TPSO seeks help finding stolen lawn care equipment

Published 12:26 pm Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
HAMMOND, LA – The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance with locating lawn care equipment that was recently stolen from a residence off S. Range Road in Hammond, La. The equipment is identified as a Stihl chainsaw (model STU MS170), a Stihl trimmer (model STU FS70) and a Stihl backpack blower (model STU BR380).
Sheriff Daniel Edwards is asking the public to be aware of items such as these being sold on social media platforms. If you come across any information related to these stolen items, please call Crime Stoppers of Tangipahoa, Inc.’s anonymous tip line 1-800-554-5245 or visit www.tangicrimestoppers.com and click on the P3 Tips. Detective D’Amato is the lead investigator on this case.
Also, Sheriff Edwards reminds us that as the temperature rises during the summer months, typically so do crime rates. Higher temperatures, longer daylight hours, and increased foot traffic creates an increase in personal interactions and provides more opportunity for a crime to occur.
“During this time of year, residents often leave their garage doors, front doors, and windows open,” says Chief Jimmy Travis. “Items such as bicycles, lawn mowers, blowers, and other lawn care or household items are often attractive to burglars.” Being diligent in your neighborhood and speaking up when you see something out of place helps everyone on the block.
Here are some proactive safety tips you can follow to keep your property safe when temperatures rise.
-Close and Lock Your Windows – Open doors and open windows are a prime entrance opportunity for potential burglars. Open blinds also present an opportunity for people to look inside your home or your garage.
-A well-kept yard can help deter crime since trimmed foliage offers fewer places to hide. And fences can, of course, keep unwanted visitors out.
-Do not leave your personal property, such as lawn mowers, edgers, and blowers unattended in the yard.
-If package theft is a concern in your neck of the woods, work with neighbors to keep an eye out for deliveries and suspicious snoopers or cars. If one neighbor is home most days, see if they’re willing to collect packages that would be left unattended on other porches for hours.
-See Something, Say Something- Improving neighborhood safety is a team effort. Make friends with your neighbors. Friendly neighbors are more likely to look out for each other.
-Don’t assume someone else has reported the suspicious vehicle or individual you’ve seen.
Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards encourages all citizens to help by being their eyes and ears by staying alert and making the call when something catches their eye. Exercise common sense, and remember to keep your doors and windows locked, especially when you aren’t home.