Published: July 02, 2008 04:24 pm         

Property stolen from Clay Waste recovered

Around $50,000 in maintenance equipment, including a pickup truck, was stolen Tuesday, June 24, from Clay Township Regional Waste District plant, 7236 Mayflower Park Drive. The items were recovered in Indianapolis, however, in less than a day.

A 2001 Ford F-250 and a 20-foot Corn-Pro trailer holding lawn mowers and other maintenance equipment was stolen from the plant’s gated lot early Tuesday morning.

On Tuesday morning, an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department sergeant spotted a pickup truck parked near the 700 block of E. Sanders Street on the near south side of Indianapolis that was out of place. He soon learned the vehicle was stolen, and IMPD officers on the scene contacted the Zionsville Police Department.

Drew Williams, a spokesperson for the Clay Township Regional Waste District, said, “we were fortunate about getting the equipment at all, but within 24 hours was great.”

There are no suspects in custody and charges have not been filed, ZPD Administrative Capt. Robert Knox said the theft is still under investigation.

According to the police report plant employees last saw the vehicle and equipment around 6 p.m. June 23; The theft occurred early the next morning. The employees realized the items were missing when IMPD called their answering service after locating the missing truck at 6:50 a.m.

“This was a good example of police work, and it’s a good example of inter-agency cooperation,” Knox said. “I’m extremely happy with the work we did with IMPD, and I’m very impressed with the (IMPD) road sergeant.”

Items on the trailer included a SCAG Turf Tiger riding lawn mower, a Kawasaki Mule all-terrain vehicle, two walk-behind mowers, and miscellaneous hand tools.

The truck bed contained two Stihl weed-eaters, a bed-mounted tool box containing hand tools, and other miscellaneous equipment.

The plant, which provides treatment of waste water and maintains sewage in Hamilton County’s Clay Township, uses the equipment to clear brush around drainage areas away from roadways.

According to the police report the suspect removed bolts from the automatic opening chain on the front gate of the property, allowing the gate to be pushed open. The truck was unlocked with the keys in it, and the trailer was hooked to the truck.

Williams said this was the first time the plant was the victim of theft, but the plant is now working with a security system company to install cameras on the property.

     

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