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May 24, 2023

Man arrested after stealing forklift from PG&E equipment yard in Paradise

PARADISE, Calif. - Paradise Police took a man into custody last week after he

PARADISE, Calif. - Paradise Police took a man into custody last week after he was found operating a forklift that had been reported stolen by Pacific Gas & Electric.

At approximately 10:45 p.m. on December 23, officers with the Paradise Police Department were dispatched to the PG&E satellite equipment yard on Pentz Road for reports of a burglary.

Upon arrival at the scene, the officers contacted a PG&E representative who told them that he had located an open gate at the yard and that a JLG forklift was missing from the property. The estimated value of the stolen forklift was approximately $160,000.

Once officers had taken the appropriate information regarding the missing forklift, they began canvasing the area.

Authorities say that while officers were searching the area, they were able to locate the stolen forklift on Harrison Road around the corner from the PG&E yard, with the engine still running. Officers then made contact with 43-year-old David Elkinton of Paradise, who they found near the forklift.

When questioned by law enforcement, Elkinton told officers that he was a PG&E employee who didn't work at the yard and that he was using the forklift to get his travel trailer out of a nearby property. During the course of their investigation, officers say that Elkinton was unable to prove that he was actually a current PG&E employee and that they were able to determine that he did not have permission to use or possess the forklift.

Officers took Elkinton into custody and transported him to the Butte County Jail where he was booked for vehicle theft. The stolen forklift was recovered and returned to the PG&E representative.

Paradise Police Department recovered thousands of rounds of ammunition, more than 60 firearms and parts, 25 pounds of explosive material and various illegal drugs as a result of an investigation of a theft from a PG&E yard, Paradise PD officials say.