Police find stolen construction gear

Construction equipment stolen from Newport Beach was among more than

26,000 items recovered by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department,

during a four-month investigation, said Newport Beach Police Sgt.

Bill Hartford.

Serial numbers on several items matched those of items reported

stolen from commercial construction sites in Newport Beach, Hartford

said.

Most of the stolen equipment is gardening or construction

equipment, such as lawn mowers, generators or weed trimmers, Hartford

said.

Newport Police had not noticed a disproportionate amount of thefts

from construction sites, Hartford said.

The recovery of the stolen equipment is a reminder that it is

important to retain the serial numbers of expensive property,

Hartford said.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department recovered more than $3.5

million worth of stolen equipment in August.

Twenty-three people were arrested in connection with the thefts,

police said.

Sheriff’s investigators believe the theft ring had been operating

for more than three years, targeting construction firms and

landscaping equipment rental companies, police said.

The Sheriff’s Department has identified 215 victims from 67 cities

in nine states.

People who think they may have been a victim should contact the

Ventura Sheriff’s Department, (805) 494-8259 or o7www.vcsd.orgf7.