(Aurora, Ind.) – Businesses in southeast Indiana may feel somewhat safer after detectives say they've solved a long string of burglaries.
Two Ripley County men are accused of breaking into nine businesses in Dearborn and Ohio counties. Dearborn County Special Crimes Unit detectives say 40-year-olds Robert L. Huntington, of Milan, and Michael W. Simers, of Osgood, would break into the businesses overnight and either crack or steal safes.
The properties the two men are accused of breaking into include Panama Pete’s Tanning Spa in Aurora on June 13; Laughery Valley Ag Co-Op in Dillsboro on July 27 and August 30; and a property owned by Harold Whisman in Dillsboro on September 23. In Ohio County, the victimized places included the TLC Car Wash and Rockies Bar on June 15, Rockies Bar again on July 23, and two occasions at Rising Sun American Legion Post #59 on September 13 and 17.
In Dearborn County, Huntington and Simers each face four counts of Burglary (Class C felony) and one count of Theft. The Ohio County charges include five counts of Burglary (Class C felony) and Theft (Class D felony).
The investigation into the thefts was led by special crimes unit detectives Shane McHenry with the Dearborn County Sheriff’s Department and Rodney Rimstidt of the Rising Sun Police Department. Dearborn-Ohio County Prosecutor Aaron Negangard credited the men for their work.
“Detectives McHenry and Rimstidt have done an excellent job with this investigation and should be commended for their tireless efforts on behalf of the victims of these crimes,” Negangard said.
Huntington was booked into jail at the Dearborn County Law Enforcement Center on Friday. He has been ordered held on $75,000 cash and $500,000 surety bond in Dearborn County and is still awaiting his initial appearance in Ohio County.
It was unclear if Simers has been apprehended as of Tuesday morning.
Anybody with more information on the burglaries is asked to call the Dearborn County Special Crimes Unit at (812) 537-3571. Callers can remain anonymous.
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