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Construction site thefts reported in Great Falls, Belt
By CHELSI MOY
Tribune Staff Writer


Two construction sites in Great Falls and one in Belt are the most recent victims in a rash of thefts at construction sites across the state, with the total amount of stolen tools nearing $200,000.

Great Falls Police, however, on Wednesday interviewed six illegal immigrants whom they suspect are responsible for the thefts. Authorities were still interviewing the men at press time, and limited details were available.

On Monday night $25,000 worth of tools were stolen from a construction site at 3701 River Drive N., where crews are building the new Central Plumbing and Heating building. Bob Murray Construction Company also had about $12,000 worth of tools stolen from a site along 26th Street South.

In Belt, Rick Edwards of Bighorn Developers had nearly his entire tool trailer stolen, totaling about $6,000, he said.

"The only things they didn't take were rakes and shovels." he said. "I never in a million years would have thought that Belt, Montana would have been the target of theft."

The incidents in Cascade County come days after thieves stole $50,000 worth of construction equipment from several job sites in Missoula and $100,000 worth of equipment from sites for the new Costco and Lowe's stores in Helena.

Police suspect all the thefts are connected, said Great Falls Police Sgt. Glen Stinar.

The local thefts forced construction crews to buy new equipment to keep operating.

"With winter coming, I can't stop," Edwards said. "I bought what I didn't have and got extra tools from my warehouse."

Edwards provided police with a description of the suspect's vehicle. He saw a suspicious pickup speed out of the seven-lot subdivision where his company is constructing custom homes. Edwards chased the vehicle until the pickup reached 100 mph, he said, but it wasn't until the next morning that he realized he had likely chased the burglars.

The thieves broke into a locked trailer and stole nail guns, cordless drills, saws and surveying equipment, he said.

Jesse Waldenberg of Central Plumbing and Heating had a similar unpleasant experience.

The thieves broke into three separate trailers on the job site. All three were locked and parked in a well-lit area, he said.

"I was disgusted," Waldenberg said. "I had to buy all new tools and it really screwed me up."

It appeared as though the thieves were not amateurs, he said.

Police spotted a vehicle similar to the description of the suspect pickup and later matched the tire tread to a tire track at the Belt site, Edwards said.

The investigation is ongoing.



Originally published September 21, 2006