Police in Clear Lake have confirmed they have arrested two individuals in connection with the alleged theft of a watercraft, according to local sources. Two men, aged 24 and 37, as well as an unidentified woman, were taken into custody by Iowa authorities after being charged with felony second-degree theft, as well as conspiracy to commit a non-forcible felony. The older man is set to appear in court on Sept. 14, but no court date has been set for the younger man or the woman at this time.
Police say they were alerted to a Sea-Doo watercraft and accompanying trailer that were believed to have been stolen from a parking lot near Highway 18. The owner had apparently left the vehicle there with a prominent “for sale” sign posted in hopes of attracting interest. Video surveillance obtained by police showed a man and a woman in the parking lot, hooking the trailer with the Sea-Doo on board to a vehicle, then driving away.
Authorities turned to Facebook, where they posted still images from the surveillance and asked community residents to help identify the suspects. Residents called in to identify the two men almost immediately, as well as a woman allegedly involved in the theft. The two men allegedly admitted stealing the Sea-Doo to police, but this has yet to be corroborated.
Admission of a crime is not the same as a confession and cannot be used to prove that either man actually had anything to do with the felony. It will be up to Iowa prosecutors to provide compelling evidence in court that proves these men were complicit in the alleged theft. Each individual will be represented by his own criminal defense attorney, who will also review the facts of the case in an effort to counter the prosecution’s charges with a strong defense.
