Tamarac Theft Torment "The Green Experts"
TAMARAC (CBS4) - A South Florida landscaper is appealing to the public for help after thieves have struck his business again.
It points to a crime that authorities said has become common in this area: the theft of landscaping and lawn care equipment.
"Unfortunately people out there are preying on small landscapers," said Bert Bolduc. "It's a shame. It seems like this is happening on a regular basis to landscapers like us who are trying to make an honest living."
Bolduc told CBS4's Peter D'Oench that he is haunted by the latest images of a red pickup truck stealing his trailer that was loaded with: trimmers, edgers, blowers, weed eaters, lawn mowers and chain saws. The equipment was worth $16,000.
It is vital equipment for his Davie-based company, The Green Experts, which employs 30 people.
For Balduc, the theft was deja vu. Two years ago, thieves took another equipment-filled truck in a similar crime.
The latest crime happened behind The Tamarac Marketplace at McNab and Pine Island Roads. Surveillance tape obtained from a nearby business showed the red pickup truck leaving the mall and heading southbound on Pine Island Road at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
The Broward Sheriffs Office, who is investigating the case, said the truck contained a driver and two passengers.
Bolduc sent an e-mail message to CBS4 appealing for help. He is also offering a $1,000 reward in addition to the $1,000 reward that is typically offered by Broward Crimestoppers. Bolduc describes the truck as a "red Chevrolet, 1980s something pickup. It has nice rims and low tires."
The criminals had cut the cables to two surveillance cameras but missed a third camera that captured the pictures.
Bolduc's company had taken extra precautions after the previous theft.
"We have ground locks that can only be burned off with a torch and wheel locks and locks that go on trailers," said Don Johnston, the Vice President of Operations for The Green Experts. "There are three sets of locks, but they got through them. It seems we're doing everything we can to stop this. But they are gutsy, to do this in the middle of the day."
"Basically what it says is that people are looking for businesses like us and looking for the right moment to steal our equipment," said Bolduc. "Actually for the sake of all landscapers, we have to take action, enough is enough."
"I have insurance, but not everyone does have enough insurance, and fellow landscapers need protection," said Bolduc, who owns five other trailers.
He told CBS4 that he needs help before his lawn care and landscaping equipment is sold at flea markets or to people who are outside South Florida.
Bolduc said he's seen reports that on a number of occasions, stolen lawn care and landscaping equipment has been sold to buyers from the Bahamas and as far away as Central America.
"There has not been a rash of thefts of landscaping equipment lately," said BSO spokeswoman Dani Moschella. But she said the thefts "are common."
Balduc said anyone with any information about his stolen trailer who would like to claim the reward can call him at 1-888-673-3639.
