Stolen UTV Recovered in Rural Marion County
Photo Courtesy of the Edina Police Department
By Echo Menges
Edina, MO – Friday, July 19, 2024 – A utility vehicle (UTV) stolen in Edina in the early morning hours of June 26 has been recovered.
According to the Edina Police Chief Ryan Bishop, the 2007 John Deere Gator XUV was stolen from The Farm Shop on the east end of town. The UTV was recovered on Sunday, July 14.
“An observant Marion County citizen spotted the UTV along the edge of a farm field. The citizen was aware it was stolen because of news and social media posts, and contacted me shortly after finding it,” EPD Chief Bishop told The Edina Sentinel. “I contacted the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and they went to the location and confirmed the side-by-side was the one stolen from Edina. They made arrangements to recover it. The Farm Shop picked the UTV up at the MCSO on Monday, July 15.”
The recovered UTV was not damaged. Bishop believes the abandonment of the UTV by the thief or thieves is due to the fast response of the community and news gatherers who helped spread the message that it was stolen.
“The investigation is ongoing,” said Bishop.
He declined to comment on whether any suspects are being investigated at this time.
There have been several stolen vehicles taken from Edina throughout the spring and summer of this year.
The community is reminded to protect themselves from theft by putting items of value away and removing the keys from all motorized vehicles including cars, trucks, motorcycles, sport utility vehicles, golf carts, and lawn mowers.
