Stolen Skid Loader Puzzles Landscape Company

 

2004 New HollandLS 180

Thieves stole a five thousand pound skid loader off the company lot at Birchwood Snow and Landscape Contractors on 119th and Silver Spring. The skid loader was parked in front of the business and was for sale.

Birchwood Snow and Landscaping thought they were selling a 2004 New Holland LS 180 Skid-Steer Loader for a steal of a price… a $60,000 used machine for $30,000. So they never thought someone would try to get it for free. But the company’s surveillance video proved them wrong.

“They came in, two minutes they were in and out of here,” said Kenny Marton, Birchwood’s Operations Manager.

The video shows two men in a white pick up truck and stole the skid loader. It happened Sunday afternoon in broad daylight. . But how they did it is puzzling Birchwood employees, since the keys weren’t in it, and the thieves acted so quickly, loading it on a trailer in just two minutes.

“You come in, and you see your equipment’s missing. Expensive equipment that we work hard for. We were pretty angry ,” Marton said.

They’re especially angry because the skid loader isn’t the first thing to go missing at Birchwood. 50 thousand tons of salt were stolen this winter. Thieves stole gasoline from the company’s private tank last summer. And lots of smaller equipment was taken in between.

“It’s unfortunate and we’d like to put an end to this,” Marton said.

So the big question, why would someone steal a skid loader, used only for landscape construction and snow removal? Marton believes the thieves could work for a landscape company, or could sell it.

“It’s difficult times right now,’ Marton said.

Birchwood is offering a $2,000 reward to anyone with information that leads to an arrest. If you know the suspects, call Birchwood Snow and Landscape contractors at 414-527-0256.

Source: Heather Shannon, Journal Broadcast Group