PALM BAY – It was the kind of equipment that would aid anyone with a knack for landscaping.
But Sunday, police were left investigating the theft of at least $31,000 worth of city-owned landscaping equipment used to care for baseball fields and parks. The equipment was stolen in a break-in late Saturday at the Palm Bay Parks and Recreation facility at 1901 DeGroodt Road, officials said.
Burglars made off with several mowers, portable gas saws, weed trimmers and blowers.
They also stole one of the department's newest pickup trucks and used it for off-road riding before leaving it abandoned and burned out, said Lt. Dave Crispin with the Palm Bay Police Department.
"These are the kind of items that could be dumped at a pawn shop," Crispin said. "Some of the equipment was really brand new."
No one has been arrested and investigators were searching for suspects in the case.
"There were no signs of significant forced entry," Crispin said. A complete inventory of what was taken from the facility is expected to be compiled in coming days. The pickup truck, one of several parked at the facility south of Jupiter Boulevard and not far from Bayside High School, was worth at least $25,000.
Police suspect the burglar or burglars took the truck for an off-road excursion and then torched the vehicle near Garrett and Hanover streets near an empty field. It was not known how the burglars made off with the other equipment.
Palm Bay Mayor John Mazziotti said he thought most of the equipment should be insured.
"It's a real concern when you build a place in the middle of nowhere," he said.
"Maybe we need to take another look at how we are set up or how we protect things out there," Mazziotti said.