COMANCHE COUNTY, Okla_A rash of burglaries at construction sites across Comanche County has caught the attention of the sheriff's department. The department said in the past six weeks, there has been an increase in reports from crews about stolen equipment, diesel fuel as well as damage to property. Some of the losses total tens of thousands of dollars, so construction companies, and the law both want to put a stop to this unsettling trend.
The sheriff believes one group may be responsible for the burglaries. A construction supervisor whose site was burglarized last month said the company lost almost $4,000, not to mention valuable time on the project.
"It's aggravating but, there isn't really much you can do," Larry Elliot said.
When the site's mechanic got to work, near Deyo Mission and Lee the morning of the burglary, he noticed something odd.
"He came down and noticed when he went to fueling that some stuff was out of place and the battery box was open. They stole about nine batteries."
Elliott said the thieves cut the cable lines to get the batteries on a road grater. Not only are they out $250 for each battery that was stolen they also have to pay for the cable. Not to mention the lost time. Something Elliot said is every construction company's worst nightmare.
"You plan on doing a certain thing when you get here and when you get here you can't do anything. You've got 13, 14, 15 guys that need something to do and everything's broke down. It takes time to get things going."
Comanche County Sheriff Kenny Stradley said the thieves are getting bolder.
"They've got enough time and enough ability they can get it. If you've got a steel box and you think nobody can get in there, they could take the steel box. Take it somewhere cutting it open with a cutting torch or something."
He said these crimes are difficult to solve when the victim does not have a serial number for the stolen goods, which he said happens often. That number can be entered into a national database, to try and track the items.
"Let's say they stole a generator from here, Wichita Falls Police Department stops them and we had a serial number. They stop a pickup that's got the generator on it. Bingo, we've got them with the stolen property and good chance to get the property back."
Elliott said he and his crew are now more alert than ever.
"We moved everything to a different location and kind of got it locked up behind a lock and key out in the pasture. It maybe a little safer, maybe."
Sheriff Stradley said his department is investigating these burglaries. He said just last week, a trailer with almost $40,000 worth of equipment was stolen in the county.
