Anoka County reels in stolen ice-fishing gear

Suspected teenage thieves fall for trap -- hook, line and sinker.

Last update: April 18, 2008 - 11:29 PM

This is a fishing tale of two teenagers suspected of robbery. But after taking the bait, they are the ones who didn't get away.

Having allegedly stolen more than $20,000 worth of fishing equipment from an Andover house, the teens are suspected of placing six ice-fishing rods and reels, an ice-fishing case, a fish locator and an ice augur on the website Craigslist to sell.

What they didn't know was that an interested buyer, who arranged Sunday to meet the suspected burglars in Oak Grove, was an Anoka County investigator who was acting on behalf of the owner of the custom-made fishing equipment, Anoka County deputy James Stuart said Friday.

When deputies met the teens at an Oak Grove business site, they found the fishing gear that Richard Rosar, 45, of Andover, had been missing since thieves entered his three-car garage on March 28.

The teenagers apparently placed an ad on the Craigslist website on April 1. When Rosar learned of the ad, he called Anoka County authorities.

The teenagers -- one from East Bethel and the other from Andover -- have yet to be charged, the Anoka County attorney's office said Friday.

PAUL LEVY