Thieves Steal Heavy Construction Equipment

Someone's been driving off with very large, very heavy construction equipment from an Oakbrook Terrace job site.

Officials from Elgin-based Martam Construction are baffled about what the thieves could possible be doing with a  Kawasaki 65Z wheel loader ($65,000), which went missing in January, a Case CX160 excavator ($50,000), which was stolen in May or the $160,000 Case 621E wheel loader that disappeared Monday.

"I really don't know," said Chris Margewich from Martam Construction when asked what a thief do with hundreds of thousands of earth moving equipment. Markovich speculates that thieves could be selling the metal for scrap.

"The frustration that's set in with everyone here is just massive," he said.

Just how the thieves could have swiped them is also a mystery.

Officials with Martam suspect the caper took place shortly after 2:30 p.m. when crews finished up at the job site near 22nd street and Butterfield Road. A giant wheel loader taking a night time joy ride might draw attention, they said.

The excavator creates even more intrigue because it would have required a ramp and a trailer in order to move it.

"The excavator that's on tracks, you're going to need some sort of six-wheeler and a trailer to load that piece of equipment up onto and drive away," said Margewich.

Whatever the case, Martam wants them back.

The company is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the return of the heavy equipment. Each of the vehicles is covered by insurance, but Martam wants them returned regardless. 

Contact Us