Two Des Moines men were arrested Thursday in connection with the theft Feb. 7 of a trailer and tens of thousand dollars worth of tools from a West Des Moines construction site.
Francisco Camacho, 34, of 2051 S.E. King Ave., Des Moines, was arrested on a Dallas County warrant for probation violation on an original charge of third-degree burglary and was charged with first-degree theft and third-degree burglary.
Ali Lufti Salih, 33, of 2051 S.E. King Ave., Des Moines, was charged with first-degree theft and third-degree burglary.
The incident began about 12:45 a.m. Feb. 7 in the 1200 block of S. Jordan Creek Parkway, where the Strathmore apartment complex is under construction.
According to court records, surveillance video showed Camacho and Salih allegedly stealing “a flatbed trailer” and “numerous pieces of tools and equipment that were valued at more than $35,000.”
The vehicle used to haul away the stolen trailer was later located outside an apartment complex in the 2000 block of S.E. King Avenue in Des Moines, where Camacho and Salih reside, according to court records.
A search warrant was ordered and executed by officers of the West Des Moines Police Department for the vehicle and the residence, and the search disclosed “numerous items stolen from Strathmore apartments” and “other items stolen from construction sites across the Des Moines metro,” according to court records.
“Both Salih and Camacho provided statements that each other had possessed the various stolen items that were recovered during the search warrant,” according to court records.
Salih is held in the Dallas County Jail on a $15,000 cash or surety bond. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Feb. 22 in Dallas County District Court.
Camacho is held in the Dallas County Jail on a $20,000 cash-only bond. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Feb. 22 in Dallas County District Court.
Camacho was convicted of second-degree theft in 2020 in Polk County District Court. He was convicted of two counts of third-degree fraud in 2019 in Polk County District Court.
*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is innocent until and unless proven guilty.
