Police-lights-300x176Authorities are looking for the man who may be responsible for a string of burglaries in the southeast Iowa community of Mediapolis.

The man charged with a February 17 car burglary and possession of burglary tools following his arrest in Mediapolis this week failed to appear in court this morning. The judge issued two bench warrants for $25,000 cash each for 27-year-old Josh Melton.

Sheriff Mike Johnstone says they’re also still looking for any burglary or theft victims in the Mediapolis area which was hard hit earlier this year with dozens of break-ins. Johnstone has not said that Melton is believed to be the thief who came to be known as the “Mediapolis Marauder”, but informed sources say Melton is the man responsible for the crime spree.

(Reporting by Mark Morris, KBUR, Burlington)