One reason equipment theft remains prevalent is the low probability of serious legal consequences if thieves are caught. But NER followed a case in which the suspect was charged with multiple felony counts through to sentencing. A Georgia court sentenced the thief to a 20-year prison term.
In 2007, Sergeants Brad Christensen and Todd Haskins of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia investigated a tractor-trailer Haskins found parked illegally on an interstate highway ramp. On the trailer sat two pieces of Caterpillar equipment — a D5Gdozer and a CP433 single-drum roller.
Haskins and Christensen confirmed that the trailer and equipment were stolen, so they launched a broader investigation with help from the Macon Police Department and local Travelers Companies agent D.Z. Patterson. They discovered numerous other stolen machines in the suspect’s possession.
Among the recovered units were a Caterpillar 963 crawler loader, a 2006 Komatsucompact track loader, and a Caterpillar D6H dozer. The total value of the recovered property exceeds $300,000.
Cases like the one solved by Christensen, Haskins, their colleagues, NER, and NICB show why recovery rates for heavy equipment have been steadily improving and why equipment theft is no longer a walk in the park for criminals.
Source: NER