According to Fox News, utility loaders, stump grinders, trenchers, mini-excavators, and trailers were stolen in at least 50 separate incidents across 16 counties. The total value of the equipment closes in on $600,000.
The investigation began in late 2021 when Home Depot investigators began reviewing large equipment overdue rentals and found a pattern of activity in the southeast region, which includes the Tampa and Orlando area stores. The overdue rentals and thefts had several similarities: they were one-day rentals by renters with Orlando addresses, and the GPS devices installed in the units were disabled within hours of the equipment leaving the store. The stolen equipment was then posted on social media sales sites, such as Facebook marketplace.
According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, Byron Johnson was tied to several thefts via video surveillance, social media messages, and text messages. He often used his own identification when completing the rental agreements and his own Facebook page to post the equipment for sale. Johnson told the unsuspecting buyers that he was a "construction worker going out of business," or "my father passed away and I need money."
This is a follow on to the news I posted the other day of a guy renting a Hellcat, then selling it on Craigslist... to let you know, there is a LOT more bullshit scam sales going on out there than I had any clue about
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