‘Retirement just drove away:’ Business owner offers reward after equipment stolen

A Saskatoon business owner is offering a reward to anyone who can help recover machinery that was stolen from his site.

Kevin Boychuk, owner of K3 Excavating Ltd., said that on the morning of June 23, a Caterpillar loader was stolen and driven right off of the property, located just north of the city’s Silverwood Golf Course.

Then, just 10 days later, a Kenworth Gold tractor unit was taken from the same place.

Boychuk said on the used market, the stolen machinery would bring in as much as $200,000.

He said the loss doesn’t only hurt his business, but the assets were also part of his retirement plan.

“We are devastated. You work very hard to get to where you are as a small business. We’re not a huge excavating company,” he said. “Our retirement just drove away.”

Boychuk said the case has been brought to the attention of the Saskatoon Police Service, which confirmed the investigation is ongoing. He said he is offering a $20,000 reward to someone with information that can help recover the equipment in one piece.

“This equipment was not only our lives; this equipment employed people in the community. This equipment provides,” he said.

He said the Caterpillar could’ve been taken off the property using a generic key, and both machines were taken during the time a fence was being replaced.

“After talking to other businesses, even very well-fenced compounds with good camera systems in place, these people are still getting hit,” he said.

Boychuk said his message to those who took his equipment is to just do the right thing.

“It’s hurtful, and the people that are doing this have no conscience,” he said.

So far, Boychuk said he’s had tremendous support from nearby businesses, which have helped by sharing surveillance footage and information.

According to a statement from the Saskatoon Police Service, stolen vehicles are not uncommon, but larger equipment is stolen less frequently.

“Locating the equipment can be difficult but police follow up looking for video and if there are persons of interest those leads are followed as well,” the police service said.