Alaska State Troopers recovered two stolen vehicles in Nikiski two days after a town hall meeting addressed recent thefts in the area.
Troopers received a report that a 2002 Chevrolet truck was stolen from a residence on South Miller Loop on Sept. 25. The owner of the vehicle, Luke VanCurler, told troopers his girlfriend’s cousin, Corey Green, had spent the night and when they awoke the next morning, the truck and Green were gone along with VanCurler’s wallet and his girlfriend’s cellphone, according to a trooper affidavit.
Troopers received an anonymous tip two days later that Green and the truck were in the Cabin Lake Drive area in North Kenai. Green was inside the truck when troopers located it and said the truck broke down and he was unable to return it. Green had VanCurler’s wallet and credit cards. He told the troopers the cellphone was taken by a man he was hanging out with, but couldn’t recall the man’s name, according to the report.
VanCurler and his girlfriend told the troopers Green was not given permission to take the truck and that he had stolen from his cousin before.
Green, 21, of Nikiski, was arrested for vehicle theft in the first-degree and theft in the second-degree. Theft 1 is a B felony and carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison and maximum $250,000 fine. Theft 2 is a C felony and carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and up to $100,000 fine.
Green is currently jailed at Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
Last September, Green was convicted on felony probation for theft in the second-degree. His latest arrest is a parole violation.
On Sept. 26, troopers located a vehicle in Nikiski that appeared to be stolen. The registered owner, from Anchor Point, said the vehicle should have been in his garage, according to a trooper dispatch.
Troopers in Anchor Point responded to the garage with the owner and discovered the vehicle was stolen and saw signs of forced entry. The owner reported more than $2,000 worth of tools had been stolen, along with two new generators. The vehicle was returned to the owner. Troopers are continuing the investigation of the incident.
Reach Dan Balmer at daniel.balmer@peninsulaclarion.com.
