Police arrest two in $100,000 stolen property investigation

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus police arrested two men after a series of thefts from vehicles led investigators to more than $100,000 worth of stolen tools, authorities said.

Officers initially arrested Skyler Buckler on Aug. 20 after stopping a vehicle loaded with stolen tools, police said. Buckler was charged with receiving stolen property and released on bond two days later.

Investigators said they believed Buckler was likely to re-offend and began monitoring his vehicle. In the early hours of Aug. 27, officers conducted a traffic stop and detained Buckler and Jeremiah Buckler. Inside the vehicle, police recovered numerous suspected stolen tools, including a Spectra Geospatial Rover high-precision surveying receiver valued at $30,000 and Milwaukee tools worth $654.03.

According to police, some of the items had just been purchased by victims to replace equipment stolen weeks earlier. Officers said the investigation also linked the suspects to pawned stolen property, bringing the total value of recovered and confirmed stolen items to more than $100,000.

The suspects are expected to face additional charges as the investigation continues, police said.