CRAB ORCHARD, KY — A 1994 white Chevy pickup truck belonging to Barry Atkins was stolen from his home on Walnut Street in Crab Orchard sometime between midnight and 7 a.m. on Sept. 17, according to police.
Atkins said he stepped outside and realized the truck was gone. The theft has left him without his main way to get to work, and his boss has been driving him to Lasure’s, where he has worked for more than 20 years.
The City of Crab Orchard is asking residents to help look for the truck, and police have urged anyone with information to contact Police Chief Jimmy Gipson at Crab Orchard City Hall.
Atkins says the truck was his only transportation to work
Atkins described the loss as more than an inconvenience. He said the pickup was his only reliable way to get where he needs to go, making the theft an immediate problem for his daily routine and his job.
Because he no longer has the truck, his employer has stepped in to help by giving him rides to work. Atkins has been employed at Lasure’s for more than two decades, underscoring how important the vehicle was to keeping his schedule intact.
The disappearance happened overnight, leaving little time for anyone at the home to notice what had occurred. Police said the truck was taken sometime within the window between midnight and 7 a.m.
City officials are using Facebook to spread the search
Crab Orchard city officials posted about the theft on Facebook and asked the public to keep an eye out for the pickup. The effort is focused on gathering any tips that could help investigators identify where the truck may have gone.
Police said they do not have a photo of the vehicle, which may make the search harder. The missing truck has not been publicly described with additional identifying details beyond its year, make and color.
Anyone who believes they have seen the truck or knows something about the theft is being asked to contact Chief Gipson through Crab Orchard City Hall.
Recent thefts have added to Atkins’ frustration
Atkins said the truck is not the only property he has lost recently. He said four televisions have been stolen from his property over the last three months, adding to what he described as a series of troubling thefts.
One of those televisions was inside the truck when it was taken, meaning the pickup theft also carried away another item from his property. Atkins said the repeated losses have worn on him.
He said he wants the truck found and spoke about the toll of dealing with repeated stealing. For him, recovering the pickup would restore transportation and also help end a string of losses that has affected his home.
Police have not said whether there are suspects or leads
So far, authorities have not announced any arrests or named a suspect in the case. The public appeal suggests investigators are still trying to build leads around the time window when the truck disappeared.
With no photo available, police are relying on tips from neighbors and anyone who may have seen the pickup after it left Walnut Street. That kind of community help can be important in vehicle theft cases, especially when the vehicle is distinctive or tied to a small area.
For Atkins, the hope is simple: find the truck and bring an end to a theft that has made ordinary life harder.
What Crab Orchard residents are being asked to watch for
The truck is a 1994 white Chevy pickup, and police want the public to be alert for any sign of it. Even a small detail about where it was seen, parked or driven could help investigators narrow down the search.
Residents with information are being directed to Crab Orchard City Hall and Police Chief Jimmy Gipson. The city’s Facebook post is intended to widen the search beyond the immediate neighborhood where the theft happened.
Atkins said finding the vehicle would mean a great deal to him. Beyond the loss of the truck itself, he said he is tired of ongoing stealing around his property and wants the pickup returned.
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