[SEL] Engine Thieves Caught in New HAmpshire

[Mark Shulaw]

Ok heres the latest with what happened in more detail. I am still 
withholding last names of the involved till charges are filed if 
ever. This happened in Bethlehem New Hampshire over the weekend. Jim 
the owner of the engines and his wife left for the recycling center 
which is just two blocks from their house and returned a few minutes 
later to find a pick up truck with ramps and a winch in the bed 
backed up to his I think he said a 5 hp?? Waterloo engine which is 
behind his garage. Keep in mind this is the only engine outside and 
it is not visible from the road at any angle. Jim has lots of trees 
around. The truck was backed up directly to the engine and the tail 
gate was down, So they had just arrived. Jim and his wife came home 
to see this and called the law. The two gentleman claimed to have 
just been driving by and seen the engine and wanted to try to buy it. 
(Remember the engine is not visible from the road)  The two men are 
from Maine which is just 40 miles from Jim's place so  it may be 
reasonable that they were just riving by but it can not be seen from 
the road. Where the men are from in Maine I do not know.  Jim got the 
engine two months ago and has not shown it yet.
Today the sheriff and the prosecutor are not sure they can bring 
charges as the suspects had not dropped the ramps on the ground yet 
or hooked the winch to the engine. Which would clearly show intent 
the sheriff says. But without the ramps on the ground or the winch 
hooked up they are not sure they can file charges that will stick. 
Backed up to an item not visible from the road does not show enough intent.
  So charges may not be brought up. And if so we can not mention the 
names of the two gentlemen. They can not even be brought up on 
trespassing charges as there isn't any No Trespassing signs posted.
Still waiting to hear how the two men found out about the engine to 
even know it was there. I will pass on more as I learn 
it.                          Mark