LUZERNE COUNTY -- Construction crews on Interstate 81 near Wilkes Barre arrived at work Friday morning to find one of their expensive machines missing.
New Enterprise Lime & Stone Co. workers showed up at their bridge project Friday morning in Jenkins Township expecting to get right back to work. Instead, they had to scramble to find new work to do that didn't involve their missing Caterpillar Skid Steer Model 279D.
A skid steer is used to help move stone and other materials in construction projects.
The machine was last seen around 6 p.m. Thursday night when Project Superintendent Gary Martini was doing his routine drive-by check of all the crew's work sites along the interstate.
"We're in the midst of rebuilding four bridges in both the north and southbound lanes," says Gary Martini, New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co.
Martini says once they realized it stolen and not accidentally taken by a worker to one of their other construction sites, that's when he had to scramble.
"We had to revamp some of what we're doing here," says Martini.
The piece of equipment is worth around $70,000.
As far as how it was taken, Martini says it wouldn't be difficult putting the skid steer loader on a flat bed trailer late at night and rolling away without looking suspicious.
"If certain people are looking for a certain type of machine for whatever reason, they're able to get it," Martini adds. "Especially in the middle of the night - nobody really pays any attention."
The construction project is expected to wrap up in June of 2016. If you have any information about the theft, please call Pennsylvania State Police.