BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
TOMAHAWK — A Martin County man admitted to staging the theft of his side-by-side in hopes someone would steal or burn it so he could collect insurance money, Kentucky State Police said.
Larry Delong, 62, of Tomahawk, was arrested shortly after noon May 10 at his residence on charges of fraudulent insurance acts involving $10,000 to $1 million and falsely reporting an incident to law enforcement.
According to Trooper J Rouse, the investigation began after Delong contacted 911 and reported that his 2021 Kawasaki side-by-side had been stolen from his property.
Before arriving at the residence, Rouse contacted Delong by cellphone to ask whether he was home and whether he had photographs of the vehicle. Delong confirmed both and sent three photographs depicting a blue-and-black Kawasaki UTV to the trooper’s cellphone, the police report states.
When Rouse arrived at the property, Delong allegedly explained that he had left Friday evening to go fishing. He returned Sunday morning to discover the side-by-side missing. He told investigators the vehicle had been parked beneath a shed and that he still possessed both keys.
Delong also claimed he had spoken with neighbors Joseph and Savannah Blair to ask whether they had noticed anything suspicious. According to the arrest report, Delong told troopers the Blairs had been out of town all weekend attending their son’s wrestling tournament.
The arrest report states that Delong provided the title and insurance information and said he purchased the UTV in 2022 for $12,500 cash. He estimated the vehicle’s value at “approximately $10,000 or more.”
Rouse then began canvassing the neighborhood for information about the reported theft.
The trooper interviewed Martin and Katherine Ramey, who live beside Delong, as well as Savannah Blair, whose residence sits across the roadway with a direct line of sight to Delong’s property.
According to the report, all three neighbors contradicted key parts of Delong’s story.
Martin and Katherine Ramey and Savannah Blair each told police the blue Kawasaki Delong reported stolen had not been seen at the residence for approximately two weeks. Instead, they stated that Delong had recently been driving a red-and-orange side-by-side.
The neighbors also disputed Delong’s claim that he had been away fishing all weekend. They told investigators they had seen him coming and going from the residence throughout the weekend.
When Rouse questioned Savannah Blair about whether she had spoken with Delong before police arrived, she reportedly told investigators she had not spoken with him in several weeks and had been home all weekend.
Rouse also asked Blair about the alleged wrestling tournament. According to the arrest report, Blair informed troopers that it was not wrestling season and that her child was currently playing T-ball.
Blair further advised investigators that the security cameras at her residence were operational and could provide relevant video footage. Rouse requested footage dating back to at least April 1.
After obtaining statements from the neighbors, Rouse contacted Trooper Hammond and requested assistance at the scene.
The troopers then returned to Delong’s residence with their body-worn cameras activated and confronted him about the inconsistencies in his statements.
According to the arrest report, Delong initially insisted his original account was accurate.
Rouse then informed Delong about the information gathered from neighbors indicating he had provided false information. The report states Delong subsequently admitted he had lied. He allegedly said he had taken the side-by-side Friday evening to a strip job behind his home and left it there.
“Delong subsequently admitted that he had lied,” Rouse wrote in his report.
“He stated that he was hoping someone would steal it or burn it.”
Investigators say Delong also admitted he intentionally waited until Sunday to report the vehicle stolen.
Delong allegedly told troopers he believed he could not sell the side-by-side for its actual value and intended to report it stolen in order to file an insurance claim.
All individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.