By Greg Grisolano
ggrisolano@joplinglobe.com
A man who left his vehicle running while he ran into a convenience store for an early New Year’s Day snack returned to find his truck missing.
Two Joplin men have been arrested in connection with the theft of the truck and also a gas theft, according to the Joplin Police Department.
Travis S. Wyrick, 22, and Lucas E. Simonds, 21, were booked early Thursday at the Joplin City Jail, said police Cpl. Dave Lewis.
Charges of tampering with a vehicle are being sought against Wyrick at the circuit court level, and he was charged with multiple misdemeanor offenses at the city level, including driving while intoxicated, driving with a revoked license and petty larceny, Lewis said.
Simonds is charged with two counts of larceny and one count of misdemeanor tampering. Both men remained in custody.
Lewis said officers responded to a report of a vehicle theft at 1:01 a.m. Thursday at Snak-Atak, 2307 W. Seventh St. A man told police that he had left his pickup truck running while he ran inside for snacks, and that he returned and saw the vehicle being driven north down Monroe Avenue.
An assistant manager showed officers surveillance footage that gave them a description of the suspected thieves.
Police were called about an hour later to another convenience store at 1930 S. Schifferdecker Ave. Suspects matching the description of Wyrick and Simonds allegedly drove off without paying for about $19 in gasoline.
The men eventually were pulled over at 3:50 a.m. and arrested by officers patrolling near Northpark Mall.
