Thief steals $25,000 worth of equipment from St. Pete landscaping business

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A thief stole about $25,000 value of gear and weighty machinery from a St. Petersburg tree and landscaping small business, and the proprietor hopes the group will assistance him uncover who’s liable.

Submitting a law enforcement report was the very last thing Ronnie Pownall predicted soon after Christmas. He owns Tree Ninjas Tree Solutions on 38th Avenue North in St. Pete.

“So I gave the men off and arrive again to my property to obtain out my machines and my skid steer and a great deal of things were stolen off the residence,” claimed Pownall.

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He reported a thief hit his enterprise on Wednesday about 12:30 a.m., driving up to the entrance right away and applying bolt cutters to lower through the property’s gate. The St. Pete Law enforcement Division is investigating the burglary and theft of the trailer.

“We had a 20-foot devices trailer that is double axel. We had a skid steer that was tied down. It claims Tree Ninjas all above it the skid steer. It’s blacked out but has our emblem on it,” mentioned Pownall. “There was a pink scooter and a black gas-driven bicycle along with other items stolen.”

Pownall stated the burglar drove a white Chevy truck, and surveillance online video displays the vehicle driving by without the trailer then afterwards hauling it away.

“The primary products that was stolen is termed a Vermeer skid steer. It’s a grapple that picks up the tree trunks. It is only 36 inches extensive, provides it from the yard to the front lawn,” said Pownall.

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The equipment does significant lifting and not just for trees.

“Predominantly for me, this was the major supply of revenue we have to deliver for my staff and their kids and their households. Now, we’re all set to go back to function following week, and we’re like we never have the appropriate products,” Pownall said.

So the operator is established to get solutions, posting images and security clips in social media groups.

“People from the town have been assisting try out to identify this,” claimed Pownall.

He has faith another person will obtain his property or at the very least share information and facts to aid.

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“Somebody stole this. Be sure to enable us uncover it somewhere, somehow, assist us get back to operating,” claimed Pownall.

The proprietor claimed he is growing the security to his products and the house after what occurred. He hopes the community and police will support catch the thief and return what was stolen.