Eureka Police are seeking information about a man who allegedly stole two riding lawn mowers from Eureka Rental, 103 Thresher Drive. The mowers are worth $10,000 each, police reported.
The theft happened at 6:12 p.m. Monday (Sept. 16), when the mowers were reportedly taken from the company’s parking lot and loaded onto a trailer attached to a white pickup, which was either a GMC or Chevrolet crew cab 2500 or 3500 series.
Surveillance footage first showed the pickup pull into a nearby public parking lot on Thresher Drive. Then, the man allegedly walked to Eureka Rental and got on a mower, which he started with a key, the report said.
He then reportedly drove the mower off the company’s lot and into a berm on the side of the road before getting off the mower to retrieve a piece of plywood from his pickup so he could create a bridge to cross the ditch. The man then allegedly drove the mower to where the pickup and trailer were parked and loaded it onto the trailer, according to the report.
After that, the man reportedly returned to the company’s lot and tried to start another lawnmower, but couldn’t. He then allegedly went to another mower that did start and drove it off the lot and loaded it onto the trailer with the first mower. The pickup was last seen traveling south on Hwy. 109, the report said.
Police found DNA evidence on the mower that did not start and sent it for testing, Capt. David Wilson said. He asks anyone with information about the theft to call Eureka Police at 636-938-6600.