Agencies work together to catch alleged thief

By Kim Walter -- kwalter@nvdaily.com

FRONT ROYAL -- The Front Royal and Norfolk Southern Railroad Police Departments have charged a Front Royal man with 13 felony and 13 misdemeanor charges, according to a news release sent out by the Front Royal Police Department Tuesday.

The release says that a citizen found property, including lawn and garden equipment and a new love seat, along railroad tracks by the West 15th Street school on April 6. Officers responded and collected the items for evidence.

The investigation has since led to additional stolen property, as well as charges against Michael Creed Smith, 20, of West 14th Street in Front Royal. Smith is scheduled to appear in Warren County District Court on May 22 at 10 a.m.

The next day, an officer found that similar items were for sale on a website, and from there was able to locate the owner as a Front Royal resident.

In their initial investigation, Front Royal police found that the items could have been taken from a boxcar on Norfolk Southern Railroad property. The area police department was then contacted and became the lead investigating agency, the release says.

The release also states that additional charges are pending against a 15 year old who was also involved in the thefts.