Rash of thefts hits Columbus

Thieves have victimized three Columbus businesses in a six-day span, resulting in money and property loss.
The first burglary was reported on Dec. 2 at 4:26 a.m. when a shift manager at McDonalds arrived to open the store and found all the money in the drawers and safe had been taken out, according to Stillwater County Dispatch records.
It appeared as if the safe had been left open by the burglars. Columbus police were called to the scene to collect evidence, which included surveillance video showing three suspects committing the crime. Also seen from the surveillance video is the getaway, which appears to be a white or light colored older model SUV.
Columbus police and McDonalds are offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the people involved in the burglary. All questions should be directed to the Columbus Police Department at 322-5313 or the joint city-county dispatch center at 322-5326.
This past Sunday, Dec. 8, thieves stole two vehicles, a trailer and thousands of dollars in tools and equipment from the Town of Columbus and R & H Concrete. Those thefts weren’t discovered locally until Billings authorities contacted dispatch reporting Yellowstone County Sheriff’s deputies had found property belonging to Stillwater County, according to dispatch records.
That property included a truck belonging to the Town of Columbus Public Works, a van from R&H, as well as a trailer, generators, a compressor and numerous construction tools, according to dispatch records.
All the stolen property was found near Bitterroot Road, which is located between Billings Heights and Sheperd. A witness reported seeing four individuals near the stolen property, according to dispatch records. Yellowstone County authorities took all the property to their impound lots for Columbus police.
Investigators do not believe the McDonalds burglary and the Dec. 8 thefts are related.