A family-owned business had construction equipment stolen that was worth around a half million dollars, according to Pat Toole, the owner of Greenville Tractor Co.
The manager, Andrew Reese, stated when they showed up on Monday morning at the tractor place, they noticed a machine sitting on top of a dirt pile. They also said the chain around a gate of theirs was broken, assuming the thieves had cut the link.
One excavator and seven compact track loaders of different sizes were taken, according to Reese. Also missing were other smaller, but costly accessories.
According to Lieutenant Ryan Flood, even though Greenville Tractor Co. didn’t have surveillance cameras around their property, across the street the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office found a surveillance video.
He went on to say at least two 18-wheeler trucks broke into the place and used cutters around the fence.
The sheriff’s office released a photo of one of the 18 wheelers to 7News they are looking for to help find the construction equipment thieves. Reese says, “Any small lead that we can get to recoup from this equipment would be very helpful to us.”
They ask if anyone has information about the theft, to please call either the sheriff’s office or Crime Stoppers at 23-CRIME.
Benefits of GPS Tracking
GPS tracking for equipment can track the thieves and retrieve stolen property.
If stolen property isn’t found within a few hours, the chances of it being found are slim to none. With GPS tracking, the chances of the thief getting away with the stolen property are slim to none.
Some devices do much more than simply track, offering alerts and more. For example, some can contact up to three individuals through email and phone if the item the tracker is attached to is moved, allowing you to immediately contact the police. In other devices, you can see exactly where your items are from second to second.
GPS tracking devices can be used to track virtually anything, from stolen bikes to lost children to wandering elderly. These devices allow you to call the police and share the information you get from the tracking device and let them retrieve your property and arrest the thief or locate the missing.
If you manage a construction company and have expensive equipment you want to protect, take a look at the GPS tracking solutions we offer here at LiveViewGPS.
Over the past weeks, two backhoes have been deliberately stolen from worksites in Hawaii. Hawaii Police are requesting the public’s assistance in identifying the perpetrators responsible for these crimes.
According to the Captain of Puna Police, Ken Quiocho, construction equipment is often left on a job site until the next job is scheduled. At that point, the equipment is transferred to the new job. Police believe someone is gaining access to job site schedules and taking the backhoes before they are relocated.
Auto thieves have been targeting Ford pick-ups in Pinellas County, FL. Police in Pinellas County have been monitoring a recent wave of auto thefts in which thieves are specifically targeting pickup trucks.
The thieves have almost always targeted locked vehicles, and they have successfully driven the car away in almost every case. Police are calling the situation “alarming” because it appears that certain models of pickup trucks are being directly targeted because of the vehicle’s key system.
According to police, the spike in stolen Ford F-250 and F-350 diesel trucks is related to the newer vehicle’s computer chip lock system.
The recent thefts have been models from 2001 to 2010 that don’t have the newer key system. The transponder keys usually prevent the engine from starting without the computer chip, so it makes newer models much more difficult to steal. In response, auto thieves have decided to start targeting the later models that don’t have the transponder technology.
While this issue is not limited to Pinellas County, there have already been 15 thefts of these two Ford models this year alone.
Tips for Keeping your Vehicle Safe
Officials are urging car owners to take certain steps to safeguard their vehicles. If you have an older pickup truck without transponder keys, then it’s best to take heed of the following advice. Utilizing the following safety tips may help prevent you from becoming the next victim of this trend:
- Continue to lock your doors: Police are saying that these car thieves are getting the trucks started and driven away within five minutes. Anything that slows them down acts as a preventative measure.
- Park inside a garage: Of course, sight unseen is the key here.
- Use steering wheel locks: This device will be visible from the window, and it will deter thieves by immobilizing the steering wheel.
- Install an alarm: Thieves typically avoid vehicles with alarm.
- Use a GPS tracking device: Installing a GPS tracker onto your truck will both deter theft and help you potentially recover your vehicle in the event you are targeted. This device is crucial.
Police in Pinellas County have noted that they have not yet recovered any of the trucks that were stolen this year, and a GPS tracking device could have helped with that.
Police in Pinellas County are asking anyone with information related to this case to contact the Auto Theft Unit at 727-582-6424. If you’d like to remain anonymous, then you can leave your information with Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS.
