Heavy Equipment Theft

Friday, January 26th 2007, 8:38 pm

By: News On 6

Two men who make a living off clearing ice and snow are now the victims of thieves. Cold-hearted thieves pulled off a heavy equipment heist. News on 6 anchor Craig Day says itâ€™s a big problem across Green Country.

With snow in the forecast last weekend, Stan Branen and Jim Doshier had equipment ready for action.

"Now it sits empty, a useless barn I guess, you might say. It's frustrating," Collinsville resident Stan Branen said.

Stan Branen and Jim Doshier took two tractors from the barn to a restaurant parking lot in Owasso to be ready for snow removal jobs. Thieves took the tractors.

"I was really upset when I found it was really gone," Jim Doshier from Talala said.

Upset, because the two tractors are valued at more than $30,000.

â€œWhen you realize how much money you just kind of lost, it kind of knocks the wind out of you, you might say," said Branen

"I don't know what I would have done if I drove up while they were taking it,â€ Doshier said. â€œIt might not have been a pretty sight,"

The tractors are a blue Ford-New Holland 2000 model with a fiberglass canopy and an Orange Kabota 3010, both with front end loaders. Those tractors are both good sized pieces of equipment, so whoever took them, would likely have to have a heavy-duty trailer to haul them off.

Stan and Jim both hope someone saw those thieves or can identify their vehicle."

"It may be parked in a field, somebody's back yard, there's a ton of them out there like it, but you never know,â€ Branen said. â€œIf somebody sees it, don't be scared to pick up the phone and call."

The men believe they have a 50/50 chance of seeing the equipment again.

"A thief is lazy, I just hope I get it back," Doshier said.

The victims are offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of the thieves and recovery of the tractors. Anyone with information on the crime can call the Owasso Police Department tip line at 272-COPS.