Sheriff’s deputies are tracking down lawn care thieves in three middle Georgia counties

FORSYTH, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Sheriff’s deputies in three middle Georgia counties are trying to catch thieves who’ve been stealing lawn care equipment. 

Officials say the spring season brings the sticky fingers, and they’re trying to put to stop to it. 

Freshly cut grass is a sign of the season, but the equipment that’s getting the job done is getting stolen from homes in Macon-Bibb, Jones, and Monroe Counties. 

“If you don’t want to buy one, I guess you can steal one and that’s their mentality. I would say the best thing to do is to get it out of sight,” Lt. Brad Freeman with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said. 

Freeman says thieves are likely to see equipment out, grabbing the goods, and then making a run for it. 

Deputies say this isn’t something new especially during the spring season, and the incidents don’t happen in one isolated area. 

Officials say thefts can happen anywhere and they’re urging people to lock up their valuables. 

Lock and key is one method, but sometimes thieves can get around that. 

Freeman says the next best thing is to prepare yourself as soon as you buy the equipment. 

“Write down your serial numbers on these items as well as take photographs. If you have some way to etch your initials that’s descriptive,” Freeman said. 

He added helpful clues can track down missing equipment quickly. 

“You should make a report with us that we can start the investigative process. A  lot of this stuff is taken to pawn shops,” Freeman said. 

Pawn shops will recognize if the serial numbers on the equipment is stolen, and they’ll notify authorities soon after. 

You’ll get your equipment back, and thieves will be on their way to jail. 

Sheriff deputies haven’t made a lot of arrests in these stolen lawn care equipment thefts.