Five Lawn Service Companies Affected by Theft

Weed-eaters, edgers, leaf blowers and a $35,000 truck and trailer to carry it all were stolen sometime Monday night or early Tuesday from five lawn services companies that rent space at Treasure Coast Irrigation, 7900 S.E. Bridge Road, according to Martin County sheriff's reports.

A gate lock was cut to get into the fenced compound, which also fronts Flora Avenue, and locks were cut on the trailers holding the equipment, reports show.

A white 2004 Ford F-250 truck and a 24-foot trailer belonging to One Source Landscape and Golf Services also were taken.

Lawn equipment thefts have been a problem throughout the region, and Martin sheriff's investigators made several arrests earlier this year in connection with more than 14 cases.

Those thefts were primarily at job sites where equipment was left unattended while workers were at other parts of the job sites.

In several of those, the suspects arrested said they took the equipment to support drug habits, and pawned the items in Palm Beach County.