Frio County sheriff’s deputies recovered two stolen welding machines this month, prompting the arrest of a Moore man and an ongoing investigation into a Lytle man.
According to a report filed at the sheriff’s office, deputies were dispatched to a residence along FM 462 on Saturday, November 15, after the homeowners reported stolen property.
Deputies arrived at the home to learn that the theft victim’s uncle, 47-year-old Loran Theybig, had allegedly stolen and then pawned a Lincoln electric welder.
According to the report on the case, Theybig, who lives on the property, admitted to investigating deputies that he had stolen and pawned the equipment in order to buy food.
Theybig was transported to the Frio County Jail without further incident on a Class B misdemeanor charge for theft of property.
The sheriff’s department later recovered the welder from a pawn shop on Military Drive in San Antonio.
In a separate incident, a report was made after a routine inspection by a foreman noted that a work truck parked at a secured job site at the intersection of Hwy 1582 and East Hwy 85 was missing a Lincoln Energy 200D welding machine.
The theft victim showed deputies a social media post generated by a 37-year-old Lytle man attempting to sell the stolen welder online.
Although deputies were unable to contact the man responsible for the social media post, they learned the welder was sold to a neighbor, the report showed, and investigating deputies recovered the stolen welder in Lytle at a newly built subdivision.
The sheriff’s office reports that the investigation remains ongoing.
