KANSAS COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM BUSINESS Investigators: Arson cause of fire at TatroFriday, April 9, 2004 2:05:37 PMInvestigators: Arson cause of fire at Tatro



Posted on Friday, April 9, 2004 2:05:37 PM
knelson@gctelegram.com

A suspected arson fire at Tatro Plumbing last night did more than $100,000 in damage at the business that has been in Garden City for more than 40 years.

Finney County Sheriff's Office investigators suspect the fire might have been a cover up for a burglary, where computer equipment was stolen out of the company's office, Sheriff Kevin Bascue said.

The building at 3997 Buffalo Jones Ave. was seen burning about 11 p.m., Fire Chief Allen Shelton said. The blaze was reported by a renter who lives in one of the three trailers leased on the property, said Carl Otero, Tatro service manager.

Sheriff's office investigators believe one of the other renters, a 23-year-old man, broke into the building and stole about $3,000 worth of computer equipment and tools, Bascue said. They also suspect the man started several fires inside the building between 10 and 11 p.m.

The man is in the Finney County Jail for an unrelated traffic warrant and hasn't been arrested in connection with the robbery or arson. But, Bascue said, the man could be charged with criminal trespassing, arson and burglary upon completion of the investigation. The stolen property has been recovered.

It was just last week when Tatro Plumbing Co. Inc.'s longtime owners, Jim Johnson and Bob Kreutzer, sold the firm to its 30 employees through an employee stock option program. Most all of those employees came to the fire last night, Otero said, because "everyone has a big stake in this investment here."

In addition to the building damage, three of the business' 12 trucks also were severely burned, Otero said. He said he suspected fires had been started in the trucks' seat upholstery. Some propane tanks that are attached to each of the vehicles ignited, complicating putting out the fire, Otero said. Propane fires can't be put out with water, so the blaze only could be contained, not put out. Sheriff's office reports show that two of the pickups were destroyed; a GMC and a Dodge worth $12,000 and $10,000. The Fire Department's ongoing investigation estimated there was more than $100,000 in damage to the building structure and contents all together, Shelton said.