Phelan Man Out on Bail After Arrest for West Covina Skid Steer Theft

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PHELAN –A 44-year-old Phelan man was arrested for the possession of a stolen Caterpillar skid steer on Wednesday evening. The skid steer, valued at approximately $38,000 was stolen from the 10 freeway in the City of West Covina on Saturday, March 18, 2017.

Investigation led the Rural Crime Task Force to a home in the 13000 block of Nevada Road in Phelan. At the home they located Robert Martin Vansurksum, who told deputies that the skid steer belonged to him. “Although identifying information had been removed from the equipment, the Deputies were able to verify it was the stolen skid steer from Atkinson Construction,” Victor Valley Station spokeswoman Stacy Parkes said in the news release.

Robert Vansurksum was arrested and booked into the High Desert Detention Center for possession of a stolen vehicle. Vansurksum, who is known to have worked in the Bails Bond field was released on bail on Thursday, March 30, 2017, at 4:24 a.m. There are no court dates scheduled at this time.

Anyone with information regarding this crime is urged to contact Deputies Rob Oakleaf or Randy Stanley at the Victor Valley Sheriff’s Station, (760) 552-6801. Persons wishing to remain anonymous can report information to WeTip by calling 1-800-78-CRIME, or by accessing the website at www.wetip.com.