COLUMBUS, Ind. — One man is in jail after the theft of a truck while the owner was warming it up, according to Columbus police.
At 7:40 p.m. Saturday, CPD officers were dispatched to the 200 block of Hege Avenue for an auto theft, said Lt. Skylar Berry Columbus Police Department spokesman. When they arrived, they found Robert Kanehl, 24 of Columbus, being restrained by another man. After gathering more information, officers learned that a resident there had gone outside to start his Silverado and allow it to warm up. While he was clearing the snow from the truck, he saw Robert walk by and the two exchanged hellos. A few minutes later, the owner of the truck was shoveling snow nearby when Robert got into the Silverado and started to speed off. However, he drove the truck into a nearby ditch and it got stuck. The owner was able to get the truck door open, remove Robert, and restrain him until officers arrived.
Robert was arrested for the preliminary charge of theft of a motor vehicle, a level 6 felony. He remains in the Bartholomew County Jail.
Columbus police advise if you are warming your vehicle up in cold weather, try to lock the vehicle with a spare set of keys and make sure no one is watching you.
You can report suspicious activity by calling 9-1-1 or dispatch center’s nonemergency line at 812-379-1689.
