A wheel loader stolen from a shopping plaza in Henrietta last week was found Tuesday night in Livingston County.
“If you ever find yourself doubting the goodness in people or thinking humanity is fading, just look back and follow this story,” said Sean Fico, president of A.P. Enterprises Property Services in Webster. “The kindness, determination, and care shown by everyone has been nothing short of extraordinary. We are so grateful.”
The company’s 2000 Case 721C wheel loader, which weighs around 30,000 pounds, was taken sometime between late Saturday and midday Sunday from behind the Ski Company store at Frontier Commons, 1225 Jefferson Road.
Fico shared his disbelief on social media. “A wheel loader vanished into thin air!” he wrote, urging people to keep an eye out for the stolen machine and offering a $5,000 reward.
Valued at about $55,000, the loader is one of more than 100 in Fico’s company fleet.
His post received over 2,000 shares on Facebook, and someone who saw it spotted the distinctive piece of equipment on a seasonal road in Livingston County Tuesday night. The passerby recognized the machine in an unusual location and realized, “it was our missing machine!” Fico said.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the wheel loader was recovered in the Town of Groveland and returned to Monroe County late Tuesday. Deputies are still investigating how such a large piece of machinery ended up on a seasonal road nearly 40 miles away.
Fico mentioned that fingerprints and other evidence were recovered from the vehicle, including camera footage from nearby trail cameras.
Thankfully, the loader was undamaged, Fico added.
As promised, the passerby who found the stolen equipment will receive a reward, Fico confirmed.