BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C.–According to the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, a Ladson man saw the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew as a perfect opportunity to go on a stealing spree and target Mike’s Tree Service on Wednesday.
The owner of the company, busy with the storm damage work, had his trailer, equipment and stump grinning mini-skid stolen from the storage yard where it is kept in Ladson, deputies stated. The equipment was worth approximately $43,540 – a devastating blow to any small entrepreneur.
Thankfully, deputies stated that two alert citizens witnessed something suspicious when they saw a male and female in a white Ford F-150 with Texas tags drive up to the business and beat on something until they were able to get inside. They called the Sheriff’s Office and deputies responded.
Armed with the vehicle description, Berkeley County deputies responded while others circulated the area. One alert deputy spotted a truck matching the vehicle description parked unoccupied on Rutt Lane, an area not terribly close to the theft location. After watching the truck for approximately 20 minutes, the occupants returned to it and drove off.
The subsequent traffic stop resulted in the arrest of Justin Heath Chesser, age 39, of Ladson being arrested for Grand Larceny X2 and for breaking and entering a locked yard after 6pm. He was also wanted on probation related charges. The state agents took him to a state prison in lieu of him being booked into the Hill Finklea Detention Center.
Deputies said that Chesser admitted to stealing the trailer and unhooking it not far from where the vehicle was spotted on Rutt Lane. Authorities said that Chesser provided the location where he had unhooked it and deputies were able to locate and recover the stolen trailer and equipment.
The owner of Mike’s Tree Service was contacted and he responded to the location to identify and claim his trailer and equipment.
“I have to commend the two witnesses who were alert and took time to call us so that we could help solve this. Working together, we can make Berkeley County a safer place for everyone. It is terrible that someone would try to steal a man’s livelihood at a time like this,” Sheriff D. Lewis stated.
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