Missouri
Here’s how a $20 tracker cracked a massive theft operation in Missouri — plus 3 ways to protect your own valuables
When the St. Louis County Parks Department purchased a $56,000 TimberKing Sawmill, it likely never expected the purchase would one day lead to the discovery of a multi-county theft operation.
“We purchased this [TimberKing Sawmill] so we could better utilize urban wood waste instead of just putting it into a dump,” Jason Pratte shared with NewsNation. “We kept it under lock and key — what we believed was a secure location.”
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Unfortunately, that location proved to be a lot less secure than the department had thought. The sawmill was eventually stolen, and even though park officials had placed an AirTag on the machine, the tag was unable to track the sawmill’s location.
“It always said no location found, no location found,” said Pratte. “I was starting to give up hope.”
AirTag activation leads to big discovery
For months, parks department officials waited for the AirTag to activate and reveal the location of the stolen sawmill. And then, out of nowhere, the $20 tracker was activated, giving the parks department exact GPS coordinates to where the sawmill could be found.
As it turns out, the AirTag was not activated when the sawmill was initially stolen because no one near the mill’s new location was using Apple technology, which apparently is needed for the tag’s GPS tracking to kick in. A police investigation revealed that the thieves eventually sold the sawmill to a man in Hawk Point who owned an iPhone, and it was the man’s mobile device that activated the AirTag on the sawmill.
“He gave us the information of the gentleman who sold it to him for an unbelievable price,” said detective Andrew Lucca of the Maryland Heights Police Department.
Authorities now believe the stolen sawmill was taken to a property in Wildwood, where it was stored for months before it was sold to the man in Hawk Point. During a visit to the Wildwood property, police discovered other equipment that was also believed to be stolen, including golf carts, a John Deere Gator UTV and two Bobcat skid loaders that are worth six figures each.
“Just a $20 AirTag tracker is what led, really, to this case being solved,” said Lucca.
While police were able to find those who committed the crimes and return the stolen property to its rightful owners, this story proves how important it is to take extra steps to ensure the safety of your valuable items.
Read more: Home prices in America could fly through the roof in 2025 — here’s the big reason why and how to take full advantage (with as little as $10)
3 ways to keep your possessions secure
If the parks department had not put the AirTag on its expensive sawmill, the thieves likely wouldn’t have been caught and all of their stolen goods could still be in their possession. But the parks department was wise enough to go the extra mile to protect its expensive and valuable item, and that’s a good lesson for all of us.
Fortunately, there are plenty of easy ways for individuals to follow the parks department’s lead and protect their valuable possessions:
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GPS tracker: Place a GPS tracking device, like an AirTag, on valuable items so that you can track their location if they ever go missing.
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Mobile alerts: Set up mobile alerts with your banking apps so you can be notified of unusual activity on your accounts. If your credit card is stolen, or if your checking account has been hacked and cash has been withdrawn, you can find out right away and get in touch with your bank.
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Store valuable items in a secure location: Consider installing a safe in your home for keeping valuable items. If a safe in your home isn’t an option, you may also consider a safe deposit box at a local bank.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at April 18, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from April 18 drawing
24-25-39-46-61, Powerball: 01, Power Play: 5
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 18 drawing
Midday: 5-8-2
Midday Wild: 3
Evening: 3-8-5
Evening Wild: 1
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 18 drawing
Midday: 0-1-6-1
Midday Wild: 2
Evening: 4-7-6-9
Evening Wild: 5
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from April 18 drawing
Early Bird: 08
Morning: 01
Matinee: 05
Prime Time: 04
Night Owl: 05
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Show Me Cash numbers from April 18 drawing
07-10-21-27-33
Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from April 18 drawing
02-38-45-53-63, Powerball: 21
Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All Missouri Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Missouri Lottery’s regional offices, by appointment only.
To claim by mail, complete a Missouri Lottery winner claim form, sign your winning ticket, and include a copy of your government-issued photo ID along with a completed IRS Form W-9. Ensure your name, address, telephone number and signature are on the back of your ticket. Claims should be mailed to:
Ticket Redemption
Missouri Lottery
P.O. Box 7777
Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777
For in-person claims, visit the Missouri Lottery Headquarters in Jefferson City or one of the regional offices in Kansas City, Springfield or St. Louis. Be sure to call ahead to verify hours and check if an appointment is required.
For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.
When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
- Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
- Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
- Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
- Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
- Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
- Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.
The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at April 17, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from April 17 drawing
38-43-44-49-62, Mega Ball: 08
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 17 drawing
Midday: 4-8-6
Midday Wild: 2
Evening: 8-8-2
Evening Wild: 1
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 17 drawing
Midday: 3-9-4-2
Midday Wild: 4
Evening: 7-3-7-7
Evening Wild: 7
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from April 17 drawing
Early Bird: 07
Morning: 06
Matinee: 08
Prime Time: 05
Night Owl: 07
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Show Me Cash numbers from April 17 drawing
04-06-25-37-39
Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All Missouri Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Missouri Lottery’s regional offices, by appointment only.
To claim by mail, complete a Missouri Lottery winner claim form, sign your winning ticket, and include a copy of your government-issued photo ID along with a completed IRS Form W-9. Ensure your name, address, telephone number and signature are on the back of your ticket. Claims should be mailed to:
Ticket Redemption
Missouri Lottery
P.O. Box 7777
Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777
For in-person claims, visit the Missouri Lottery Headquarters in Jefferson City or one of the regional offices in Kansas City, Springfield or St. Louis. Be sure to call ahead to verify hours and check if an appointment is required.
For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.
When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
- Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
- Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
- Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
- Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
- Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
- Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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