Newsletter #355 (View other news stories)
Owner finds stolen forklift with family’s help
CHANDLER, AZ, United States
Wednesday, 9 Apr 2008
An Arizona company set up its own sting operation to catch the man who stole a forklift after police were unable to help.
It all began, according to The Tribune, when Roger Bottomfield hired Joseph Bisson of Maricopa to do forklift repairs at his business near Chandler Boulevard and Interstate 10.
Bottomfield assumed it would be safe to leave the forklift outside because he had removed the propane fuel tank and locked up the keys. However, the vehicle vanished and Bottomfield suspected the mechanic.
"He was smarter than us. He brought a propane tank and the last time he was here, he changed out the keys," Bottomfield said.
Bottomfield said he suspected Bisson of stealing the USD7,500 forklift after he called the repair company to cancel the work because of the theft and Bisson appeared unconcerned.
When the local police said they couldn’t investigate, Bottomfield enlisted the help of his family to set up a sting.
Armed with a false business name, his adult children called Bisson to see if he had a forklift for sale. Bisson said he did, and took Bottomfield’s daughter to a private residence in Maricopa to inspect the forklift. While a friend distracted Bisson, the daughter managed to photograph the vehicle’s serial number, which matched that of the missing forklift.
After receiving the photographic evidence, police arrested Bisson on suspicion of felony theft. Police told The Tribune additional felony charges are pending.
Bisson’s employer, The Lift Doctor, has "let him go" while the case is pending.
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