Midwest Energy Offers $1,000 Reward in Colby Metal Theft

Midwest Energy is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the theft of several brass switch tops earlier this month, from a storage yard near Colby.

Sometime between Sept. 1 and Sept. 13, thieves cut the fence at a Midwest Energy outdoor storage facility in the 1200 block of North Franklin, just North of the Colby city limits.  They pried opened several storage crates containing electrical switches.  Thieves stole the brass tops from a dozen switches, valued at over $10,000, rendering them useless in the event of a storm or an outage.  

The Thomas County Sheriff’s Department is leading the investigation into the theft.  

“The switch tops themselves have no other application, other than as scrap metal,” said Chris Gerstner, Colby Operations Manager for Midwest Energy.  The scrap value of the metal is minimal, estimated at less than $300.  Scrap dealers in Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado are aware of the theft, and are looking for persons trying to sell the uniquely shaped items. 

Anyone with information on the theft is encouraged to contact Det. Mark Finley at the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office at 785-460-4570.  Tips can be made anonymously.

For more information, contact Mike Morley at (785) 639-3100.