Recipients of the Heavy Equipment Award accepting the award from committee chair, Rusty Russell and IAATI President JD Hough

In late 2017 the Philadelphia Police Major Crimes Auto Squad discovered a spike in the theft of Skid Steer loaders from surrounding jurisdictions. Detectives began to develop suspects from social media accounts and noted the construction equipment in these social media posts was painted black. Detectives discovered these suspects held multiple contracts for snow removal with numerous businesses and companies.

Detectives conducted surveillance on the property of the primary suspect and later recovered a stolen Caterpillar backhoe and Case skid steer. Upon executing a search warrant detectives obtained maps of business locations in Philadelphia (and surrounding counties) showing locations where equipment was parked. Detectives also obtained information on another stolen John Deere skid steer.

Through their investigation, detectives discovered a business owner who had purchased a stolen machine from one of the defendants. The business owner provided a bill of sale, photo copy of driver’s license and even still photos of the defendant at the business during the sale of the machine. Photos showed one a defendants driving a stolen white Ford dump truck pulling a black trailer. The dump truck and trailer were later recovered. This same business owner provided information on a second suspect who had offered to sell him a Case backhoe. The business owner provided the location of that machine and detectives located and recovered the stolen Case backhoe.  

Detectives were able to obtain cell phone text messages between the defendants which showed equipment parked at locations (prior to being stolen) and messages with prices and information on the equipment. The message also contained information about stolen equipment that had already been sold, or was currently being offered for sale. 

In January 2018 detectives interviewed an employee (of one of the defendants) who stated the business had 2 skid steer loader and 3 trucks in September 2017, but suddenly by November 2017 they had obtained another 10 skid steer loaders. The employee stated his boss (a defendant) had directed him to “grind off” any existing company logos or identifying marks and spray paint the machines black. The employee recalled seeing VIN plates inside the primary defendant’s toolbox, but when questions were raised the employee was told they had “fallen off” and he (the employee) shouldn’t worry about it. When the employee questioned how the defendants were getting all these skid steers, the defendant stated “we’re buying them real cheap” then gave a grinning smile to the employee.

In total, the efforts of these 6 officers resulted in the recovery of twenty-six (26) pieces of construction equipment valued at over $1million and concluded in the arrests of four defendants; including a father/son duo.

The IAATI Heavy Equipment Award was presented to:

• Detective Jack Logan (Philadelphia Police Major Crimes Auto Squad)
• Police Officer Francis Leaden (Philadelphia Police Major Crimes Auto Squad)
• Detective Jim Frey (Delaware County Pennsylvania CID)
• Detective Matt Romberger (Auto Theft Taskforce NE Pennsylvania)
• Trooper Ramon Torres (Pennsylvania State Police Auto Theft Unit)
• Detective Jack McDermott (Cape May County Prosecutors Office)
• Congratulations to all on a job well done!