Lehigh County investigators recently received a major award.

In a news release dated June 1, Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin announced the Lehigh County Auto Theft Task Force and several other area law enforcement agencies were recently recognized with the Roger D. Overton Award for their work in investigating thefts of more than $1 million in vehicles and related items.

However, although one might expect to tally such totals for luxury vehicles or high-end sports cars stolen from city streets or driveways outside mansion-like homes in well-lit communities, thieves were instead targeting construction equipment.

According to authorities, “heavy equipment, utility trailers, commercial trucks and other equipment” topped wish lists in six Pennsylvania counties including Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Carbon, Monroe and Luzerne.

Favorite targets included highway construction sites and housing developments under construction.

Thefts included heavy equipment, trailers and tools.

And Pennsylvania is not alone.

In July 2021, the National Equipment Register, described as a national register of stolen heavy equipment, warned that since 2016, an uptick in heavy equipment thefts over the Fourth of July holiday was seen. The states most often targeted included Texas, Tennessee, California, Florida and Missouri.

This year, Texas again led, with Florida, Tennessee, California and North Carolina following respectively, according to the NER.

In 2021, equipment dealerships were hardest hit, followed by worksites and storage facilities, according to NER data. Commercial mowers led the NER list. Excavators were also taken often.

Total loss value for the Fourth of July 2022 topped out at $7,046,606, according to NER data.

In 2016, a news release from Pennsylvania State Police, Fogelsville, offered details of a theft at the construction site of what is now Costco in the Hamilton Crossings retail center of 32 reels of copper wire and other tools, with a total value of $35,000.

Sometime between May 26 and June 2 of this year, tools with an estimated value of $800 to $900 were removed from a location along Eveningstar Road, Upper Milford Township, according to Pennsylvania State Police, Fogelsville. According to a news release, investigators found locks were removed from two trailers and contractor tools were taken.

In 2019, local television news reported on a 52-year-old man charged in the theft of construction equipment valued at more than $20,000 from a construction business in Chestnuthill Township, Monroe County.

According to the June 1 news release from Lehigh County Office of the District Attorney, the Roger D. Overton Award is named for a veteran member of the Northeast Regional Chapter of the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators.

The area of investigation for which the award was given unearthed a network of people and properties where the stolen items were hidden. Investigators recovered vehicles, equipment and tools valued at approximately $500,000, according to authorities.

Congratulations to the Lehigh County Auto Theft Task Force and other area investigating agencies for their achievement. Lamentably, it looks those skills will continue to be needed.

April Peterson

editorial assistant

East Penn Press

Salisbury Press