List of stolen equipment grows, police say more arrests pending

Friday, January 18, 2008

As a Putnam County man sat in jail Thursday, state police officers investigating the thefts of more than $1 million in heavy equipment continued to recover items.

On Thursday, ISP Troopers Dan Hearon and Doug Perry recovered a number of additional items, including a Kabota tractor reported stolen from Edwards Farm Equipment in Danville.

The total value of the items recovered on Thursday was estimated at around $90,000, Sgt. Rich Myers said.

He said that during the course of the investigation, troopers learned of locations in Putnam and Marion counties that reportedly contained stolen items including two zero-turn radius lawn mowers, three utility trailers, two all-terrain vehicles and a Bobcat 463 skid loader.

He said no additional arrests were made, however, the investigation is ongoing and additional leads are being followed.

The lone suspect arrested in the case so far is 55-year-old Thomas P. Skene on whose property many of the stolen items were located. Police alleged Skene was the "ring leader" in a massive theft operation that covered multiple counties in western and central Indiana. Skene allegedly bought, sold, stored and shipped stolen vehicle parts from his property on U.S. 40 in Putnam County.

"We would like to hear from the public if they have any information on suspected stolen items, or if they believe we may have recovered something they have had stolen" Trooper Hearon said.

The list of items recovered Thursday includes: a Kabota L-48 tractor with attachments, Bobcat 463 skid loader, two all terrain vehicles, a 16-foot enclosed tandem utility trailer, single axle enclosed motorcycle trailer, tandem axle utility trailer, X-Mark 72 inch zero turning radius lawn mower and John Deere 72-inch zero turning radius lawn mower.

Prior to Thursday, police said the total number of stolen items was 42, with a total value of more than $1 million.

Anyone with information about this case or who thinks they had items that were stolen should call the ISP Putnamville Post at 653-4114 or 1-800-225-8576.

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