Alleged burglar had keys to CAT

Whoever took $10,000 of construction equipment from a storage unit in Anderson also had a key and the knowledge to move a backhoe that was blocking the storage unit doors, according to Anderson police.

The large storage unit near Volonte Park was burglarized early Wednesday morning, Oct. 28, resulting in the alleged theft of construction equipment from United Building Contractors, according to foreman Jason Jackson.

"They had to have done it between 3:30 p.m. yesterday and 6:30 a.m. this morning," Jackson said on Wednesday.

To deter such a theft, the construction crew left the bucket to a backhoe pressing against the storage unit's doors. Whoever burglarized the storage unit, had a key to operate the backhoe and was able to move the bucket out of the way, APD Captain Robert Kirvin said, adding that the lock on the door was also pried off.

"It could have been a construction worker," Jackson said, "or someone who knows the equipment well enough to get it out of the way."

Keys to operate Caterpillar machinery are somewhat universal, according to Jackson, as the same key will work for many machines.

"Normally we disengage the battery cable too," Jackson said.

Stolen items include a ground compression unit, hammer drills, laser equipment and road cones. The construction crew is working to improve Emily Road with sidewalks and gutters on behalf of the City of Anderson for a Safe Routes to School project.

"We're putting a multi-agency bolo (be on the look out) on this," Kirvin said. "This is not a crime of opportunity. Someone planned this out. That's a lot of equipment."