Craigslist Leads Troopers to Kenai Theft Suspect

Ad image for stolen plasma cutter. Image-Craigslist
Ad image for stolen plasma cutter. Image-Craigslist

It was on Wednesday that troopers received a call reporting stolen items from a victim in Nikiski, north of Kenai.

Troopers   opened an investigation into the theft incident. The victim reported that assorted tools, as well as a Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster plasma cutter were taken from Baker Hughes in Nikiski. The value of the items were estimated to be approximately $1,800.

After discovering that an ad for the plasma cutter was on Craigslist, Patrol Troopers, and members of the Alaska State Troopers Criminal Suppression Detail,traveled to a residence on St. Joseph Street, where the plasma cutter was ultimately recovered.

On Craigslist on Thursday morning, an ad for the plasma cutter was still visible on the online buy, sell, trade site. The ad lists the the images of the cutter with a message that the item was listed as “**Apparently Stolen**.” The contact name available for the post was “Troll,” with no contact info available.

Further investigation would result in the arrest of 37-year-old Jason McCormick of Kenai on charges of Theft II, according to the trooper dispatch.

McCormick was transported to the Wildwood Pretrial Facility and held without bail.

The investigation into the theft is continuing.