Thieves targeting landscapers around the Valley

GILBERT, Ariz. (KSAZ) --Thieves were stealing landscaping equipment from a work truck in the East Valley.

The happened on Monday, as a man and his wife worked at a home in a Gilbert neighborhood. There are thousands of these companies, large and small, that service home and business properties. Thieves tend to pick on the smaller landscaping companies, and Phoenix Police officials say they do have thefts frequently from trucks, and it happens around the Valley.

During the incident on Monday, Mercedes Duarte and his wife were servicing a client's lawn. They were both in the back for less than two minutes when it happened, and it was all caught on the homeowner's security camera.

In the video, a guy in a white SUV pulled up and, started stealing equipment from Duarte's work truck. Gone were two echo backpack blowers, two chainsaws, and two hedge trimmers, totalling over $3,000 in value.

Duarte didn't want to be interviewed on TV, but it's not too hard to find people with landscaping businesses who have been ripped off like this.

"I felt violated. I wanted to cry, I wanted to quit," said Kevin Banderet. "Everything was gone, except my two lawnmowers."

Banderet services lawns all over the Valley, and said he was working solo when someone stole all of his equipment, over a year ago.

"People just drive around, looking for landscapers who aren't with their vehicles," said Banderet. "When they're not there. they go take their stuff."

Bandaret thinks roaming thieves are looking to steal the equipment from landscapers and homeowners, and Bandaret said they will sell it to make a quick buck. Bandaret has since invested in a cage that sits in the back of his truck and can be locked up. Meanwhile, both men have called police and filled reports, but both said they don't expect to ever get their equipment back.