MESA, AZ — A man has been arrested after allegedly "borrowing" a backhoe from a construction site near Mesa.
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office reports that on April 25 they responded to a construction site near Crismon and Brown roads for a stolen vehicle.
Once on scene, deputies found 41-year-old Kristopher Kruckenberg, sitting on the ground. Kruckenberg reportedly told deputies that "he did a stupid thing."
The victim reported to MCSO that when he arrived at the site, his 2005 Caterpillar backhoe was missing. Friends and family searched the area to locate the backhoe. When they returned, they saw Kruckenberg parking the backhoe.
Kruckenberg sat on the ground until deputies arrived.
He reportedly told MCSO that he was a former backhoe operator and "borrowed" it to remove some debris and trash from his nearby property.
Kruckenberg has been charged with vehicle theft.
