After a strange early-morning crime was captured on tape, Mankato West was forced to postpone a major game due to a $12,000 hockey stick theft in Minnesota.#Minnesota #Crime #News #MankatoMN
MANKATO, MNA — A strange event at a high school hockey tournament in Minnesota put the Mankato West team in a state of confusion when their bus unexpectedly lost $12,000 worth of hockey sticks. A Duluth man is currently being charged for his suspected involvement in the heist.
Theft Disrupts Mankato West Hockey Tournament
The Mankato West varsity hockey team landed at a motel in Duluth on December 27 in preparation for the Heritage Hockey Classic competition. While checking into the hotel, the team members left a bag of hockey sticks and the majority of their equipment on their bus. They found out the following day that the bag that contained sticks valued at $12,000 had been taken.
The squad had to postpone their match against Anoka due to the sudden defeat. They were unable to take part as scheduled since they couldn’t quickly replace the lost equipment.
Surveillance Footage Leads to Key Clues
Police looked at local CCTV footage and started an inquiry. On December 28, at around five in the morning, a guy was seen on camera approaching the bus.
The suspect was seen on camera taking the bag of hockey sticks and walking away. An hour or so later, he went back to the bus and tried to open the side storage compartments before he took the stolen bag and left again.
After talking to someone who claimed the bag had been thrown by the Chum food shelf next to a dumpster, officers eventually located it. Investigators were given a crucial lead by this discovery.
Suspect Identified and Charged
Cole Saice, 23, was contacted by Duluth police on December 30 in connection with an unrelated incident. Saice’s attire matched that of the culprit in the robbery’s security film.
Saice acknowledged stealing the bag when asked. He said to the cops that he had followed Bear’s directions and gone back to the bus. Additionally, Saice said that he had left the bag close to the Chum food shelf.
Saice was charged with one count of aiding and abetting attempted theft earlier this week in St. Louis County court.
CONNECTED TOPICS: Minnesota Crime
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