A multiagency police task force believes it has curtailed a spate of construction site thefts that has plagued Utah County the past nine months.
Police have arrested 32 men, served 13 search warrants and recovered stolen power tools, construction trailers, welders, generators, materials and two vehicles valued at an estimated $300,000."I think we sent a message. I don't feel like we've arrested the majority," said Provo Police Sgt. Stan Eggen.
Utah County sheriff's Sgt. Scott Carter said he thinks would-be thieves got the message. "I really believe we created a deterrent."
Provo, Orem, Pleasant Grove and Utah County police began an intense investigation six weeks ago after seeing an unusually high number of building site burglary reports. Several other agencies supplied periodic information and officers to the probe.
"We literally put together a bible, if you will, of every case report. It was massive," Carter said. Police relied mainly on confidential informants to make the arrests.
While police say those arrested for thefts were not an organized ring, they did have a connection: Many were caught with methamphetamines. Eggen said the primary motivation for the burglaries was to get money for drugs.
"There's only two ways to stay in the drug business: You have to steal or deal," he said. Construction sites apparently make easy targets. "We feel like they were just opportunistic," Eggen said.
Most of the thefts took place in the dark.
"Construction sites are very vulnerable during the nighttime hours," said Orem police Sgt. Gary McGiven. Police staked out some constructions sites.
In some cases, thieves made off with entire construction trailers and several-hundred-pound, 30-by-30-by-40-inch lock boxes. "We suspect that someone had access to a tow truck," Carter said.
Investigators found that many of the stolen goods were sold in Salt Lake County. Sometimes tools were traded straight across for drugs, Eggen said.
Police cracked down on building site thefts because it destroys construction workers' livelihood.
"People who are out working for a living and lose their tools are out of business," said Eggen, who also works as a part-time brick mason.
Investigators are having trouble identifying the owners of the some of the construction tools. People with information may call 379-6270.