Video shows thieves stealing equipment worth $35,000

Two men from using bolt cutters, other tools and brute strength stole $35,000 worth of equipment and machines from an Oakland Park general contracting business.

Surveillance video released by the Broward Sheriff’s Office Thursday shows what happened about 10 p.m. on July 30 at Steel Contractors, 4444 NE Eighth Ave.

High-quality security cameras show the thieves using bolt cutters to break through a fence, then unhitching generators from truck beds as they steal eight Lincoln Electric generators and three Miller welding machines.

One man can be seen lugging the heavy equipment across a parking lot. The stolen items may have been loaded into a lightcolored van or a four-door truck, according to the Sheriff ’s Office.

Agency spokeswoman Gina Carter said the business did a good job installing cameras and having the property fenced off but it still wasn’t enough.

“The only thing you can do is secure the items the best you can,” Carter said.

The stolen goods are typically resold, giving a profit for the thieves and leaving the business out thousands of dollars, she said.

Investigators describe one of the thieves as having short hair, an athletic frame with a tattoo on his forearm, wearing a black T-shirt, baggy pants New Balance shoes and a baseball cap and gloves. The second is described as having a thin, athletic build, short dreads, several tattoos on his arms and wearing a red T-shirt, black shoes and shorts.

Investigators ask anyone with information on the crime to call Broward Sheriff ’s Detective Latefah Lysius at 954-202-3118 or Broward Crime Stoppers anonymously at 954-493-8477. Tips can also be submitted online at browardcrimestoppers.org for a reward of $3,000 for information leading to an arrest.

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