$85,000 In Stolen Equipment Found In Wooded Area

The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office recovered stolen equipment from a wooded area near Four Oaks Monday afternoon after executing a search warrant on the property.

Detectives searched a wooded area behind a home at 1828 Hockaday Road and reportedly found two stolen excavators, a stolen dump trailer and weed eater. Combined the items were valued at approximately $85,000.

One excavator had been stolen alongside I-40 in New Hanover County. Another had been stolen from the construction site of the Dollar General on W. Market Street in Smithfield. The dump trailer had been reported stolen off Highway 210 in western Johnston County. The weed eater had been stolen in Virginia.

Sheriff’s Captain Jeff Caldwell said the investigation into the stolen property is ongoing.