Posted: 6/11/03

Bobcats popular target for thieves

It was not a good week for Melroe Bobcat skid-steer loader owners working construction in the Forest Lake area.

Forest Lake police are investigating the theft of two Bobcats during the past week.

Chief of Police David Schwartz said the crimes may be linked to a series of like thefts reported throughout the metro area this spring.

Sometime during the night of June 3 or early-morning hours of June 4, a Bobcat was stolen from a home construction site at 20160 Explorer Ave.

Mark Miller Construction, Wyoming, reported the theft of the equipment valued at $28,000.

The second theft took place overnight on June 5-6 when a gate lock was cut at the city of Forest Lakeís maintenance garage back lot in the 800 block of SW 4th St.

A Bobcat and trailer owned by Design One Architecture and Construction, Eden Prairie, was taken. Police said the Bobcat had value of $22,000 while the trailer was worth $4000 for a total loss of $26,000.

The Eden Prairie company was using the city storage lot during overnight and weekend hours while working in the area.

Vehicle crashes

It was also a busy week for city officers who were involved with vehicle crashes and providing assistance to the Minnesota State Patrol.

Police were called to TH-97 and Imperial Ave. at 8:50 a.m., Thursday, June 5 to assist the patrol with a two-vehicle crash that resulted in minor injuries.

Officers also assisted the patrol with a two-vehicle crash on TH-97 at Jewel Ave. at 9:10 a.m., Monday that resulted in one victim requiring medical treatment at Fairview Lakes Regional Medical Center in Wyoming.

Police also took care of a three-vehicle crash in the 1100 block of W. Broadway and provided traffic assistance to a crash on northbound I-35 north of the TH-97 overpass. No serious injuries were reported in either crash, police said.

Police are also investigating the theft of a trumpet and carrying case from a student at Forest Lake High School sometime between June 2-3. The trumpet, valued at $1500, was taken from a shelf in the schoolís band room, police said.

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