Investigation of stolen Central Texas corn narrows

By LORI COPE | East Texas Edition

Jan. 27, 2005 - The cases of stolen corn, taken from three facilities in Texas in mid-January, are being investigated by police, and investigations are narrowing to one suspect, according to information released Jan. 21.

Large quantities of corn have been stolen from holding facilities in Ganado, Holland, and Taylor. Investigations are indicating the suspect, or suspects, has knowledge of loading out and hauling corn. All the corn stolen has been taken from gravity flow bins, which do not require electrical power to operate.

Police investigation in the stolen corn cases began in Ganado on Jan. 11. As the investigation advances, the search for the suspect narrows.

"I am looking for a guy. I can put him up there (Williamson and Bell counties) when their corn was stolen," said Norman Glaze, Ganado police chief, on Jan. 21. "And we are continuing to look for where the corn was taken."

After the two 18-wheeler loads of corn were stolen from Rice Belt Warehouse in Ganado, Texas Grain and Feed Association (TGFA) posted notice of the theft to all its members, and soon, similar incidents were reported.

The night of Jan. 13, a load of corn was stolen from Williamson County Grain in Taylor. Over the Jan. 15-16 weekend, as many as four loads of corn were stolen from the Holland Exchange facility in Holland.

An attempt to steal corn was also made over the Jan. 15-16 weekend at Granger Farm Products in Granger. "Luckily, my three bins were below level and couldn't be emptied simply by pulling the load chain," Jody Prinz, manager of Granger Farm Products, told TGFA.

Prinz noted the thief was successful at the company's facility in Holland, though. "We're thinking he took as many as four loads," he said on Jan. 20. "The USDA is sending someone out to measure the tanks so we can get an accurate amount."

While Prinz noted this is the first time this type of theft has occurred at the companies' facilities, Joe Mueck, general manager of Williamson County Grain, said they had a similar theft about 15 years ago. "And they never caught the guy," he added.

Prinz added that when their company set up the gravity flow bins about three years ago, the security of the spouts was questioned. "We said, then, that we wished there was a better way to lock these. Anyone could pull the chain (to release the corn, and gravity takes it down the spout for loading). ... Someone could load (a trailer) in about five minutes."

Investigations into the case in Holland also note the theft may have occurred in mid-afternoon on Saturday, Jan. 15. "Even though we're not open on weekends this time of year," Prinz said, "no one would really be suspicious of a trailer getting loaded during the day."

Police have also said they are looking for the trailer, which was reportedly under a lease agreement to a person. That person is sought for questioning.

"I sure hope this doesn't continue," Mueck added. "With all the gravity flows in the area, ... it's just easy to take from them."

Anyone with information about the thefts are asked to contact the Holland Police Department at 254-657-8161 or the Ganado Police Department at 361-771-2800.