Ontario Construction News staff writer
A Kingston man has been charged with the theft of heavy construction equipment valued at more than $200,000.
According to Kingston Police, their investigation into the theft of the equipment from a housing developments in the Kingston area began in January 2021 and reports of similar thefts continued through February, March and April.
These thefts consisted of commercial sized snow plows, wheel loader excavating buckets, and plate compactors being removed from various local sites. The total approximate theft value of the stolen equipment exceeded $200,000.
In May 2021, following an extensive investigation by the Kingston Police, a large number of the stolen pieces of property were recovered at an auction house north of the City of Toronto.
“Approximately ten pieces of heavy equipment were recovered and subsequently returned to their rightful owners in the Kingston area,” Kingston Police said in a press release on Thursday, Jun. 10, 2021.
“Police also recovered three other stolen pieces of heavy equipment that could not be traced back to their original owner.”
As a result, Jack Weighell, 21, of Kingston was arrested Friday and charged with theft over $5,000 and three counts of possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000.
Kingston Police are requesting assistance from the public in identifying the rightful owners of the recovered pieces of heavy equipment.
Anyone missing pieces of heavy construction equipment stolen between January 2021 and April 2021, is asked to contact Detective Schaule at 613-549-4660 ext. 6272 or via email at gs******@************ce.ca.
