Joshua Cain Kauffman

WARSAW —  A Nappanee resident was arrested earlier this month after a string of burglaries in rural Kosciusko County.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, a homeowner told police she saw a teal or green-colored pickup truck pull into her driveway Monday evening, July 11. The driver left the truck, went into her barn and returned, carrying the generator, which he loaded into the truck before driving off.

The homeowner was able to jot down only a partial license plate number. However, she later saw the truck again, traveling on the road, and was able to copy it down in full. She met July 16, with officers from the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, who traced the number back to Joshua Cain Kauffman, 35, 6943 W. CR 800N, Nappanee.

Officers spoke Monday, July 18, with Kauffman, who told them he had stolen a number of generators in northern Kosciusko County. He admitted he specifically targeted the Amish, believing they would be less likely to prosecute because they do not keep phones in their homes.

An officer drove Kauffman around the rural area and he pointed out where he had stolen the generators from. Officers spoke with one other individual, who told them his generator had been stolen the night of July 8. In all, Kauffman named five different homes where he had stolen generators, including one from his father.

Kauffman also confessed to having stolen a microwave oven, a chainsaw and a trimmer.

Kauffman told police he had sold the generators, the chain saw and the trimmer at World Wide Pawn and the microwave to a private individual.

Kauffman was booked July 26, in the Kosciusko County Jail on two counts of burglary, a level 5 felony, and two counts of theft, a level 6 felony. His bond was set at $10,250 surety and cash.