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Sikeston DPS reports the arrest of three Memphis men who stole a trailer full of cargo
SIKESTON - A tip led to the arrest of three men who stole a trailer filled with $70,000 worth of toilet paper.
Jimmie Smith, 51, of Memphis is charged with the felonies of theft/stealing of more than $25,000 and first degree tampering with a motor vehicle and Markel A. Eskridge, 42, and Eugene Pickens, 36, also both of Memphis, are each charged with the felony of theft/stealing more than $25,000. The three men, who have a set at $15,000 cash only bond, are awaiting their arraignment.
According to Capt. Jim McMillen, Sikeston Department of Public Safety public information officer, Sikeston DPS received an anonymous tip of possible thefts that may occur at a local trucking company in the Sikeston area.
"There wasn't much detail about the information so DPS began working to identify and monitor the various trucking companies in our area," McMillen said.
Around 4 a.m. Sunday DPS officers along with members of the the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Commercial Motor Vehicle Division and Division of Drug and Crime Control were conducting surveillance when they observed a semi-tractor pull onto the lot of a local trucking business followed by another vehicle. Three people exited the vehicles and began hooking the semi-tractor to a fully loaded trailer, McMillen reported.
"It took less than five minutes for the subjects to have the vehicle hooked to the trailer and they began pulling out of the lot with the now stolen trailer," McMillen said.
Officers from the surveillance detail conducted a vehicle stop in New Madrid County on both the semi-tractor and the following vehicle. Smith, Eskridge and Pickens were arrested for the theft.
According to McMillen, the trailer was fully loaded with toilet paper with a wholesale value around $70,000. Additionally, the semi-tractor was determined to be stolen Sunday night from a Memphis area trucking company.
The investigation is continuing, McMillen said, to determine if the three men are part of any other area thefts. Also he said DPS is contacting other area law enforcement officials to determine if they had any similar thefts.