Pair arrested in connection with string of burglaries

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A McCook couple has been arrested and are each being held on a $100,000 or 10 percent bond stemming from their alleged connection with recent burglaries in McCook, Furnas County and Oberlin, Kansas.

Police say the couple, 36-year-old Hap Wells and 36-year-old Tammy Knight, were implicated by evidence obtained at the scene of a reported burglary at McCorkle Motors, Monday morning.

After investigating the crime scene at the used car dealer, McCook Police Department detectives worked with the McCook transfer station to examine trash from the suspects' residence. According to police detectives the contents of the dumpster provided evidence implicating the couple in multiple burglaries in McCook and Oberlin.

Detectives were able to locate a witness who aided in obtaining search warrants for the couples' two vehicles, their home and a storage unit, with alleged evidence obtained connecting the couple to several other burglaries.

McCook has seen a rash of businesses burglarized over the last several months, in some cases the same business being broken into multiple times, and Oberlin has reported at least five burglaries since the beginning of November.

McCook Police Detective Larry Kinne said that so far, the couple has been linked to burglaries at McCorkle Motors, Quality Irrigation and two break-ins at Stockman's Feed & Supply. "We will continue to investigate to clear up as many burglaries in McCook as we can," said Kinne, who added that additional charges from the Red Willow County Sheriff's Department were possible as well.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed in Red Willow County Court Wednesday, Wells faces seven felonies and one misdemeanor:

Four counts of Class III felony burglary; two counts of Class III felony theft by receiving stolen property; one count of Class IV felony theft by receiving stolen property; and one Class II misdemeanor count of theft by receiving stolen property.

Knight faces five felonies and one misdemeanor:

Class III felony burglary; Class IV felony aiding consummation of felony; two counts of Class III felony theft by receiving stolen property; Class IV felony theft by receiving stolen property; and one Class II misdemeanor count of theft by receiving stolen property.