A Nappanee man was arrested Tuesday on two counts of burglary, a level 5 felony, and two counts of theft, a level 6 felony.
Joshua Cain Kauffman, 35, of 6973 W. CR 800N, Nappanee, was arrested at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday.
According to a probable cause affidavit from the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office, on July 11 Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department officers responded to a generator being stolen in Kosciusko County.
The victim told police she observed a teal/green colored pickup truck pull into her driveway. She witnessed a male subject get out of the truck, walk into her barn, and carry out her generator. She watched the man load it into his truck and drive off. She was able to retrieve a partial license plate number off his vehicle.
KCSD Detective Shane Bucher met with the victim July 18. She told Bucher that on July 15, she saw the truck that was on her property traveling on Beach Road. She was able to get the full license plate number, which she provided to police. The registered owner of the truck came back as Kauffman.
On July 16, another individual contacted the KCSD to report her generator was stolen from her front yard. KCSD officer Matthew Holderman responded to the report and observed vehicle tracks in front of where the generated had been located.
On July 18, Bucher met with Kauffman, who admitted he had stolen five generators in Kosciusko County, including the two in question. He advised he steals generators from the Amish because they do not have phones and would be less like to prosecute.
Kauffman told Bucher he sold all five generators to World Wide Pawn between July 9 and July 13, which was confirmed by the pawn shop. Kauffman also admitted to stealing a chain saw and trimmer from another Kosciusko County resident and also selling those items to World Wide Pawn.
Kauffman is being held in the Kosciusko County Jail on a $10,250 bond.
