Two Hannibal men arrested after stealing money, handgun and watches from Barry home

BARRY, Ill. — Two Hannibal men were arrested Sunday, Feb. 12 for their connection to a robbery and theft incident.

Deputies with the Pike County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched at 7:12 a.m. Sunday to a residence in the 1000 block of State Highway 106 in Barry. The victim reported two men came to the house on Saturday, Feb. 11 and made an agreement for an asphalting job.  The victim issued a check to the suspects.

The victim said the men returned the next day, requesting that payment be made with cash. The victim opened a safe, at which time the suspects stole a large amount of U.S. currency, a Smith and Wesson handgun, watches and other miscellaneous items from the safe. The suspects ran from the residence, got into a white Ford F-150 truck and fled. 

The Pike County Sheriff’s Department alerted several area law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for the truck. Within minutes, the Hannibal Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a white Ford F-150. 

After an investigation, Robert Lee Ledbetter, 59, and Braden A. Harn, 20, were arrested and charged with the following offenses:

• Residential burglary,
• Financial exploitation of the elderly,
• Robbery,
• Theft (more than $10,000, less than $100,000) and
• Unlawful possession of a stolen firearm.

Both Ledbetter and Harn were lodged in the Marion County (Mo.) Jail pending extradition to Illinois.  

The Pike County Sheriff’s Department was assisted by the Pittsfield Police Department, Hannibal Police Department, and Illinois State Police.