Two Arrested in 12 Franklin County Burglaries

Franklin County detectives solved a series of recent residential burglaries this week with the arrest of a Union area man.

A felony warrant issued Wednesday charges Joseph R. Lauth, 27, Hickory Ridge Road, with one count each of second-degree burglary and theft of a firearm. A $25,000 cash-only bond was set in the case.

Lauth has admitted to committing 12 burglaries in recent weeks, authorities said.  

Prosecuting Attorney Bob Parks said he plans to issue additional charges in the case.

Authorities said Lauth and a female accomplice, age 24 of Washington, were breaking into homes and stealing small items, primarily jewelry, and trading them in St. Louis for heroin.

The woman has not been charged yet in the case and her name was not released.

On Monday, Oct. 29, the sheriff’s office handled reports of four burglaries at homes in the area of Forest Hills subdivision and along Country Club Lane.

While investigating those burglaries, detectives received information from a witness who reported seeing a suspicious vehicle in the area.

The description matched a vehicle that was known to be used by a suspect in a narcotics investigation, the sheriff’s office said.

Deputies located the vehicle and questioned Lauth and the female.

Lauth told investigators that the female would knock on the front door of a home and if no one answered he would break in through a back door while she kept watch.

The suspect said he would steal small items then they would take them to St. Louis to trade for heroin.

Most of the burglaries occurred between Washington and Union, mainly in the Krakow area.

They all were daytime burglaries.