Staff Report

Jacob Lewis Larkin

NORTH WEBSTER — An Albion man was arrested after allegedly stealing a vehicle with a missing tire from a local wrecker service.

Jacob Lewis Larkin, 28, 1126 E. Main St., Albion, is charged with auto theft, a level 6 felony; and driving while suspended, a class A misdemeanor.

On Feb. 15, a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s officer received a report of auto theft occurring at Holle’s Wrecker Service in Syracuse. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with a man who said a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado was dropped off to have a rear tire repaired.

According to court documents, the vehicle was left outside a gate with the keys in the vehicle on Feb. 14. When the man arrived at the business on Feb. 15, he noticed the vehicle was missing.

That same day, a North Webster Police officer was made aware of a truck operating on the road with only a rim on one of its back wheels. The officer went to Main Street in North Webster and found markings that appeared to be from a vehicle traveling on a rim. He followed the markings to a parking lot and found a Chevrolet truck missing a right rear tire.

The officer noticed Larkin walking away from the vehicle and approached him. During the interaction, Larkin said the vehicle could not be driven and requested it be towed. The officer also found Larkin’s driver’s license was suspended prior and that he was wanted on an arrest warrant.

While speaking with officers, Larkin said he was buying drugs at a residence and that after using drugs, he was told by a man to take the Chevy Silverado. Larkin described his travel route and also gave a location where the rear tire came off.

The officer traveled the area described by Larkin and found no evidence of a tire or evidence of the vehicle being driven on a rim.

Larkin was previously convicted of theft, burglary, auto theft and driving while suspended in 2020.

He has an initial hearing for this case at 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 22.