The Mississippi Agriculture and Livestock Theft Bureau (MALTB) successfully assisted in the recovery of stolen agricultural equipment valued at more than $200,000 in two separate cases this week. The stolen equipment included a skid steer, tractor, truck, and trailer, which were taken from Hinds and Lincoln counties.
The first case involved a 2021 Kubota SVL97-2 skid steer, valued at $135,000, stolen from Hinds County. The Hinds County Sheriff’s Office initially reported the theft on Tuesday, September 24, 2024. The stolen skid steer, which was being used to clear timber near Highway 27 in Utica, was quickly located by MALTB investigators in a wooded area of rural Hinds County.
“The stolen skid steer was recovered with the help of a concerned citizen who made an anonymous call to the Mississippi Agriculture and Livestock Theft Bureau,” said MALTB Director Dean Barnard. “Calls like these are crucial in assisting law enforcement to combat crime in our communities and across the state. We encourage the public—if you see something, say something.”