Stolen excavator was driven through 2 buildings, including Walmart, Florida cops say

A stolen excavator was recovered under odd circumstances, when someone drove it through the automotive department at a Florida Walmart, police say.

It happened late Monday, Sept. 11, in Gainesville, which is home to the University of Florida. Gainesville is about 110 miles northwest of Orlando.

A 47-year-old man has been taken into custody as a suspect in the case, police said.

”The suspect stole a large excavator, drove it around the southwest (taking out power poles), and then drove through the wall of the Walmart,” Gainesville Police said in a news release.

“Officers located another building (storage unit in the area of 2700 SW 40th Blvd) that the suspect also drove through.”

A motive for the damage spree was not provided.

Photos show the storage building was split in half, while the Walmart, located at 2900 SW 42nd Street, had a large hole in the automotive department wall.

The suspect caused an estimated $2 million with the excavator, which was “hotwired,” The St. Augustine Record reported.

He has been charged with larceny-grand theft, four counts of criminal mischief of $1,000 or more, armed trespassing and resisting arrest, Alachua County jail records show.

Labels on the Komatsu excavator identified it as belonging to Watson Construction. Komatsu excavators sell for as much as $599,000, depending on the model.

This story was originally published September 12, 2023 at 7:15 AM with the headline "Stolen excavator was driven through 2 buildings, including Walmart, Florida cops say."