(HAWKESBURY, ON) – The Hawkesbury Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) would like to warn local business owners of heavy machinery theft in The Nation Municipality.
On March 30, 2024, a male suspect was observed trespassing on private property at a business near St Isidore, and acting suspiciously around heavy machinery.
On April 2, 2024, a backhoe valued at approximately $235,000 was stolen from a business located at a different property in the same area.
Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to contact the Hawkesbury OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222- 8477 (TIPS), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.
The investigation is ongoing and officers are working on any leads they may have.
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Officers urge business owners to take necessary steps to protect themselves from theft. Here are a few tips for preventing theft of heavy machinery:
- Always roll up your vehicle’s windows, lock the doors and pocket the key.
- Park other vehicles around heavy machinery to act as a deterrent to thieves.
- Consider installing security cameras and alarms in the yard and at the entrance.
- Consider installing motion-activated lights in the yard.
- Install a third party GPS tracking device in high-value machinery.
- Ensure gates or access points are locked and secured before leaving at night.
