Warren County, Tenn. — It seems that some folks just can't resist the urge to "borrow" construction equipment — the kind that weighs upwards of six tons and doesn't exactly fit in the back of a pickup truck. Authorities in Warren County are scratching their heads over the latest grand-scale game of hide-and-seek involving a 2022 Caterpillar 289 skid steer that mysteriously disappeared from 1936 Spencer Road.

Let’s pause and appreciate the ambition here: this isn’t stealing a lawnmower or someone's Amazon package. This is an $80,000 to $90,000 tracked beast of a machine — the kind of vehicle that could move a mountain before breakfast. And yet, someone managed to sneak it off the property sometime on or before April 12 like it was nothing more than a misplaced sandwich.

According to the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, they’re now on the hunt for answers — and hopefully for the person or people who hauled away this piece of pricey yellow equipment without permission. Investigator Spencer Pryor is leading the charge and would really appreciate a tip — especially if it points to a suspiciously new construction project in someone’s backyard.

The theft, while shocking, isn’t exactly unprecedented. Skid steers and other big-ticket construction items have been vanishing across Middle Tennessee for the past couple of years, suggesting there’s a very determined (and possibly very strong) underground market for heavy-duty joyrides.

CAN YOU HELP: So, if you see a bright yellow Caterpillar 289 casually rolling through your neighborhood — or you suddenly know someone with an impressive new landscaping setup — authorities urge you to call Investigator Pryor at (931) 473-7863 or shoot him an email at spryor@warrencountytn.gov. Because, let’s face it, even in Tennessee, it’s not every day you misplace 12,000 pounds of metal and rubber.