Investigators in Wyoming County sayid Thursday thieves made off with thousands of dollars worth of heavy equipment, all from the same business. The place has been hit three times in three weeks.
Stark Bartron, owner of Bartron Supply Company in Tunkhannock Township said around 4:30 a.m. Thursday, thieves made off with a Bobcat T320 Compact Track Loader. Bartron said at $60,000, the Bobcat was one of the largest and most expensive pieces of heavy equipment in his store's inventory.
"In times past, we've lost garden tractors, lawn mowers and smaller ticket units but nothing large like this," said Bartron. "It's frustrating because I know what's going to happen is next year when we do our insurance premiums, it's going to cost us money."
Bartron said this is the third time this month his store has been hit.
On October 12 Bartron said thieves stole two John Deere utility vehicles. Then thieves struck on Monday, taking the windows and wires out of some of the smaller Bobcat loaders.
While his surveillance camera hasn't caught video of the thieves, Bartron believes it's the same people doing the stealing.
"Three times this has happened in the last three weeks," said Bartron. "I can't believe there'd been three entirely different incidents."
"We're talking about a small 'mom and pop' business that's been owned by the same family for a couple generations and that kind of loss is not easy to sustain, even with insurance," said Wyoming County District Attorney George Skumanick.
Skumanick said both Tunkhannock Township police and his own investigators are looking into the thefts.
He said with equipment that expensive, the thieves could be selling them at a cheaper price.
"They could be sold for $30, $40,000 and people buy them unfortunately," said Skumanick.
Bartron believes the merchandise stolen from his store near Tunkhannock is worth roughly $100,000.
He plans to beef up his security system.
Stark Bartron, owner of Bartron Supply Company in Tunkhannock Township said around 4:30 a.m. Thursday, thieves made off with a Bobcat T320 Compact Track Loader. Bartron said at $60,000, the Bobcat was one of the largest and most expensive pieces of heavy equipment in his store's inventory.
"In times past, we've lost garden tractors, lawn mowers and smaller ticket units but nothing large like this," said Bartron. "It's frustrating because I know what's going to happen is next year when we do our insurance premiums, it's going to cost us money."
Bartron said this is the third time this month his store has been hit.
On October 12 Bartron said thieves stole two John Deere utility vehicles. Then thieves struck on Monday, taking the windows and wires out of some of the smaller Bobcat loaders.
While his surveillance camera hasn't caught video of the thieves, Bartron believes it's the same people doing the stealing.
"Three times this has happened in the last three weeks," said Bartron. "I can't believe there'd been three entirely different incidents."
"We're talking about a small 'mom and pop' business that's been owned by the same family for a couple generations and that kind of loss is not easy to sustain, even with insurance," said Wyoming County District Attorney George Skumanick.
Skumanick said both Tunkhannock Township police and his own investigators are looking into the thefts.
He said with equipment that expensive, the thieves could be selling them at a cheaper price.
"They could be sold for $30, $40,000 and people buy them unfortunately," said Skumanick.
Bartron believes the merchandise stolen from his store near Tunkhannock is worth roughly $100,000.
He plans to beef up his security system.
