A southern Illinois man has been charged with theft for allegedly stealing a backhoe to drive about 10 miles to an airport to catch a flight, authorities said.
Security camera footage shows a Carbondale man arriving at Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois atop a backhoe and leaving it in the airport parking lot Thursday, the Williamson County Sheriffs Office said.
"Upon arrival deputies were informed that a backhoe was parked in the airport parking lot which was suspicious in nature," the sheriffs office wrote on Facebook.
Footage captured the man walking across the street from the lot to the airport lobby, carrying a guitar case, the sheriff's office said.
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The owner of the backhoe arrived at the airport a short time later and identified the equipment as belonging to his company, the sheriff's office said. The owner said the machine, typically used to move large debris, had been parked at a job site.
The Carbondale man was charged with theft in excess of $10,000, which is a felony, police said.
Authorities asked that anyone with information related to this or any other investigation to contact the Williamson County Sheriff's Office at 618-997-6541 or the Williamson County Crime Stoppers at 800-414-TIPS. (8477).
