Sonora business burgled twice

Burglars twice in a single week have struck a Sonora area business that rents out light construction equipment.

Sonora Rentals and Sales, at 13613 Bergel Road, was burglarized on Jan. 22 and again sometime between Jan. 28 and Jan 29. In the first break-in alone, thieves made off with about 13 pieces of equipment valued at more than $40,000 combined, according to owner Dennis Overholtzer.

Employees arrived the morning of Jan. 23 to find someone had cut a chain on the gate to the equipment yard during the night. Overholtzer said he discovered valuable equipment, including concrete and soil compactors and cement saws, were missing.    

“We’ve already had to turn down rentals now because what was taken,”  he said. “The fortunate thing is it’s winter so we’re slower this time of year.”    

Overholtzer has been running the business for 38 years. He said there were previous incidents involving stolen equipment at the business’s old location on Mono Way, but there haven’t been any since moving to Bergel Road about two years ago.    

Overholtzer said there wasn’t nearly as much equipment stolen in any of the prior burglaries over the years, leading him to believe the culprits were organized and planned it ahead of time.    

“It had to be at least two people,” he said. “The stuff is fairly heavy, so it’s not something one guy picks up easily.”    

Overholtzer also doesn’t believe there is a connection between the Jan. 22 incident and the burglary that occurred between Jan. 28 and Jan. 29.    

In the latest incident, someone snuck under the fence and stole four vehicle tires and rims belonging to an employee. The person also appeared to have rummaged through several company trucks, but didn’t take anything, Overholtzer said.    

“This didn’t seem quite as organized,” he said. “They really didn’t take much of anything.”    

The equipment taken Jan. 22 are all emblazoned with the business’s name on stickers or imprints, but Overholtzer said he doubts he’ll see any of it again.    

“It’s all likely long gone from around here,” he said.    

The equipment was all insured, but a response to an insurance claim is still pending, according to Overholtzer.    

The Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office currently has no leads or suspect information in either case, according to Sgt. Jeff Wilson.    

Anyone who may have further information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 533-5815.