Two men were caught in the act of trying to steal a snowplow blade valued at $2,500 from the Watt’s Auto Truck Plaza on Wednesday.

Thursday, October 26, 2000

Two men were caught in the act of trying to steal a snowplow blade valued at $2,500 from the Watt’s Auto Truck Plaza on Wednesday. However, when owner Kermit Watts, who reported the attempted theft, told the men to stop what they were doing and wait there while he called the police, the two men fled the scene, according to the police report.

Watts gave a detailed description to police of the pick up truck the pair of would-be thieves was driving, and approximately an hour later an Olmsted County deputy reported that he had located the truck and attempted to stop it. The occupants then fled on foot.

Charles Robert Bale, 41, of Blooming Prairie, the passenger in the truck, was apprehended by one of the department’s dogs. The driver of the truck was not located.

Bale will be transported to Mower County for arraignment on the attempted felony theft after action on two other outstanding warrants – from Olmsted and Wabasha Counties – is taken.

The blue GMC pickup truck the men were driving was registered in the name of Sally McDonough of Mazeppa, Minn.