additional intel was received and 2 more TV’s and 1 ATV were recovered in a barn nearby on Isner Creek Road. These were recovered, processed and returned to the owner.
Corporal Kyle and Sergeant Cogar then ventured on foot throughout the Sky View area of Kelly Mountain and discovered the remaining 4 UTVs over the side of the mountain.
One UTV had been rolled over on its side and all were over the side of the mountain. All UTVs were recovered, processed and returned to the business owner.
The incident remains under investigation, and those with pertinent information are encouraged to contact law enforcement.
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