Shaler Township police investigating theft of compact track loader
SHALER TOWNSHIP, Pa. (KDKA) - There is a cat burglar of sorts on the loose in Shaler Township, and police need your help tailing them.
The Shaler Township Police Department is investigating the theft of a Caterpillar compact track loader over the weekend.
"We are asking any residents or drivers who were in the Cherry City area and surrounding neighborhoods for assistance in tracking the path of this equipment," the department said in a Facebook post.
The loader was captured on a surveillance camera traveling down Davis Avenue on Sunday, Nov. 19, just before noon. It was then reported to have traveled onto Seavey Road and down to Soose Road.
Larry Divis who lives on Davis Ave, says he saw it go by.
"About 11 o'clock, I was sitting in the easy chair waiting for the games to start, and I looked outside, like I said, about 11, and saw a piece of equipment going down the street, which I thought was a little unusual because it was on a Sunday," Divis said.
Police spoke with Divis and other witnesses about what they saw, but they are asking all neighbors in the Cherry City area and surrounding neighborhoods to check their cameras. The Shaler Police say they know that this CAT traveled onto Seavey Road and then down onto Soose Road, but then after that, the trail goes cold.
KDKA-TV reached out to a local Cleveland Brothers CAT Dealer, and they said that that vehicle likely has a GPS unit and if they are given written permission from the owner, plus the make, model and serial number of the vehicle, they may be able to pinpoint a location -- that is if the GPS hasn't been disabled.
For Divis, he just hopes this person and this piece of equipment are apprehended and retrieved.
"I hope they find it and I hope they find the person that did it. I hope charges are brought forth. I mean, it is taking somebody else's equipment, even if it is a company's equipment, it is still not theirs to take," he said.
If you have any information on this case, Shaler area police are asking you to call 911 or reach out to them directly on Facebook.
