Published: July 09, 2009 11:37 pm         

Sheriff: Theft of lawnmowers grows as the grass greens

TERRE HAUTE — Don’t let the smell of your fresh cut grass be soured by the theft of your lawnmower later.

The Vigo County Sheriff’s Department is investigating cases of stolen riding mowers in recent weeks.

“Such thefts are usually seasonal,” Sheriff Jon Marvel told the Tribune-Star on Thursday. “Right now, it’s mowers.”

Detective John Newman said he has investigated some recent lawnmower thefts that have been “quick pickups” for the thieves, who didn’t have to break into a building to get to the machinery.

“One was left out on a trailer,” Newman said. “In another, a lady left one broken down in her yard.”

The thefts are usually of equipment left outdoors unattended, giving the thieves easy access and a convenient getaway.

In one such case, a John Deere Saber riding lawnmower was taken from a family after being left next to the house about 10 feet from the door.

“I was livid; I couldn’t see straight I was so mad,” Steve Craig told the Tribune-Star.

Craig, who resides with his wife and teenage son south of Terre Haute, is on active duty in the Navy, and is currently in San Diego. He said he takes the theft as a personal insult, since he is away on active duty to preserve the liberty of some citizen who, in turn, steals from him.

When his wife called to tell him of the theft, Craig said he couldn’t believe someone would have the nerve to enter his property to take the mower from his back yard. His wife said the tire tracks were visible in the grass where someone had either pushed or ridden the mower out to the road.

“My buddies were upset, too,” Craig said of his fellow sailors. “They offered to come home to help me find the guy who took it.”

Craig said he feels now he will have to install a security system as added protection for his family.

Anyone with information on the Craig theft, or on any criminal activity in Vigo County, is encouraged to call the sheriff’s department at (812) 462-3226.

Marvel encourages the public to take precautions against crimes of convenience by securing equipment inside locked buildings, and by keeping their vehicles and homes locked against intruders.

Lisa Trigg can be reached at (812) 231-4254 or lisa.trigg@tribstar.com.