Chicago police investigating after stolen construction equipment found at South Side warehouse

CHICAGO - Dozens of pieces of stolen construction equipment were found at a warehouse in Englewood on Tuesday, and a large police presence responded to the location at 58th and South Lafayette.

One victim estimates inside the warehouse was $300,000 to $500,000 worth of stolen goods.

"They are stealing from the community, from me, from everybody," said Ben Kasper of Winfield Group.

Kasper said last Thursday, someone stole $95,000 worth of construction equipment from a Harvey job site, where he’s building one of six community centers.

"They ripped out the phony GPS tracker I had put in it, but the real GPS tracker was in it," said Kasper, having been a target of vandals in the past.

That real tracker led him to a warehouse, and he spotted his stolen bobcat, which he had rented.

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Kasper told FOX 32 he discovered other stolen items that total $300,000 to $500,000, including concrete trucks, trailers, and generators. He traced the serial numbers to rental companies or manufacturers and found other victims.

"When he called me I was like, my breaker is in the shop, and then I was like, you know what? I had a breaker stolen two years ago, and he was like yeah and this is it!" said Jesse Young, owner of First Corinthians Cement Works.

He said his South Holland shop was broken into two years ago and the vandals stole $250,000 worth of stuff. He got everything back except for a trailer and a concrete breaker, which have now both been found.

Chicago police are now questioning the owner of the warehouse, a man who also happens to own his own cement company.

"I’m glad they got caught because when you steal from somebody who work as hard I as do, it’s like you took my life from me," said Young.