Burnaby RCMP are asking for the public’s help to identify two pickup trucks believed to be involved in the theft of a Bobcat loader valued at about $100,000 in North Burnaby.

Police say the theft happened on the afternoon of Sunday, November 30, when two pickup trucks arrived near the intersection of Midlawn Drive and Westlawn Drive in the Brentwood area. One of the trucks was towing an empty flat deck trailer. A short time later, both vehicles were seen leaving the area with the Bobcat loader loaded onto the trailer.

Investigators describe the first suspect vehicle as a dark-coloured pickup truck, believed to be a Chevrolet Silverado, with a black tonneau cover. The truck is noted to have a distinctive silver or grey gas door on the driver’s side, a lighter-coloured lower body, and was towing the flat deck trailer. The second vehicle is described as a red, two-door pickup truck, believed to be a Ford Ranger.

Police say construction equipment thefts can have a significant impact on local businesses and contractors, particularly as the cost of heavy machinery continues to rise across the region.

“This is more than an inconvenience to the owner. This is a hundred-thousand-dollar theft,” said Cpl. Mike Kalanj of the Burnaby RCMP. He added that investigators are asking anyone who recognizes the vehicles or has information related to the incident to come forward.