08/12/2025
Two arrests have been made and a third arrest is pending following an investigation into several break-ins and thefts are area marinas that were reported in July.
Beginning on July 12, 2025, the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office began taking reports of boats at several marinas on Lake Norfork being unlawfully entered and various items stolen from them. These included thefts from the Cranfield Marina, Lake Norfork Marina, and the Panther Bay Marina.
At least seven different victims were identified. Items stolen included thousands of dollars worth of fishing poles, tackle boxes, lures, GPS devices, and other fishing and boating gear.
The Sheriff’s Office began investigating these crimes, including obtaining video footage from the surveillance systems at these various marinas. Three male suspects were captured on video as being involved in these break-ins and thefts. They were seen to be in a four door gold passenger vehicle, later identified as a 2004 Lexus. Images of these suspects were posted on social media in an effort to identify them.
During the investigation, it was learned from video that one of these suspects had used a credit card at a local retailer to purchase a bottle of water. Investigators contacted the bank through which the credit card had been issued and were able to obtain the name of the card holder.
Sheriff’s Investigators then performed a “Leads Online” national search for the suspect to see if he had pawned any of the items that had been stolen. This suspect was determined to have pawned items at a pawn shop in Independence, Missouri and had been accompanied by another male while doing so. The pawn shop also indicated that another law enforcement agency, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office in Kansas, had already contacted the pawn shop in regards to another case they were working on involving the same suspect.
Baxter County Investigators made contact with Douglas County, Kansas authorities and began sharing information. Two persons had already been arrested in Douglas County for boat dock thefts in that jurisdiction. Much of the property stolen in Baxter County had been found and seized by Douglas County. Baxter County Investigators traveled to Douglas County last week and recovered that property so it could be returned to the owners. The investigation was able to determine the identity of all three suspects, and Baxter County Investigators obtained warrants for their arrests.
Two of them, 19 year old LUKAS TREY HELM of Olathe, Kansas and 20 year old DANE PHILLIP CHRISTENSEN of Lenexa, Kansas have surrendered themselves to the Baxter County Detention Center where they were each booked on charges of:
Breaking or Entering (8 counts) – Felonies
Theft of Property (5 counts) – Felonies
Theft of Property (1 count) – Misdemeanor
Criminal Trespass (4 counts) – Misdemeanors
LUKAS HELM and DANE CHRISTENSEN were released from custody after posting $15,000 bond each. They will appear before the Baxter County Circuit Court to answer on August 25th.
A bench warrant remains outstanding for the third suspect, 19 year old MACGYVER MICHAEL SABIN of Gardner, Kansas.