A stolen excavator was recovered by authorities after it went missing from a construction site in the Boston Harbor area on Sunday, May 11, the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) said.
Unfortunately for the suspect, the construction company installed a GPS tracker on the excavator and deputies were able to identify a residence in the 6900 block of Zangle Road NE where the machinery was taken.
The next morning, authorities went to the address to investigate, gained access from a neighboring property and saw a piece of heavy equipment concealed beneath a tarp.
Deputies then went to the residence and spoke with the homeowner.
The homeowner stated the suspect, identified as 29-year old Brandon Ray Hine, drove the excavator to her home and told her that he “borrowed it from a friend.”
The homeowner allowed sheriff's deputies and the owner of the excavator inside her backyard, and the owner was able to confirm the validity of the excavator.
“The excavator was valued at $130,000.00 and there was approximately $3,000.00 worth of damage done to it between taking off all the logos by sanding it down, and ripping out the tracking device from inside,” TCSO stated.
The suspect was not present at that moment the excavator was found, but in the afternoon the homeowner called the deputies to inform them of the suspect’s presence on her property.
Authorities went back to the residence and caught the suspect, who was about to leave in a vehicle in which he was a passenger.
The suspect was arrested and booked for first-degree theft and second-degree malicious mischief.
1 comment on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
SecondOtter
Let's keep this thief in jail. I'm betting this isn't the first piece of equipment he's stolen. I'm also sure he had plans to sell it.
THANK you for publishing his name.
Friday, May 16 Report this