Police reviewing surveillance, investigation ongoing

A piece of heavy equipment was stolen from the Cassville Primary School playground construction site in the overnight hours of Jan. 22.

Det. Stuart Lombard, with the Cassville Police Department, said he believes the burglars entered through a gate on the southeast corner of the property.

“It was a quick deal,” he said. “They were in an out. We are reviewing surveillance footage, and the school district has been working with us. It is an active investigation, and we are trying to chase it down.”

Lombard said there is an identification number associated with the Bobcat, a skid-steer loader, which police hope will help locate the equipment.

“We have that entered in several places, so if it shows up anywhere nationwide, that will show it is stolen,” Lombard said. “We have also alerted multiple other agencies of the theft.”

Lombard said if captured, the burglar or burglars would face felony theft charges.

Shad Norris, Miracle Playsystems employee, said the morning after the theft he believed the burglars cut through a lock on the gate.

“You can see the tracks where they hauled it out of here,” he said.

Norris said the equipment is worth about $40,000.

Anyone with information on the stolen Bobcat is asked to call Barry County dispatch at 417-847-4911.