At 12:15 a.m., Thursday, a man was seen loading DeWalt tools into his vehicle, according to Lt. Kurt Moldrup of the RCPD.
The man had collected tools that had been blown out of the Water’s True Value Hardware store that was destroyed by the tornado. Members of the community saw the man, confronted him and held him until police arrived to take him away.
“They took his keys from him and didn’t let him leave,” Moldrup said.
He also said the man was not physically detained, but a large number of people coerced him to wait for the police. The second report of looting came from an officer in plain clothes.
The officer saw a man pick up a 12-inch Mikata carbide blade and put it into his vehicle. Due to the tornado, police were needed elsewhere, and the man’s information was obtained by the police; a warrant will be issued for his arrest.
Moldrup said with all found property, an attempt must be made to find the owner and if one is not made, the act is labeled as theft.