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KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- Kirksville Police say they have solved the mystery as to who is stealing cars around town.

Police have in custody Esa Cone, 17, of Hartsburg, Mo.  He was arrested Aug. 31 and is charged with three counts of stealing a motor vehicle, a class C felony.

According to court documents, Cone is accused of stealing a Mitsubishi Galant that was stolen from a residence on Kings Road on Aug. 27, along with a Dodge Ram, stolen from the 2100 block of S. Marion, and Oldsmobile Aurora, that was stolen from the 400 block of W. Michigan. Both the Dodge Ram and the Oldsmobile Aurora were reported stolen Aug. 31.

According to Deputy Chief Tim King, the Mitsubishi Galant was recovered Aug. 30 in Moberly.

Police were able to arrest Cone after Macon County deputies stopped him while he was allegedly driving the stolen Dodge Ram and involved in a gas drive-off.

18-year-old Tylor Collier and a juvenile were also allegedly in the vehicle and were arrested. Collier is no longer in custody.

Police are reminding everyone to lock their vehicles and take their valuables inside at night. The owners of the Mitsubishi Galant left the keys in the ignition and the doors unlocked while the car was parked at their residence overnight. The owner of the Oldsmobile Aurora said she possibly left her keys in the vehicle.