CHARLOTTE COUNTY DETECTIVES ARRESTED A PUNTA GORDA MAN AFTER HE REPORTED ONE OF HIS DUMP TRUCKS WAS STOLEN AND HE COLLECTED ON THE INSURANCE ON IT. DEPUTIES SAY THE TRUCK WAS OWNED BY THOMAS FAPPIANO AND HIS PARTNERS PETER AND JANIS FALKENSTERN, AND THE THEFT REPORTEDLY OCCURRED AT JAN’S OUTSIDE STORAGE WHICH IS OWNED BY THE FALKENSTERNS. FAPPIANO REPORTED THE THEFT LAST APRIL 21ST BEFORE IT WAS SCHEDULED FOR REPOSSESSION. IN OCTOBER, DETECTIVES RECEIVED A TIP ABOUT THE STOLEN DUMP TRUCK BEING LOCATED ON DUNCAN ROAD. A HELICOPTER WAS SENT OUT TO FIND THE TRUCK, BUT INSTEAD FOUND AN ILLEGAL DUMP SITE OF 200 TIRES. WHILE SEARCHING THAT SITE, DETECTIVES LOCATED A WHITE CHASSIS CAB AND A BLACK DUMP BED BY ITSELF NEARBY. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER MATCHED THAT OF THE STOLEN TRUCK AND IT WAS IMPOUNDED. THE OWNER OF THE TIRE LOT IDENTIFIED PETER FALKENSTERN IN A LINEUP AND SAID HE SAW HIM GOING BACK AND FORTH FROM THE SITE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. DETECTIVES ARRESTED FALKENSTERN MONDAY MORNING AND CHARGED HIM WITH ATTEMPTED GRAND THEFT AND FILING FALSE AND FRAUDULENT INSURANCE CLAIMS. HE POSTED $15,000 BOND AND WAS RELEASED FROM THE CHARLOTTE COUNTY JAIL.
