Generator Thief Comes Back With Truck After Forklift Fail: NCSO

NAPA COUNTY, CA — The Napa County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's help in identifying a man whom detectives believe used a forklift in his first attempt at stealing a welder/generator from a Napa business. At one point, the suspect tried using a forklift to load the piece of equipment into an Acura sedan; when that did not work, he left and returned with a Ford pickup truck, according to the Napa County Sheriff's Office.

The incident began around 8 p.m. Sunday at Pina Vineyard Management equipment yard, 8060 Silverado Trail in Napa, sheriff's Spokesman Henry Wofford said.

"The suspect removed mounting bolts used to attach a Miller welder/generator to a service truck," Wofford said. "Then the suspect used a forklift as he attempted to load the equipment into a car, however the welder/generator was too big for the vehicle."

The suspect left the equipment yard but he came back, this time with a truck, the sheriff's office reported.

After loading the $8,000 welder/generator onto the back of the truck bed, the suspect took off in the truck described as a light-colored Ford pickup with a lumber rack.

The car he first tried to use for the theft was described as a dark gray, four-door Acura with tinted windows and black wheels.

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call Napa County sheriff's Detective Josh Coleman at 707-253-6030.

While many people are staying home from work and school these days because of Napa County and state of California public health orders meant to slow the spread of coronavirus, Wofford told Patch the sheriff's office is patrolling for criminals who might use the circumstances to their advantage.

"We want people to realize that we are keeping an eye on them; we are protecting the community," Wofford said. "We will continue to arrest those who are not following the law. If you're not working, this is not the time to go out and commit crimes."