Burglars ransack Stanton overnight

STANTON — Three possibly separate criminal incidents occurred after midnight Monday in Stanton.

A burglary occurred at the Farmers Mutual Telephone Company of Stanton located in the 400 block of Broad Ave. A Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department investigation concluded the burglar(s) entered the building through a walk door and took tools and a computer from a vehicle then stole a grey 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 van. The estimated total value of the stolen items was $10,300.

While unable to confirm with local law enforcement, the same van was then used to break through the glass door of the Viking View gas station in Stanton, according to employee Josh Porter. 

Porter said their security footage revealed two masked men backing the van into the door. Once inside, they attempted to break into the ATM machine but were unsuccessful. Nothing else was stolen from the store.

Damage estimates at Viking View were not available.

The van was found south of Stanton on 240th St.

The sheriff’s department was not available for comment on the matter.

Also Monday morning, a vehicle was stolen from Bates Garage on Concord Ave. in Stanton. The burglar(s) took ared 1994 Ford Ranger pickup belonging to Kenneth Blair of Council Bluffs.

The vehicle was then driven north of Stanton on Harvard Ave. where it was crashed into a utility pole. The vehicle was located about half a mile from the accident.

Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $2,000 and there was about $1,100 in damage to the utility pole.

Anyone with information on any of the incidents is asked to contact the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at 623-5107 or Montgomery County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-432-1001.