Victim’s nephew arrested in connection with stolen truck, safe

A Corbin man was arrested Friday in connection with the theft of a pickup truck and safe belonging to his uncle in Knox County.

Thirty-seven-year-old Timothy L. Havens is charged with receiving stolen property – firearm, receiving stolen property under $10,000 theft by unlawful taking of the value of $500 or more but less than $10,000 and third-degree possession of a controlled substance.

Havens was reportedly tied to the December 23 theft from Jim Havens’ residence on Swan Pond Road south of Barbourville through a tip that has been under investigation by Kentucky State Police.

According to Trooper Shane Jacobs, public affairs officer at Post 10 in Harlan, Trooper Josh Cox determined that in the early morning hours of December 23, someone broke into the garage and took a large safe containing a large amount of cash, gold, coins and guns.

Jacobs said the burglar(s) loaded the safe into Jim Havens’ 2003 Ford F-150 pickup truck that was parked in the driveway.

Jim Havens said the perpetrator(s) put a log chain around the 1,000-pound safe and used the truck to haul the it to the bottom of the driveway where an incline made it easier to load.

“Evidence from the scene indicates that the stolen truck and safe traveled out of Swan Pond Road and onto Ky. 11 south toward Whitley County,” Jacobs stated adding the truck was located on Tyes Ferry Road in Rockholds on December 26.

The perpetrator(s) had burned the truck.

Jim Havens said the safe was recovered Sunday but it had been cut open and the contents removed.

“Everything is gone,” Jim Havens said noting one of the guns, a Colt Model 1911 .45-caliber pistol, had been given to him by a neighbor that was carrying it at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked on Dec. 7, 1941.

“It actually still had the original ammunition,” Jim Havens said. “That gun meant a lot to me.”

Jim Havens said there were 75 guns, more than 100 knives, along with assorted jewelry and coins inside.

“That is the accumulation of over 30 years,” Jim Havens said.

Trooper Cox is continuing the investigation.

Jim Havens said he believes others were involved in the burglary and is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to their arrest and conviction.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Post 10 in Harlan at (606) 573-3131

Recovered the safe. Got it open. Everything is gone.

Timothy Havens is being held in the Whitley County Detention Center on a $50,000 cash bond.

Timothy Havens is scheduled to return to Whitley District Court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing to determine whether there is probable cause to present the case to a Whitley County Grand Jury.