Accused shoplifters caught on river

Two alleged thieves stole about $1,000 in gear from the Fly Fisher's Place in Sisters, then asked for directions to a good fishing hole.

They were caught with their waders down.

Justin J. Hayes, 18, and Hans Kengle, 17, both of Springfield, Oregon, were at the store on September 30. According to store owner Jeff Perin, one of the two asked an employee to demonstrate a fly rod. The employee and that young man went out back to cast.

The other apparently loaded items from the store into the trunk of their car.

But they also asked for a recommendation on where to fish along the Metolius River. When the theft was discovered, owners Jeff and Renee Perin and employee Taylor Geraths decided to do a little fishing themselves.

The two from Springfield were right where they had been told the fish might be biting.

Renee Perin went along the river and confirmed that a coat worn by one of the young men appeared to be the one missing from the store. The Jefferson County Sheriff's deputy was contacted.

When the deputy arrived, he questioned the two young men.

"I explained to them that the jacket that was stolen was remarkably like what one of them had on...eventually, they admitted they had taken everything," said the deputy.

That included one wading shoe out of a pair. The other was back at the store, on display.

The jacket, waders and wading shoes, valued at $924, were taken into evidence. The two were arrested and cited for a class "C" felony.